Temple University Strengthens Philadelphia's Schools and Literary Community With Two Major Initiatives

For Philadelphia's Desi and South Asian community — many of whom are parents, educators, and students connected to Temple University — these two initiatives reflect a shared commitment to safe, inclusive, and intellectually vibrant spaces for young people in the city.

🏫 Federal Grant of $1.5 Million to Expand Trauma-Sensitive Schools Program

Temple University secured $1.5 million in federal funding to expand its Philadelphia Healthy and Safe Schools program, which works to build trauma-sensitive learning environments across the city. The announcement was made in April with the participation of Representative Brendan Boyle, who joined Temple leadership for the occasion. Key figures involved in the initiative include the Marjorie Joy Katz Dean at the Katz School, the program's director, and the director of the Center for Health Justice and Bioethics. The funding represents a significant investment in the well-being of Philadelphia's school-aged children, many of whom come from communities that have experienced trauma. [3]

📚 Temple Book Club Spotlights Novel Exploring Anti-Asian Sentiment in America

Temple University's Charles Library hosted a book club discussion of Celeste Ng's acclaimed novel Our Missing Hearts, the 2026 selection for the citywide One Book, One Philadelphia program. The event, held in Room 113 of Charles Library on North 13th Street, was open to all and offered an informal space to discuss the book's themes. Set in a near-future America, the novel follows a 12-year-old boy searching for his Chinese American mother, a poet whose work has been censored due to anti-Asian sentiment. The story explores censorship, racism, and how art and storytelling can serve as tools against oppression — themes that resonate powerfully with Philadelphia's Asian and South Asian communities. [5]

Sources: [3] Temple Now · [5] Temple Now