West Chester University (WCU) was recently recognized by three organizations for its commitment to community engagement.
The University has received $10,000 in grants to support a public humanities initiative rooted in the legacy of Frederick Douglass and the Andy Dinniman Partnership Award by Safe Harbor of Chester County for the University’s long-standing collaboration with the organization.
Campus250 and Let Freedom Ring Grants: Together We Thrive
Campus Philly and PHENND (Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development), with support from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, selected WCU as one of the 15 grant recipients in the second round of Campus250 funding, a regional initiative awarding more than $120,000 to support community-engaged projects commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. WCU received a second award from the Chester County Community Foundation’s Let Freedom Ring Grant program.
Both grants totaling $10,000 support “Together We Thrive: Defining Liberty, Fostering Integrity,” a public humanities initiative that connects regional histories, communities, and campuses through the legacy of Frederick Douglass. Running from spring through December 2026, the project engages students, faculty, and the public in experiential learning, exhibits, and field experiences exploring the Underground Railroad, suffrage, and local histories across Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties. By weaving together interdisciplinary scholarship, civic engagement, and student-created content, the initiative fosters inclusive conversations about liberty, integrity, and the ongoing work of building an engaged democracy.
“The 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding is an extraordinary moment to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going,” said Helen Hammerschmidt, Associate Vice President for Communications, Operations, and Strategy in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, and Co-Chair of the WCU250 Committee. “This grant allows our students, faculty, and community partners to do that work in a tangible and meaningful way by sharing stories of people from this very region who lived, fought, and sacrificed for the ideals of our country.”
Associate Professor of History and African American Studies, Dr. tonya thames-taylor said both grants encourage stewardship of cultural, historical, and public spaces. One of the outcomes of the grant is the publication of a pamphlet that Dr. thames-taylor is writing that chronicles Douglass’ visit to the greater West Chester area.
Andy Dinniman Partnership Award
WCU received the Senator Andy Dinniman Partnership Award at Safe Harbor of Chester County’s 30th anniversary celebration on Mar. 11. The award recognizes organizations whose partnerships have made a meaningful difference for the shelter and its residents.
Accepting on behalf of the University were Dr. Gerardina Martin, Chair and Assistant Director of the Honors College; Ms. Katie Clay, Associate Director for Service Learning, Center for Community Engagement and Social Impact; and Dr. Tina Chiarelli-Helminiak, Professor of Social Work.
“Safe Harbor has given West Chester University students invaluable opportunities to learn outside of the classroom,” Martin said. “We hope to continue this partnership for many years to come.”
Safe Harbor is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide emergency housing, food, and access to support services in a structured environment for unhoused single men and women in Chester County.
The award is named in honor of Andy Dinniman, a former Chester County Commissioner, Pennsylvania State Senator, and WCU Professor, who was instrumental in establishing Safe Harbor three decades ago. WCU’s Special Collections houses the Dr. Andrew Dinniman Archive Collection.
Learn more at West Chester University (WCU), the largest member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, which is comprised of 10 state-owned universities within the Commonwealth of PA. Founded in 1871, West Chester University is a comprehensive public institution offering a diverse range of more than 180 academic opportunities in 40 fields of study across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. In addition to the main campus in West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, the location in Philadelphia, and online. Six colleges and two schools comprise the University: University College, Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Management, Education and Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the Wells School of Music, and the Graduate School. The University is classified as an R2 (“Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity”) by Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education; R2 universities have “high research activity” in academic settings where teaching is the priority.
