AITF Newsletter - March 2026
The March 2026 AITF Newsletter is now available!
Read the full newsletter here: AITF March 2026 Newsletter
This issue continues our yearlong focus on Values in Action—and puts a spotlight on cross-sector place-based collaboration. As commitments to place and community engagement remain at the core of our work, AITF is highlighting the multi-stakeholder local partnerships that bring together higher education, hospitals, cultural organizations, local governments, and community groups. This month, we explore how these collaborative infrastructures are driving progress on intersecting issues like health equity, education, and job creation, proving that institutions achieve the greatest impact when they transcend individual priorities to work together.
Inside this edition, you’ll find:
A save-the-date for AITF’s 2026 Annual Event (November 5, 10am–3pm Eastern), continuing the Values in Action theme and demonstrating how these core principles are infused into programming and partnerships.
An update on Cross Sector Place-Based Collaboration, featuring the Anchor Partnerships Subgroup and a call to action to help update and expand the Anchor Partnerships Database to better capture the landscape of collaborative efforts globally.
A Member Spotlight on the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), showcasing their deep, longstanding commitment to West Baltimore. This deep dive covers UMB’s collaborative initiatives, including the interprofessional President’s Clinic, the new community-driven Health Village at Mondawmin, the PATIENTS research program, and the Emmy-nominated CURE Scholars Program.
Updates on the Anchor Fellows Program, announcing the new call for applications to identify the 2027 cohort of emerging anchor leaders.
Publications news, including a call for essays for Volume 4 of the AITF Leadership Guide Series, with submissions focusing on leadership matters directly tied to the Values in Action theme.
Subgroup updates, highlighting these vital spaces for mutual encouragement, resilience-building, and new conversations around enhancing how we tell the story of anchor institution contributions.
A packed Resources from the Field section featuring upcoming events like Placemaking Week and a global higher education webinar, plus insights on student mental health, equitable maternity care, and the complex leadership challenges currently facing university presidents.
News, articles, and new research showcasing how cultural organizations, libraries, foundations, and nonprofit hospitals are acting as true community hubs, reimagining the public square, and driving equitable urban 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.
Read the full newsletter here: AITF March 2026 Newsletter
