To support the City of Philadelphia to undertake the redesign and reimagining of the longstanding PlayStreet program through digital engagement and a pilot program to test innovative play and public space interventions.
Program Area: Communities
To support both digital and in-person youth-oriented programming in Batram’s Garden in order to engender greater community engagement in the park.
To support digitally-equipped, mobile programming as a way to engage community around use of public space.
Knight Foundation announces $250,000 re-investment to support young civic innovators to create vibrant and civically engaged communities.
MIAMI – (June 1, 2020) – To unlock the creative potential of young civic innovators and create more resilient post-pandemic communities, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announces a $250,000 re-investment in Emerging City Champions fellowship and microgrant program.
The leadership program – which seeks millenials and Gen Z innovators with bold ideas to enhance public space, mobility and civic engagement – is accepting applications for 20 new leaders for its 2020-2021 class. ECC seeks individuals with creative solutions to drive transformative change as cities reopen and look for a way forward in the post-Covid world.
ECC provides $5,000 in seed funding and unique training from established city builders to turn ideas into reality. Last year’s ECC leaders worked on projects that invigorated downtown Aberdeen, S.D., through historic public art, removed barriers for Charlotte residents with disabilities, and drove community skills sharing in Philadelphia.
“If there were ever a time to invest in young innovators with new ideas about how to build cities anew, it’s now,” said Sam Gill, Knight’s chief program officer and senior vice president. “This effort will equip the next generation to lead in a time of change.”
Amanda O’Rourke, executive director of 8 80 Cities, which leads the ECC program said: “Civic engagement, public space and mobility have always been central to ECC, and each cohort of leaders have consistently brought some of the most responsive and innovative ideas to advance these things in their communities.”
This will be the sixth ECC class. Since 2015, Knight Foundation’s investment in the program has launched the leadership journeys of over 100 exceptional alumni who have gone on to found nonprofit organizations, establish businesses and influence government policies. Current Knight Public Spaces Fellow Erin Salazar’s career as a city builder began with her ECC project, a community mural that led to a multi-year transformation of San Jose’s downtown.
Other ECC leaders have made significant improvements to their communities by using their skills as artists, educators, grassroots advocates and public servants. They have created neighborhood programs, community events, and vibrant public spaces that have pushed boundaries, changed mindsets and inspired long-term investment in the public realm.
“We are grateful that Knight Foundation has doubled down on its support of the program, recognizing the important role public space plays in creating more inclusive and healthy communities, and understanding that diverse young leaders with community-driven solutions are key to the future of cities,” O’Rourke said.
ECC is a year-long incubator for civic innovators between the ages of 19 and 35 with project ideas that take place in or benefit one of the 26 communities where Knight invests. Winners will be awarded $5,000 in seed funding and training from established city builders to turn their ideas into reality.
A major component of the program is a trip to Toronto for interactive tours of community-led programs and public spaces, presentations by inspiring city leaders, as well as hands-on workshops on project planning, community engagement, communication and tactical urbanism.
Emerging City Champions is led by 8 80 Cities, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life for people in cities by bringing citizens together to enhance mobility and public space. Support for 8 80 Cities forms one part of Knight’s efforts to help cities attract and keep talented people, expand economic opportunity and create a culture of engagement.
To apply to the Emerging City Champions Fellowship, applicants must submit either innovative and untested ideas, or existing projects that they are seeking to scale up at emergingcitychampions.org by Sunday, July 12, 2020.
About 8 80 Cities
8 80 Cities is a nonprofit organization based in Toronto, Canada. We are dedicated to contributing to the transformation of cities into places where people can walk, bike, access public transit and visit vibrant parks and public places. Our approach is to engage people and communities across multiple sectors to inspire the creation of cities that are easily accessible, safe and enjoyable for all. We achieve our mission through grant projects, advocacy work and our innovative services. For more, visit: 880cities.org.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit kf.org.
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Media Contacts:
Amanda O’Rourke, Executive Director, 8 80 Cities, 647-784-3048, [email protected]
Kenny Ma, Director of Communications, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 305-908-2646, [email protected]
Photo (top): ECC 2015-19 alumni; courtesy of 8 80 Cities.
The killing of George Floyd is challenging all of us to rise to the moment; a moment of justice and a moment of change.
To do that, let’s first acknowledge that this isn’t about a single incident. It’s about a long line of Black Americans like George Floyd killed by police, and of criminal justice responding only after, as in the case of Ahmaud Arbery, video evidence broke open what in the past was hidden.
The cumulative weight of perceived, consistent injustice makes any community explode. That righteous anger leaves any demonstration easy prey for incitement to violence, including by those whose goal is to disrupt and divide us.
To rise to the moment, we need facts; we need light, not more heat. And that is where a free and independent press shows how essential it is to a functioning democracy. The combination of people with smartphones and journalists amplifying the story and giving context, using digital technology to disseminate the information in real-time, have put an end to that silence. The roar we hear now is the sound of an engaged community making itself heard.
