Coast to Coast – Knight Foundation

Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast is a conversation which will take a deep dive into cities and explore ideas and insights on building engaged communities in a time of rapid change.

Hosted by Lilly Weinberg and Lilian Coral.


More episodes coming soon


Previous episodes

Ep. 26: Driving decisions with local data

As cities navigate the COVID-19 recovery and rebuild, how are cities using data to respond and advance equity in their communities? What lessons are local leaders learning as they work to reopen their cities? On Episode 27 of “Coast to Coast,” we’ll talk to experts using data to drive local decision making for small-scale initiatives[…]
<meta charset=”utf-8″>Ep. 26: Driving decisions with local data

Building resilient city budgets: a guide for city practitioners

The COVID-19 pandemic turned the world — and in turn the health of cities — upside down. Communities are facing major challenges as they work to address economic downturn, structural inequity and other challenges brought on by the pandemic[…]
Building resilient city budgets: a guide for city practitioners

Public Spaces as Infrastructure: How to use federal stimulus dollars to advance equity and transform our cities

Knight Foundation believes that public spaces play an essential role in connecting and attaching community to each other and place. This hour-long lab will focus on how communities can leverage federal dollars for public space to advance equity and transform cities[…]
Public Spaces as Infrastructure: How to use federal stimulus dollars to advance equity and transform our cities

Ep. 25: Exploring digital engagement in a post-COVID world

COVID-19 has accelerated massive shifts in human behavior and interactions. The reliance on digital engagement has been a clear and predictable trend, across all sectors, that will be a permanent aspect of the way we interact, shop, work, and play[…]
Ep. 25: Exploring digital engagement in a post-COVID world

Ep. 24: Public space and equity: new research on community-led public spaces

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a record usage of America’s public spaces, underscoring their important role in community resilience. COVID-19 also gave community leaders an unexpected moment of permission: it allowed our cities to innovate and think far beyond[…]
Ep. 24: Public space and equity: new research on community-led public spaces

Ep. 23: #MiamiTech: capturing the moment

Miami’s tech scene is on the rise. What started as a tight-knit group of intrepid entrepreneurs has blossomed into a burgeoning tech and startup ecosystem. Companies, investors and the country’s top minds are finding their way to Miami, catalyzed by the new trends […]
Ep. 23: #MiamiTech: capturing the moment

Ep. 22: Building prosperous communities through inclusive, accessible entrepreneurship

Over the past year, communities across the nation have grappled with the immense challenge of balancing public health and economic stability. The economic effects of COVID-19 have fallen heavily on small businesses — particularly those in neighborhoods of […]
Ep. 22: Building prosperous communities through inclusive, accessible entrepreneurship

Ep. 21: The importance of local leadership amid national divisions

After an election that reflected deep national polarization, what are local governments doing to move forward? For Knight Foundation’s latest episode of Coast to Coast, Daniella Levine Cava of Miami-Dade County, Fla., Vi Lyles of Charlotte, N.C., Jim Kenney of Philadelphia, PA. — mayors of cities in battleground states […]
Ep. 21: The importance of local leadership amid national divisions

Ep. 20: Election 2020: Register, learn, mobilize

Cities are grappling with engaging community members during a time of major distrust. We know our communities care deeply about local issues —such as education, safety, parks and transit — but how can we turn their interest into an actual vote? On Episode 20 of “Coast to […]
Ep. 20: Election 2020: Register, learn, mobilize

Ep. 19: Universities + cities during COVID-19

Universities across the country are dealing with significant decisions around whether to remain open or closed during COVID-19. How are universities grappling with these decisions while remaining relevant? […]
Ep. 19: Universities + cities during COVID-19

Ep. 18: Driving Social Impact During Crisis

How can city leaders quantify the costs and benefits of social services to drive impact in their communities? In times of budget constraints, how can we think through new revenue generation measures while supporting more inclusive and equitable budget allocations? On Episode 18 of “Coast to Coast,” we’ll hear from Gabe Klein, co-founder and […]
Ep. 18: Driving Social Impact During Crisis

Ep. 17: Leveraging parks and public spaces for schools during COVID-19

How can schools leverage greenspaces during COVID-19? How can parks and public spaces provide a safer space for outdoor learning? On Episode 17 of Coast to Coast, we’ll hear from Sharon Danks, CEO and Founder of Green Schoolyards America, a nonprofit  that supports schools […]
Ep. 17: Leveraging parks and public spaces for schools during COVID-19

