• Article

    AIRIE Residency: Man and Nature

    Published November 13, 2014 by

    By Reed van Brunschot, AIRIE I started my adventure by driving all the way down south to the very tip of America to the small village called Flamingo to meet ranger Ryan to receive my keys for the AIRIELAB studio. There was absolutely no phone service, and it was a...
  • Article

    Celebrate “The Firebird”

    Published November 13, 2014 by

    “The Sun is a life force. It makes everything grow. A divinity that can lift our spirits. I have conceived of the sun as a Bird like those found in American Indian and Mexican legends. The bird is the creature closest to the sun.” ~ Niki de Saint Phalle [caption...
  • Article

    Meet the Swamp: A place for all things Florida

    Published November 13, 2014 by

    RELATED LINKS "Broadsides and craft brews at Miami Book Fair's 'The Swamp'" by Lisette Mendez on Knight blog, 10/31/14 "PBS to livestream, cover Miami Book Fair International" by Lisette Mendez on Knight blog, 11/10/14   Growing up poor in Miami Beach, I lived in two Miami’s at once. And though I am as Miami as any Jewish, Mariel Boatlift-Cuban, tattooed, book-obsessed, PTA-mom-of-two can be, I still feel like a slight outsider in my own city. Which is why I have a nagging preoccupation with not only the “Magic City,” but all of Florida – with the life of this place.  And why The Swamp at this year’s Miami International Book Fair. The metaphorical love child of Jimbo’s and the Delano Hotel (two Miami places that represent so much for me), the Swamp will be the place to experience Florida stories – and not just of the literary kind. In addition to author events, there will be music, spoken word performances, film screenings, and participatory fun like literary karaoke and bocce ball challenges. The walls will be painted by six of Miami’s most talented street artists, and we’ll finish off the eight days with a Big Night in Little Haiti-style concert featuring the band Lakou Mizik.
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    Finding opportunity in empathy: One of the keys to successful cities

    Published November 13, 2014 by

    Jim Boyle is senior program officer to the New Economy Initiative, a special project of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan that Knight Foundation supports to help cultivate a network of entrepreneurs and innovators. Real opportunity is never presented complete and wrapped in a bow. Rather, it is considered. It is discussed. It is empathy in action. There are questions posed. What is needed? How can we help? Who benefits? At its best, real opportunity is derived from a true shared vision. For opportunity is not always about the “thing” being offered, the chance or perceived chance for advancement or assistance – be it a meal when you’re hungry or a quality education for your child. It’s about who’s presenting it, who’s been included in crafting it, who benefits from that advancement, and why. This is especially true in areas where trust is hard to come by.
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    Lessons from Miami: Five insights for foundations to better serve grantees

    Published November 13, 2014 by

    How can we improve our work with grantees? Matt Haggman at the Miami Grantee Gathering by Anusha Alikhan on Twitter. More than 100 Knight Miami grantees came together on Nov. 4 to help us answer this question. Among them were the innovators, entrepreneurs and creatives that have been part of Knight’s journey to make Miami more of a place where ideas are built. They provided a view into the progress made since the foundation’s Miami program launched an effort to support the city’s emerging community of entrepreneurs and startups nearly two-and-a-half years ago. Each had a part in the transformation that has occurred in Miami’s innovation ecosystem since that time. Matt Haggman, Knight Foundation program director for Miami, kicked-off the discussion by highlighting the gathering as a way to share, learn and connect. He also explained Knight’s thinking behind supporting Miami’s community of startups, makers and doers of all kinds.
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    ‘Knight Cities’ podcast: A conversation on race and inclusion with Angela Glover Blackwell of PolicyLink

    Published November 12, 2014 by

    The quest to be a “just and fair” nation seems like a goal every American can rally around. But when you start unpacking the racial implications of that ambition, things can get complicated fast. Angela Glover Blackwell is founder of PolicyLink, a national organization that continues to lead the always-difficult debate on race, class and inclusion in America, and she is our guest this week on “Knight Cities.” Listen to my conversation with Angela here. And sign up for the “Knight Cities” newsletter to get alerts as soon as new conversations are posted. 
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    Cities: Building on our ‘opportunity’ infrastructure

    Published November 12, 2014 by

    An image of a bustling Philadelphia, Pa., one of 26 Knight communities. Photo by Flickr user George Smyth. As America bolts to its demographic destiny of a majority people of color nation, dozens of cities are already there. This growing diversity is our greatest asset, a competitive edge in a world without boundaries, if we leverage the talent of everyone. But right now, we do not. The urban renaissance is occurring against the backdrop of rising inequality and persistent racial inequity. The resulting friction sometimes overshadows, and in the long run threatens to undermine, the incredible opportunities afforded by the resurgence of cities. To maintain their competitive advantage, cities will have to address the following tough questions.