Anchor Institutions Task Force News
April 2026
AITF Updates
Values in Action
As anchor institutions continue to experience a different operating environment in our current social and political context, some core dimensions of being anchored in localities are under pressure. Anchor institutions are local assets known for their endurance. But recent developments have disrupted this stability to varying degrees. This is especially true for some of the more community-centered anchor institutions, which primarily serve lower income populations. Potentially existential challenges are also facing anchors of all types.
In the face of such adversity, institutions are called upon to demonstrate value and impact. In our field, we have always known that anchor institutions’ contributions to local solutions are significant expressions of the usefulness of anchors to society. This is particularly true when the actions of anchor institutions are values-driven.
In AITF we continue to promote a set of values that facilitate the transformative potential of anchor institutions – a commitment to place and community, collaboration and partnership (including cross sector collaboration), democracy and democratic practice, and social justice and equity (including racial justice and racial equity). In our theme for this year and last year, Values in Action, we are showcasing how these values enhance the effectiveness of anchor institutions as engaged actors in the communities where they reside. We are also aspiring to continue to refine and improve how these values are practiced.
We look forward to continuing to pursue the work informed by our Values in Action theme, which includes our Annual Event, which will take place in November. Please hold November 5 from 10am to 3pm Eastern on your calendars.
Leadership
Leadership continues to be a priority for AITF. Values-driven leadership at multiple levels in anchor institutions and communities helps catalyze transformative actions. Our recognition of this reality, and the continuous reminders of the necessity of leadership to both launching and sustaining anchor strategies, led to the development of intentional efforts to strengthen leadership. This includes improving leadership pathways, providing resources for leaders, and sharpening our understanding of the role and potential of leadership in engaged anchor institutions.
Among the resources listed below are our Anchor Fellows Program and ourLeadership Guide Series. Please consider nominating a Fellow for our 2027 cohort and consider submitting an essay for our fourth Leadership Guide.
Member Spotlight
Thanks very much to Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) for providing our latest Member Spotlight. RU-N has been especially engaged in AITF over the years. Note that cohorts of the Anchor Fellows conduct a group site visit to RU-N every year. This has been a central component of the annual experience for Fellows.
This Spotlight describes a new initiative, Center for Health Excellence and Community Empowerment (CHECE), which engages underrepresented urban communities in policy development, health research, service delivery, and decision-making. CHECE is taking a values-driven approach, which is informed by community voices, builds on existing community strengths, generates actionable knowledge, and more.
Please read the full Member Spotlight and learn more about the latest iteration of RU-N’s continuous contributions to Newark and our field.
Please also consider submitting a future Member Spotlight. Storytelling on anchor institutions’ Values in Action is essential to demonstrating the potential of the transformative work taking place across AITF’s membership.
AITF Member Spotlight
Rutgers University–Newark: Advancing the Anchor Mission
Being of Newark—not just in Newark—has long defined Rutgers University–Newark’s (RU–N) identity. This commitment is reflected in the university’s anchor institution agenda, a top institutional priority grounded in place-based engagement. Anchor institutions serve as social glue, economic engines, or both, and Rutgers–Newark actively partners with fellow anchors across the city to expand opportunities and improve quality of life for all residents.
Through these collaborations, RU–N has helped increase college-going rates among Newark residents, expand local hiring and procurement, and co-create socially engaged public art initiatives with local artists and cultural institutions. The university’s anchor work spans several core impact areas: Equitable Growth; Building Educational Pathways; STEM in the Public Interest; Safe and Just Cities; Arts and Culture for Social Change; and Leveraging Diversity.
Spotlight Initiative: Center for Health Excellence & Community Empowerment (CHECE)
One of RU–N’s newest anchor initiatives is the Center for Health Excellence & Community Empowerment (CHECE). The Center builds on the proven community engagement strategies of the Office of University-Community Partnerships (OUCP), alongside the scholarship and service expertise of the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA).