Ep. 16: Resiliency and Innovation during COVID-19

How does a non-profit organization stay resilient during a pandemic? How do you even begin to think about innovation with budget constraints? We’ll chat with Meg Daly, founder and president of Friends of the Underline, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization leading the initiative […]
Ep. 16: Resiliency and Innovation during COVID-19

Ep. 15: Community Engagement during Covid-19

How are organizations engaging with community during a pandemic? How can community groups think creatively in the way they reach out to residents both virtually and in person? We’ll chat with […]
Ep. 15: Community Engagement during Covid-19

Ep. 14: Placemaking during a pandemic

How can communities activate and program public spaces during a pandemic? How can urban spaces think creatively about redevelopment, operations and sustainability during major financial cuts? We’ll chat with word renowned urban redevelopment expert and public space management consultant Dan Biederman, President of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures about the future […]
Ep. 14: Placemaking during a pandemic

Ep. 13: Building equitable public spaces

How can communities use data to inform decision making for investing in more equitable parks? What community driven best practices can cities use for the equitable rebuild of their public spaces? We’ll chat with Trust for Public Land’s 10 Minute Walk Director Benita Hussain, […]

Ep. 13: Building equitable public spaces

Ep. 12: The revitalization of our city centers

What should communities measure as they map out their road to recovery for downtowns and public spaces? What experiments and interventions are currently working for the economic recovery of city centers across the country? On Coast to Coast, […]
Ep. 12: The revitalization of our city centers

Ep. 11: Bridging the digital divide

How can the millions of Americans who urgently need internet access get it as we transition to a digitally connected world where we engage, learn and play online? We’ll talk with leaders from three Knight cities who are who are leading work […]
Ep. 11: Bridging the digital divide

Ep. 10: Building equitable public spaces

How do communities rebuild their public spaces in an equitable, inclusive way? How does history, culture and the arts play a role in the future of urban spaces? We’ll chat with Walter Hood, a world renowned landscape architect and Knight Public Spaces Fellow.

Ep. 10: Building equitable public spaces

Ep. 9: Navigating cities in a pandemic

During a pandemic, how do people and goods safely move about? What questions should we grapple with, as we think about helping people move around a city and have access to the essential resources they need to survive? On Episode 9 of Coast to Coast, we’ll be chatting with Anthony Townsend and Warren Logan […]

Ep. 9: Navigating cities in a pandemic

Ep. 8: Civic life in the digital public square

What does civic participation and activism look like during a time of social distancing? On Episode 8 of Coast to Coast, we’ll be chatting with Mona Sloane and Warren Flood to explore how COVID-19 has affected civic life. […]

Ep. 8: Civic life in the digital public square

Ep. 7: Bridging cultures amid unrest in communities

How can we better connect and engage across cultures during America’s moment of reckoning? We’ll hear first-hand from Jay Pitter, international placemaker, and Ana Sofia Pelaez from the Miami Freedom Project. They’ll help us think through tangible ways move the needle forward, […]

Ep. 7: Bridging cultures amid unrest in communities

Ep. 6: Placemaking for justice: examples from communities

In communities across the country, people and institutions are using placemaking to advance conversations around race, equity and justice. What are they doing, and what can other cities learn from their work? On the next episode of “Coast to Coast,” we’ll hear from Taiwo […]

Ep. 6: Placemaking for justice: examples from communities

Ep. 5: Rising to the moment

How can we rise to the moment and address the issues our communities are facing head on? How are cities addressing systemic racism? Jai Winston, Knight Foundation director for St. Paul and Toni Newborn, St. Paul chief equity officer, join us to discuss […]

Ep. 5: Rising to the moment

Ep. 4: Taking back our streets during COVID-19

How can we better leverage streets for people? How can streets be part of the solution for our economic recovery? We’ll talk with experts Chelina Odbert of KDI Design and Raphael Clemente of the […]

Ep. 4: Taking back our streets during COVID-19

Ep. 3: Rebuilding with new models for public spaces engagement

As our communities rebuild after the COVID-19 crisis, what new public space models will help cities engage communities, manage spaces and forge partnerships? Lilly and Lilian spoke with Knight Public Spaces Fellows Kathryn Ott Lovell, commissioner of Philadelphia Parks […]

Ep. 3: Rebuilding with new models for public spaces engagement

Ep. 2: Equity and public space

Hosted in partnership with the High Line Network and Reimagining the Civic Commons. Featuring special guests Carol Coletta (President and CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership), Alexa Bush (Director of Urban […]

Ep. 2: Equity and public space

Ep. 1: How can we rebuild our cities?

With special guest Eric Klinenberg, Knight Public Spaces Fellow, professor of social science at NYU and practitioner working on urban public spaces.

Ep. 1: How can we rebuild our cities?