The Weitzman School of Design, in partnership with the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR), is launching the Public Service and Policy Initiative (PSPI). Founded by former Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, PSPI applies rigorous academic research, the experience of former local public executives, and human-centered solutions to combat economic hardship in Philadelphia. The Initiative reinforces the Weitzman School’s commitment to design as a tool for public good by bringing together research, civic leadership, and community partnerships.
“Design is fundamentally about improving the conditions of everyday life,” says Weitzman Dean and Paley Professor Fritz Steiner. “With PSPI, we are leveraging the Weitzman School’s strengths in urban planning and community engagement to better understand the realities of economic hardship in our city—and to translate that understanding into practical, scalable solutions.”
Bridging Research, Leadership, and Practice
Municipal governments are on the front lines of responding to public needs more than ever—a trend likely to grow given the federal landscape. PSPI’s integrated model aims to disrupt the status quo, challenge the preconceived notions built into policy and investment with reliable, resident-informed data, and facilitate learning between experienced local public executives and aspiring ones.
PSPI will advance three interconnected efforts: the ongoing Philadelphia Economic Equity Project (formerly housed at the School of Social Policy & Practice at Penn), as well as two additional programs in partnership with Penn IUR—the Impact Scholars and the Public Service Pipeline.
The Philadelphia Economic Equity Project (PEEP) generates key data to help shape scalable solutions to economic hardship and mobility through a longitudinal, neighborhood-level survey of Philadelphia residents.
The Impact Scholars program will provide a platform for former local public executives to advance unfinished projects, share insights with current leaders, researchers, and students, and help bring tested strategies to other American cities.
The Public Service Pipeline program will create learning opportunities and career-pathway exposure for undergraduate and graduate students at Penn by providing access to the real-world, practical experiences of former public executives.
Together, PSPI’s programs will create a holistic platform for exploring and designing strategies that keep people and communities healthy, safe, and economically thriving.
“The Public Service and Policy Initiative is a natural partner for Penn IUR,” says Eugénie L. Birch, co-director of Penn IUR and Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research and Education at Weitzman. “Its mission aligns directly with our commitment to interdisciplinary urban scholarship and the cultivation of informed, effective urban leadership to advance sustainable development.”
A New Model for Local Data and Policy Insight
PSPI originated in 2022 with its research arm, PEEP, which integrates academic research with the lived experiences of Philadelphia residents and the expertise of public-sector leaders. Adapted from Columbia University’s New York City Poverty Tracker, PEEP is designed to focus specifically on the experiences and insights of Philadelphians, building a hyper-local information system that captures how residents interact with city, state, and federal services.
In the fall of 2023, PEEP launched its initial longitudinal panel survey with over 2,400 Philadelphia residents participating in a comprehensive study of employment, housing, income, benefits use, and life experiences. The intentional use of strategies to reach hard-to-engage communities, such as offering materials in multiple languages and modes, and enhanced participation incentives, resulted in panel enrollment that surpassed the initial target sample size by 25 percent. By combining longitudinal surveys with interviews and administrative data, PEEP provides a rare level of specificity that can better target solutions to the needs of Philadelphians.
Looking Ahead
The first cohort of PSPI’s Impact Scholars will be invited in the coming months and announced preceding the Fall 2026 semester. New PEEP research insights, including white papers and briefs to inform local decision-making and investments, will be released throughout the year.
“I am excited and honored to join both the Weitzman School of Design and Penn IUR in launching the Public Service and Policy Initiative,” says Nutter, a senior executive fellow and PSPI’s managing director. “The future of local governance relies on us strengthening cities, listening and responding to community members experiencing hardship, and inspiring and preparing the next generation of local public servants. We are committed to developing strong leaders and advancing solutions that help communities truly prosper—and there is no better place to start than Philadelphia.”
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