Journalists must be free to inform community about what is happening, to hold power accountable and to help tell the story of a community’s pain. To rise to the moment, any attack on journalists, by police, by demonstrators or by public officials must be opposed. What happened in Minneapolis has become a touchstone for frustration, anger and pain felt in communities across the country. We stand with every community that wants a more equitable future. And we will continue to work on behalf of this value in the 26 communities where Knight Foundation operates.
Informed, equitable, inclusive and participatory communities are as essential to a strong democracy as an informed citizenry. The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis is a terrible affront to that ideal – and this weekend is a reminder of how tough it will be to rise to the moment. But our democracy depends on our willingness to try.
Alberto Ibargüen is president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
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Statement of Strategy
John S. and James L. Knight believed that a well-informed community could best “determine its own true interests” and was essential to a well-functioning, representative democracy. They pursued those beliefs, building and leading one of the largest and most commercially successful newspaper companies in American history. They were known for their journalistic […]
November 28, 2016
Statement of Strategy
George Floyd’s killing was a violent injustice — one that is all too common in our country. We are saddened and heartbroken, and painfully reminded of the continuing impact of racism in the places we live. As a foundation committed to helping build equitable, inclusive and participatory communities, we stand in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis, St. Paul and all of Minnesota as they work to fight racism and to build communities where everyone can engage, prosper and thrive.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is a member of the Minnesota Council on Foundations. Read statements from other members here.
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Rising to the moment: a challenge to all of us
The killing of George Floyd is challenging all of us to rise to the moment; a moment of justice and a moment of change. To do that, let’s first acknowledge that this isn’t about a single incident. It’s about a long line of Black Americans like George Floyd killed by police, and of criminal justice […]
May 31, 2020
Rising to the moment: a challenge to all of usIn a nation emerging from a pandemic, Reimagining the Civic Commons responds to a growing need for revitalized civic assets.
(May 27, 2020) — A national initiative to advance ambitious social, economic and environmental goals through public spaces announced a major expansion today. Reimagining the Civic Commons has added five new U.S. cities who join the original cohort of cities making strategic investments in parks, libraries, trails and community centers across the country.
Lexington, Macon, Miami, Minneapolis and San José will join Reimagining the Civic Commons, which is comprised of innovative civic leaders forging new ways to design, manage and operate public spaces for the benefit of all. The five new cities join the original five demonstration cities of Akron, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia, forming a network of 10 cities transforming civic assets to connect people of all backgrounds, cultivate trust and create more resilient communities. A majority of the expansion cities, with the exception of Minneapolis, are communities where the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation operates.
Reimagining the Civic Commons is supported by Knight, The JPB Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and William Penn Foundation. The initiative is designed to demonstrate how strategic investments in our civic assets can advance engagement, equity, environmental sustainability and economic development in cities and neighborhoods.
Leaders at these foundations acknowledged that a robust civic commons is key to the nation’s recovery from COVID-19, allowing cities to rebuild social capital and create more equitable and resilient communities.
“Amidst the safer-at-home measures during this pandemic, we have seen public spaces—our parks, open spaces and trails—sustaining people in ways we only contemplated a few months ago,” said Dana Bourland, vice president of environment at The JPB Foundation. “A growing number of people have now deeply experienced that our civic commons delivers multiple benefits—reduced stress, improved health, a necessary sense of human connection. High quality, well-maintained public spaces are critical infrastructure and they must be available to everyone within walking distance from their home. And they should be at the top of the to-do list for policymakers, leaders and cities.”
In addition to the expansion into new cities, the more than $10 million in new philanthropic investment will continue to support the leading-edge public space efforts in the five original demonstration cities. These demonstration cities have made substantial strides since they began four years ago:
- In Akron, formerly neglected Summit Lake in one of the city’s hardest hit neighborhoods has become a gathering place where residents can experience nature every day. Ninety-four percent of visitors to the lake believe the previously isolated neighborhood now has a bright future.
- In Chicago, investments in unique civic spaces like the Stony Island Arts Bank Campus and the formerly vacant St. Laurence School are sparking a South Side neighborhood revitalization. More than 650 free programs held in civic commons sites drew over 26,000 people to neighborhood spaces in the last three years.
- Detroit has transformed vacant lots into a new park and greenway, and an empty storefront into the Neighborhood HomeBase, a welcoming community hub. The result is increased public life throughout the neighborhood and 10 new storefronts for local businesses on the commercial corridor.
- Memphis has reimagined a set of all but abandoned spaces along the Mississippi River to become an active, revitalized waterfront. Formerly home to Confederate monuments, the renamed and revitalized Fourth Bluff Park and River Garden now welcome a diversity of Memphians every day, and River Garden has nearly doubled visitor numbers.
- Philadelphia has a new riverfront bike and pedestrian trail, a renovated public library and park space, an elevated park, a nature and youth education center and a neighborhood-oriented gathering space in West Fairmount Park. The project created a robust, collaborative network of public space practitioners and helped set the stage for $500 million of new civic asset funding through the Rebuild initiative.
