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How do you create a radically open platform for building new cultural capital in cities? Sign up for Episode Alerts Subscribe

That’s been the job of Leslie Koch, president of the Trust for Governors Island, a nonprofit organization created by the city of New York to run what is an historic former military base being transformed into a park by and for New Yorkers. With the lightest possible touch, she has transformed a set of empty buildings and grounds into a platform animated by artists, collectors, and passionate hobbyists.  

It’s a model every city can learn from.

Listen to my conversation with Leslie here. And sign up for the “Knight Cities” newsletter to get alerts as soon as new conversations are posted.

Look for new content posted every Wednesday here. You can follow us on Twitter at #KnightCities or @KnightFdn. And if you have ideas for people you’d like to hear more from, please email me.

Carol Coletta is vice president of community and national initiatives at Knight Foundation.

On Twitter: @Gov_Island.