AITF Newsletter - April 2026
The April 2026 AITF Newsletter is now available!
Read the full newsletter here: AITF March 2026 Newsletter
This issue continues our focus on Values in Action while addressing the shifting operating environments many anchor institutions face today. In a social and political context where core dimensions of local engagement are under pressure, institutions are increasingly called upon to demonstrate their value and impact. This month, we explore how values-driven actions—rooted in a commitment to place, democratic practice, cross-sector collaboration, and racial equity—enhance the effectiveness of anchors as they navigate these complex challenges and deliver local solutions.
Inside this edition, you’ll find:
A save-the-date for AITF’s 2026 Annual Event (November 5, 10am–3pm Eastern), where we will continue to pursue work informed by our Values in Action theme.
A focus on Leadership, exploring intentional efforts to strengthen leadership pathways and sharpen our understanding of values-driven leadership at multiple levels within anchor institutions and their communities.
A Member Spotlight on Rutgers University–Newark (RU–N), highlighting their new Center for Health Excellence and Community Empowerment (CHECE). This deep dive covers CHECE’s transdisciplinary approach to engaging underrepresented urban communities in health research, policy, and service delivery.
Updates on the Anchor Fellows Program, including the active call for applications to identify the 2027 cohort of emerging anchor leaders.
Publications news, featuring a call for essays for Volume 4 of the AITF Leadership Guide Series focusing on leadership matters relevant to anchor-community partnerships.
Subgroup updates, emphasizing these crucial spaces for mutual encouragement, shared learning, and new conversations around elevating anchor institution storytelling.
A packed Resources from the Field section featuring actionable tools and insights, including the Healthcare Anchor Network's new Impact Workforce Toolkit, strategies for optimizing the NHS estate, and takeaways from a global webinar on renewing higher education's democratic and civic mission.
News, articles, and new research showcasing anchors driving regional resilience, including a major tech/health accelerator collaboration in Baltimore, rural library adaptations in Estonia, and the role of Minority-Serving Institutions in place-based economic development.
Each month, the AITF Newsletter shares insights, research, and real-world examples of anchor institutions putting values into practice across sectors and geographies.
Stay Connected & Get Involved
Each issue of the Anchor Institutions Task Force Newsletter provides updates on anchor practice, leadership, and research from across sectors. Sign up for the mailing list to receive future issues, event announcements, and resources from the field.
