Heights Graduation Celebration Honored 500+ Students 

Heights Philadelphia & Wharton Undergraduate Division Host 3rd Annual Equity Summit Empowering High School Students to Foster Equity in Communities

On Monday, April 15th Heights Philadelphia (Heights) and the Wharton Undergraduate Division of the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) hosted its 3rd Annual Equity Summit. High school students were invited to build connections and passions around the themes of justice, mental health and wellness, and advocacy as they learned about the principles of equity-centered work by hearing from experts in this field, exploring the principles of equity-centered work, and reflecting on the value of equity in their communities.

Students participated in discussions, workshops, and hands-on experiences, and heard from keynote speaker Keith Leaphart, Chief Health Equity and Community Impact Officer at Thomas Jefferson University. Additionally, students heard welcoming remarks from Tomás Hanna, Associate Superintendent for Secondary Schools at the School District of Philadelphia.

Many thanks to all of the participating partners for student workshops, including:

  • World Affairs Council of Philadelphia 
  • Divulge Alliance, Inc. 
  • Thomas Jefferson University
  • School District of Philadelphia DEI Office 
  • Philly Children’s Movement 
  • Villanova Admissions 
  • Collective Climb 
  • PA Youth Vote

An additional thanks to the participating partners for the Opportunity Fair, including:

  • Bebashi – Transition to Hope 
  • Ellis Trust for Girls 
  • Girls Justice League 
  • NCUS TEC 
  • PA Youth Vote 
  • Penn SAS High School Programs 
  • Stockton University 
  • University of Pennsylvania 
  • West Chester University Graduate School 
  • Pennco Tech Trade School 
  • Philadelphia City Rowing 
  • River Ambassadors at the Independence Seaport Museum 
  • Community College of Philadelphia 
  • Mural Arts Philadelphia 
  • Coded by Kids 
  • Penn Talent Search 
  • SquashSmarts 
  • World Affairs Council

Finally, we are grateful to Wharton for their partnership on this important event for our students, and to Penn Museum for hosting.