CHECE’s mission is to support public, nonprofit, and private sector partners in effectively engaging underrepresented urban communities in health research, policy development, service delivery, and decision-making. The Center advances this mission by:
Integrating transdisciplinary research to address health outcomes through sustainable community partnerships
Strengthening cross-sector collaborations to co-develop projects, educational systems, and workforce training aligned with community needs
Promoting community-engaged research, teaching, and experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in health policy
Sustaining and expanding key community engagement partnerships established through OUCP
A Values-Driven Approach
CHECE’s work is grounded in its signature Transdisciplinary Intergenerational Community Engagement Model (TICEM). This model centers the following core values:
Inclusive Engagement – Ensuring community voices shape all stages of program and research design
Trust-Building – Advancing transparency, consistency, and shared purpose among stakeholders
Asset-Based Approach – Leveraging existing community strengths and resources
Reciprocity – Promoting mutual benefit and shared responsibility
Sustainable Partnerships – Building long-term relationships for lasting impact
IntergenerationalCollaboration – Fostering shared learning and leadership across age groups
Mutual Respect – Valuing diverse experiences and perspectives
Integrated Expertise – Bridging academic knowledge with lived experience
Contextual Responsiveness – Grounding work in community realities
Shared Learning – Generating actionable knowledge for all stakeholders
Neutral Facilitation – Supporting equitable dialogue through unbiased convening
Partnerships and Impact
CHECE collaborates with a broad network spanning higher education, healthcare, local government, philanthropy, and community-based organizations. Recent initiatives include:
Intergenerational Fight Against Menthol (IFAM)
NJ Alliance CTS/NJHEROES TOO – Home-Based COVID Testing
Start Healthy–Stay Healthy Early Childhood Nutrition Education
Advocates for Health and Wellness Initiative (RU Global Health Institute)
Engaging Faith-based Leaders Certificate & Partnership Initiative (ELCaPI)
Faith-Based Organization Grant Training & Technical Assistance Program
NJ Department of Health Office of Minority and Multicultural Health Equity Forum
West Ward Community Coalition
Key partnerships include collaborations with the Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy & Aging Research, New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, RU Institute for Global Health, and the West Ward Community Coalition, among others.
As Rutgers University–Newark continues to strengthen its anchor mission, initiatives like CHECE demonstrate the power of sustained, community-centered collaboration to drive meaningful change and shape a more just and inclusive future.
Other Resources
Anchor Fellows
Our Anchor Fellows Program continues to be a vital component of AITF’s work. The Fellows have been provided an immersive learning experience designed to strengthen their pathways as anchor leaders into the future. Our latest cohort is about to begin their annual experience. As you know, we rely on AITF members to nominate future prospective Fellows. We are pleased to announce our latest call for applications in order to identify the 2027 cohort. Many of our Fellows have become active participants in AITF, and their voices and experiences are influencing the evolution of the anchor field.
Publications
Our Leadership Guide series has been making informative and stimulating contributions to our understanding of the role of anchor institutions in strengthening communities through democratic partnerships. We produced the third volume in the series last year. We are now seeking essays from AITF members on leadership matters relevant to anchor institution-community partnerships. We require these essays to take into account AITF’s Values in Action theme. Please let us know if you wish to submit an essay. We hope to release volume 4 at the end of the year. Also let us know if you wish to have your and your partners’ work featured in a future Member Profile in this newsletter. The profile will return in the next newsletter. This is a significant way in which we will highlight the Values in Actiontheme in practice at the community level throughout the year.
Download the AITF Leadership Guide, Third Edition
Overall, we look forward to engaging with you over the course of 2026. Remember that there are many ways to be involved in AITF. Our Subgroups have been among the most vital forms of activity in AITF. As we have continued to experience some difficult barriers to progress in the field, Subgroups have been spaces for mutual encouragement, learning, and sharing. These discussions have generated stories of resilience and helped shape many aspects of AITF’s work. Finally, stay tuned for some noticeable advances in AITF’s approach to storytelling, as we are beginning a new series of discussions to enhance how we tell the story of the contributions of anchor institutions to the communities in which they reside.
Learn More About AITF Subgroups
Resources from the Field
Anchor Fellows
Our Anchor Fellows Program continues to be a vital component of AITF’s work. The Fellows have been provided an immersive learning experience designed to strengthen their pathways as anchor leaders into the future. Our latest cohort is about to begin their annual experience. As you know, we rely on AITF members to nominate future prospective Fellows. We are pleased to announce our latest call for applications in order to identify the 2027 cohort. Many of our Fellows have become active participants in AITF, and their voices and experiences are influencing the evolution of the anchor field.
Publications
Our Leadership Guide series has been making informative and stimulating contributions to our understanding of the role of anchor institutions in strengthening communities through democratic partnerships. We produced the third volume in the series last year. We are now seeking essays from AITF members on leadership matters relevant to anchor institution-community partnerships. We require these essays to take into account AITF’s Values in Action theme. Please let us know if you wish to submit an essay. We hope to release volume 4 at the end of the year. Also let us know if you wish to have your and your partners’ work featured in a future Member Profile in this newsletter. The profile will return in the next newsletter. This is a significant way in which we will highlight the Values in Actiontheme in practice at the community level throughout the year.
