The Office of Community Engagement leads the growth of the College of Public Health's interdisciplinary, community-engaged activities as part of its mission to reduce health inequities and improve the health and well-being of the community. With the guidance of our advisory committees, the office cultivates partnerships between the college, local organizations and community members; supports collaborative efforts to obtain internal and external funding; and builds capacity for community-engaged work within the college and its partners through curricula development, community lectures and educational trainings.

Our mission and vision

The Office of Community Engagement's long-term goal is to integrate community voices into the college's activities, initiatives and priorities and make the college known for excellence in community-engaged research, teaching and practice. 

Our mission is to advance community engagement for transformative social change, justice and health equity. We use participatory approaches to achieve this goal by:

• facilitating collaborative efforts to obtain internal and external funding;
• facilitating connections and nurturing strong, sustainable relationships between the college and local health-, faith- and community-based organizations;
• increasing the capacity for equitable and mutually beneficial partnerships between the college and local, regional and national partners; and
• sharing resources and information about community-engaged research and practice, public health and healthcare.

Annual events

Through various community service and giving events throughout the year, the Office of Community Engagement partners with College of Public Health faculty, staff, students and alumni to recognize, appreciate and serve our neighbors surrounding Main Campus and communities across Philadelphia.

CPH Give Back Day

CPH Give Back Day is an annual day of service in which students, staff, faculty, and alumni partner with our North Philadelphia neighbors to give back to our local community. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate at community sites where they complete tasks like indoor and outdoor cleaning or organizing clothing donations.

Food and toy drives

During the holiday season, the College of Public Health sponsors donation drives for food and toys, distributing collection boxes around CPH buildings on Temple's Main Campus.

Lecture series

In partnership with the Mayor's Commission on African American Males, the Office of Community Engagement co-hosts a wellness workshop series that takes place in community-based locations around Philadelphia. Past topics have included self-care, diabetes and kidney health.