Photo credit: Flickr user Morgan Burke.

Philadelphia is part of Knight Foundation’s soul.

The relationship is more than 40 years old, reaching back to the years when the Knight brothers first bought The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News. Although the newspaper chain has passed into history, the foundation carries forward their principles and their belief in the power of information to connect people and help them shape their lives. Knight has deep local roots and a national network of ideas, and it’s fitting that those resources help mold Philadelphia.

This city, more than 300 years old, is part of the American soul. It has stood at the center of life on this continent since before our country was founded. The First Continental Congress met here. The Declaration of Independence was signed here. Philadelphia was once America’s first city, with an industrial heart and a thriving population from diverse backgrounds. 

That is a history we cannot take lightly. After 50 years of decline, Philadelphia has seen an increase in population, primarily associated with an influx of young talent, empty nesters and immigrants. It has been a great source of pride for many of us, but if we are to become the world-class city that we should be, that we once were, there is more work for us. That is part of Knight Foundation’s commitment to Philadelphia.

Our middle class, while more educated than 40 years ago, has declined. We have about the same percentage of middle-class residents as Boston and Chicago, but that’s not good news. We have a higher percentage of lower-income residents and a smaller percentage of higher-income residents, according to a recent Pew research report, “Philadelphia’s Changing Middle Class.” In addition, about 50 percent of our new residents have a college degree but it is slightly higher for both Boston and Chicago. Furthermore, our ratio of people with college degrees to the percentage of people with less than a high school degree is 1-to-1. Boston is 3-to-1 and Chicago almost 2-to-1. That is troubling for the future of this city, with its rich history. 

For Philadelphia to be competitive and to achieve substantial economic growth we must attract, harness and grow talent. We must boost opportunity and entrepreneurship and support economic mobility for all of our city’s residents, for the sake of this place, our place. At Knight Foundation, we believe we can be a catalyst. In the coming weeks, you will hear more about Knight’s approach to helping Philadelphia continue to grow into a city where all of its talent can prosper.

At the heart of our work is the belief that democracy thrives when people are informed and engaged. That’s something that one of our city’s greatest residents, Benjamin Franklin, would have understood. He believed in invention, and reinvention, in great experiments, which would lead to great things. This country is proof of that. According to tradition, he once said, “Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.” Let’s reach and continue to grow, Philadelphia.

Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Philadelphia program director at Knight Foundation