AITF Subgroups
Overall, we look forward to engaging with you over the course of 2026. Remember that there are many ways to be involved in AITF. Our Subgroups have been among the most vital forms of activity in AITF. As we have continued to experience some difficult barriers to progress in the field, Subgroups have been spaces for mutual encouragement, learning, and sharing. These discussions have generated stories of resilience and helped shape many aspects of AITF’s work. Finally, stay tuned for some noticeable advances in AITF’s approach to storytelling, as we are beginning a new series of discussions to enhance how we tell the story of the contributions of anchor institutions to the communities in which they reside.
Global Solidarity, Learning, and Action to Renew Higher Education’s Democratic and Civic Mission
This timely webinar, convened by the Global Cooperation for the Democratic Mission of Higher Education, examined how higher education can renew its democratic and civic mission amid growing geopolitical pressure, distrust in institutions, and threats to academic freedom. Speakers emphasized that universities are essential for a democratic society. They play a critical role in cultivating ethical, engaged citizens and producing knowledge for the public good. Across regions, participants highlighted increasing challenges which threaten both universities and democracy itself.
Advancing Skill Development and Employment Outcomes for Postsecondary Students
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences examines how higher education institutions are partnering with employers and regional stakeholders to strengthen workforce pathways through microcredentials, durable skills development, and career-connected learning, highlighting the role of colleges and universities as anchor institutions supporting local economic mobility and workforce development.
Impact Workforce Toolkit: Creating Economic Opportunity through Healthcare Career Pathways
The Healthcare Anchor Network has released the Impact Workforce Toolkit, a practical resource that captures a decade of learning on how health systems can use their hiring and workforce practices to create meaningful economic opportunity in their communities. The results are that community members get a fair shot at a good job with career pathways and health systems are able to address critical workforce shortages.
Accelerating estate solutions for neighbourhood health centre delivery | NHS Confederation
This joint Community Health Partnerships and NHS Confederation report draws on insights from system leaders across the country and features a series of case studies showcasing successful approaches to optimising the NHS estate.
News and Articles
LISC & Native American Development Corporation Launch Montana’s First Financial Opportunity Center® to Strengthen Economic Mobility, Fuel Local Growth
For the first time, Montana residents facing challenging economic circumstances will have access to financial and career coaching that has helped people expand their incomes, credit scores, career prospects and long-term financial stability and success for more than two decades.
Baltimore Ecosystem Announces Expanded Anchor Collaboration for Techstars AI Health Baltimore
The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) announced that the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) and MedStar Health have joined CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) and Johns Hopkins as anchor collaborators for Techstars AI Health Baltimore, marking the first time these institutions have come together in a single accelerator collaboration.
Plymouth’s anchor institutions unite to support parents with new online resource
Plymouth’s four largest anchor institutions, Plymouth City Council, Babcock International Group, the University of Plymouth, and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, have united to improve information for parents, to ensure that they can access the support, resources, and information they need to help their families thrive.
BEAM Collaborative and Murphy Business Sales Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Local Businesses and Keep Them Local
BEAM Collaborative, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening local businesses and keeping them locally owned, announced a strategic partnership with Murphy Business Sales – West Pittsburgh, a leading full-service business brokerage firm serving Western Pennsylvania.
Native voices take center stage at Cleveland art museum, public theater
A new Cleveland Museum of Art exhibit and a Cleveland Public Theatre production highlight Native artists and perspectives in Northeast Ohio, illustrating how arts anchors can support cultural representation, community engagement, and place-based storytelling.
Missouri Historic Neighborhood: Kansas City's Walkable Digital Nomad Hub
Walkable neighborhoods in Kansas City, such as West Plaza, are shaped by nearby cultural institutions, commercial centers, and transit infrastructure, illustrating how place-based anchors contribute to local economic activity, connectivity, and neighborhood vitality.
Research & Publications
Minority-Serving Institutions as Entrepreneurial Universities: Evidence from an Underserved Region: The Professional Geographer
This study situates the MSI experience within the geography of higher education and regional development, examining how MSIs develop and implement strategies that align institutional missions with regional needs to support place-based economic development.
Persistent resilience of rural branch libraries while adapting to structural reforms and community networks in Estonia
This article examines rural branch libraries’ adaptations to formal and informal community network and the importance of institutional support for networks of everyday informal encountering places, where resilience is cultivated.
View Marga Inc's AITF Publications
If you have updates about your work, resources, or articles that you would like to share with the AITF network, please email Mala Coomar at mala.c@margainc.com.