Community Engagement Office
The Office of Community Engagement's mission is to foster activity that promotes vibrant, diverse, and safe neighborhoods and creates a strong sense of community among all residents. Due to the Borough of State College's partnership with Penn State, the Office of Community Engagement serves as a resource for student-residents and long-term residents and strives to cultivate positive relations between them.
The Office of Community Engagement also helps ensure that all Borough neighborhoods are sustainable and inclusive by supporting community capacity-building efforts and encouraging student-residents and long-term residents to participate in community living.
To encourage community participation, more than 60 events are held in the Borough of State College each year, including festivals, parades, and holiday celebrations. Groups interested in hosting an event within the Borough should utilize the Special Events Hub to apply and check the status of their application.
Click each tab below to learn more about the initiatives and events the Office of Community Engagement contributes to.
The Living in One Neighborhood (LION) initiative is a collaborative effort aimed at fostering a stronger, more connected community by bridging the gap between long-term residents and short-term residents (college students). By creating meaningful resources and hosting inclusive events, LION encourages mutual respect, shared experiences, and active participation from all who call the Borough home — whether for a semester or a lifetime.
As a town and gown initiative, LION emphasizes the importance of unity and understanding between the university community and the broader town population. The program is grounded in the philosophy of “One Town. Many Stories. All Neighbors,” a reminder that every individual contributes to the community.
As a part of the initiative, the Borough of State College provides community members with The LION Guide (pdf).
What the Living In One Neighborhood (LION) Bash Is:
LION Bash is a combination of a resource fair and block party. The goal is to get the community, no matter what "piece" of the neighborhood "puzzle" they fit in, to come out, enjoy live entertainment, and learn more about the Borough of State College.
Engagement Stations
Engagement Stations are set up for people in the community to go around to and either receive information, play a game, or even win prizes. In total, there were about 150 engagement stations set up within three blocks. These engagement stations provide participants information about how they serve the community and how community members can help give back to the community. Register for LION Bash 2025 by filling out this short form.
LION Bash 2025
LION Bash 2025 is scheduled to take place in Downtown State College on Thursday, September 4, from 5-8 p.m. in Downtown State College.
In the coming weeks, the LION Bash Planning Committee will be announcing the engagement station participating as well as food, music, and giveaways!
To learn more about LION Bash, visit here.
2024: F8 Report on Police, Emergency Services and Ordinance Data
F8, First Eight Weeks, is an ongoing project to evaluate and address adverse behavior in certain State College residential neighborhoods during the Penn State University fall semester. Various Borough of State College departments partner with representatives from Penn State University, the Centre Region Council of Governments, township police departments, EMS providers, and local courts on the F8 initiative, meeting weekly throughout much of the Fall Semester.
The program was initiated in 2007 following visits to and consultations with several other communities that host major universities and who have started similar programs with encouraging results. The F8 tracks and analyzes police, ordinance, and EMS data for the current semester comparing it to previous years.  F8 reviews data for the neighborhoods, downtown, and PSU campus.
Movies Under the Stars is a spring/summer movies series held at Sidney Friedman Park in Downtown State College. Previous titles in the series include “A League of Their Own,” “Elemental” and “Soul,” among others. Bring your family and friends, along with a blanket, and enjoy a movie under the stars. Complimentary popcorn and water are provided.
More Information on this summer's line up can be found here.