We are pleased to announce this year’s AITF Thematic Small Conference – Local Solutions in Divided Times. This event will take place on November 7 in New York City at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice from 10am to 3pm. This is the same timing and location as last year’s event. This is the third event in our small conference series, which brings together teams from speakers among anchor institutions and other partners to share their work, successes, struggles and strategies going forward.

This year’s topic comes amidst very evident socio-political divisions in the United States in an election year. Of course, these matters have global relevance as well. The great challenges of our times, whether poverty, hunger, health inequities, climate change, and beyond are experienced in localities. They confront people of all demographic backgrounds and political persuasions. Ultimately, most people have similar intentions in life – they want to lead a healthy life for themselves and their families and friends, make a living, have a decent home, secure access to a quality education, feel safe and secure, and beyond. These matters transcend political perspectives and worldviews.

The engagement of anchor institutions in mutually transformative, democratic collaboration to solve challenging matters in local communities also stands to break down barriers. During the conference, we will feature examples of how collaborative initiatives involving anchor institutions are meeting public needs with constituents beyond politics, identity, culture, languages, race, and geography. As most of our speakers at AITF events come from our membership, we would like to hear from you about ways in which your work has been transcending boundaries. We look forward to building our roster of speakers over the coming months.

If you wish to attend the conference in person or virtually, please contact Marga Inc. Senior Consultant, Xiania Foster (x.foster@margainc.com). We have also been offering virtual participation for these events, which are also recorded. A recording will be distributed after the event.

On one other note, please take a look at a new feature in our newsletter – a Member Spotlight. This first edition includes the work of the St. Pete Anchors Collaborative, which recently presented on some exciting local hiring strategies during the most recent Anchor Partnerships Subgroup meeting.

St. Petersburg Anchors Collaborate on Local Hiring

Expanding economic opportunity is an area where anchor institutions in St. Petersburg, FL have found alignment in their strategic priorities. The #GetHiredStPete Career Fair is an event that connects local residents seeking jobs to employers eager to bring on new hires. It is coordinated by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg St. Pete Works and Pinellas County Urban League, CareerSource Pinellas, and others. Anchor institutions feature as the primary employers at the event, many of them offering same-day interviews and job offers. Event organizers have worked with these anchor partners on tailoring hiring practices to broaden access to job seekers in the area, effectively shortening the hiring window from what is often 1-1.5 months to about 5 days.

The approach to advertising is key to the recent successes of #GetHiredStPete. Promotional strategy for the Career Fair engages local businesses and institutions that can spread the word, makes use of mobile billboards, and mobilizes street teams composed of local residents to assist with outreach. The inclusive language on promotional materials for the initiative is informed in large part by the lived experiences and perspectives of residents. Over 400 community members were welcomed at the last event held in October 2023. More information and photos are available at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg website. The St. Petersburg Anchors Collaborative consists of St. Anthony’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, and the City of St. Petersburg.

Closing the Gender Wealth Gap: Catalyzing Change in the Labor Movement (Webinar)



On March 19, Philadelphia nonprofit organization Women’s Way hosted its latest virtual forum in a series focused on the gender wealth gap. The event brought together a panel of labor changemakers to discuss pursuing gender wealth equity through the labor movement. A recording of the webinar is available via the link. The Virtual Education Series first launched in October 2020.

DEI Legislation Tracker (Dashboard)

The Chronicle of Higher Education is tracking state and federal legislation that impacts how colleges and universities can approach DEI work. The new tool includes an interactive map showing where lawmakers are advancing such measures. Outside of higher education, other industries are also exploring the effects of the 2023 Supreme Court decision on affirmative action in college admissions.



Coalition Conversation: HUD & Higher Ed Collaboration to Support Foster Youth Housing (Webinar)



Campus Compact held a webinar about its ongoing work in partnership with HUD to support housing opportunity for foster youth. A recording and transcript of the event are available via the link.

How Anchor Institutions Improve Patient, Community, and Workforce Health (Webinar)

NEJM Catalyst organized a virtual event to discuss the ways in which hospitals and health systems are working to embrace an organizational anchor mission. A recording of the two-hour event is available and free to watch.



Eds and Meds: Anchor institutions significant to local economic development - from Aol.

February 18 - Higher education institutions like Midwestern State University (MSU) and hospital organizations like United Regional Health Care System (URHCS) are essential anchors inextricably linked to the long-term well-being of the Wichita Falls community.

In Hospitals, Affordable Housing Gets the Long-Term Investor It Needs - from New York Times

March 12 - As medical anchor institutions deepen their efforts to promote community health, housing is seen as an area of major opportunity. Hospitals are joining with real estate developers to construct affordable housing in their localities. Investment in affordable housing is one way these anchors are expanding housing accessibility for staff.

The New Urban Order: Reinventing Arts and Culture - from Philadelphia Citizen

March 4 - Spurred in part by the economic impact of the pandemic, there is an ongoing shift in the arts in many cities around the country. This article outlines potential ways of leveraging longstanding cultural anchor institutions even as artists continue to innovate in rapidly changing arts scenes.

Let’s use Steward crisis to reimagine health care in the Merrimack Valley - from Commonwealth Beacon Opinion

March 10 - Leaders at a major hospital in eastern Massachusetts make the case for renewed investment in innovative, equity-centered approaches to regional healthcare delivery. The medical anchor institution has faced unique challenges stemming from "decades of underinvestment and reimbursement rate disparities in marginalized communities" and other factors.

Mayor Scott, HBCU Presidents announce launch of new career initiative - from WMAR2 News

February 29 - Providing local opportunities for quality employment is a common priority for anchor institutions and partnerships. A new program in Baltimore, MD may serves as a latest example of local collaboration on the topic. Baltimore City government is partnering with local HBCUs to offer job opportunities to new graduates ready to enter the workforce.

Admissions as Slavery Reparations - from Inside Higher Ed

January 8 - In the wake of the Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, higher education and indeed other sectors are exploring ways to advance equity beyond affirmative action. One approach would be to reconfigure the admissions process as a pathway to slavery reparations.