The partnerships described in this article represent the fruits of two decades of collaboration between the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), community organizations, and the public schools in Philadelphia (particularly schools in West Philadelphia, where Penn is located). Penn's Center for Community Partnerships (CCP) has worked with other neighborhood resources to create university-assisted community schools that are centers of education and engagement and that provide a range of additional services for students, their parents, and other community members. The specific partnerships described in this article--the school-based community health promotion and disease prevention program at Sayre Middle School and the literacy program at Drew Elementary School--offer insights into how the university and the community have worked together to create meaningful change. (Contains 1 figure and 5 notes.)