“Months of quarantine has brought home to all of us just how much we need great public spaces.” said Sam Gill, Knight’s chief program officer and senior vice president. “These spaces will be key to supporting socially connected, healthy communities as we emerge from this pandemic.”
The expansion into five new cities presents opportunities to:
- Enhance civic engagement and civic trust through public spaces that are programmed to support authentic neighborhood and community participation.
- Engender support for — and investment in — public spaces within communities as an approach to a more engaged and vibrant community.
- Grow the capabilities of leaders in communities, both in civil society and in public administration, to conceive of, build and program public spaces that deliver outcomes in communities.
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About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit kf.org.
About The JPB Foundation
The mission of The JPB Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in the United States through transformational initiatives that promote the health of our communities by creating opportunities for those in poverty, promoting pioneering medical research, and enriching and sustaining our environment. For more, visit jpbfoundation.org.
About The Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundation was founded in 1924 to promote human progress. Today, Kresge fulfills that mission by building and strengthening pathways to opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities, seeking to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice. Using a full array of grant, loan, and other investment tools, Kresge invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change. For more information visit kresge.org
About William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that increase educational opportunities for children from low-income families, ensure a sustainable environment, foster creativity that enhances civic life, and advance philanthropy in the Philadelphia region. The Foundation’s assets exceed $2.5 billion. For more, visit williampennfoundation.org.
Media Contact:
Leslie Carlson, Brink Communications. [email protected], (503) 805-5560
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Creating success in cities by reimagining the civic commons
Photo: Cyclists in Museum Park near Perez Art Museum Miami. Credit: Robertson Adams. For more than 30 years, I’ve lived in the heart of downtown. Three cities, three downtown homes. So I especially enjoy living life in public and with strangers. It’s easy enough. In Miami, I just walk out my front door. I visit […]
June 11, 2015
Creating success in cities by reimagining the civic commons
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How a civic commons can build better community connections
C. Nicole Mason, an author and social justice advocate, makes this point about poverty in a recent column for the Big Think web forum: When people think of poverty they think in terms of money and material resources, but a large part of being poor is suffering from a lack of social connections and networks, and […]
September 8, 2016
How a civic commons can build better community connectionsThe Ayiti Community Trust seeks to mobilize the Haitian diaspora to establish a $20 million endowment in support of Haiti’s development. This grant will enable the Trust to conduct research on Haitian diaspora giving and pilot fundraising strategies.
To support Wyncode’s efforts to promote diversity in tech by offering scholarships to its 10-week bootcamp for students from low-income and under-represented parts of the community, with a particular emphasis on women and individuals of color.
Cities face an uncertain future in the wake of Covid-19. Some predict a new wave of urban flight as public health, employment and affordability challenges intersect with an upsurge in remote work and connectivity that allows for more mobility. A recent Harris poll revealed that 39% of city-dwellers are currently considering moving to a less dense community. Others say the crisis will spur a reimagination of social infrastructure and urban life together as innovative leaders start to look ahead, become more nimble and revisit city plans to build back better, more resilient communities.
As the pandemic causes us to evaluate where and how we live, understanding what connects people to place is more important than ever. But what exactly generates a real attachment to the community over the long term? What provides the stickiness or emotional and practical commitment to stay rooted in a community over time?
A landmark Knight Foundation report produced by Urban Institute surveyed over 11,000 Americans to explore this very topic, developing a rich and authoritative dataset on what drives community attachment across a diverse set of metro areas and demographic groups. The study reveals that the features of city life that most fuel attachment are essentially social in nature – such as cultural and recreational spaces – but enjoying a sense of public safety is a driver as well. Key findings shed light on why people stay in a city, and what cities can do to strengthen ties between residents and their local communities. Of the dozen urban amenities explored, arts and cultural activities stood out for its potential to boost various indicators of attachment, from higher feelings of satisfaction and personal fit with the city, to behaviors such as greater investment of time and resources in the community.
People with easy access to recreational areas (parks and other outdoor amenities) and safe places to work and play also reported stronger feelings of attachment and showed a preference for staying put. Attachment was also deeper for people who spent more time in the main city, as well as those who reported choosing the city for “quality of life” reasons versus those there for family or jobs.
However, the data also shows that while quality of life amenities matter more to residents of color and lower income groups, they report having more trouble accessing them. Investments in quality of life city amenities should consider any existing inequities and design approaches that address — and not exacerbate them.
Perhaps ironically, some of the things that foster deeper attachment to our cities are also among those most affected by the shutdown: access to museums, concerts, playgrounds, beaches, and to a general sense of safety, while out and about in our community. As social scientist and Knight Public Spaces Fellow Eric Klinenberg argues, investment in social infrastructure (including libraries and parks) is critical in revitalizing civic life and ultimately a resilient community during a crisis. The current pandemic is an opportunity for cities to lead with engagement and inclusivity as they consider redesigned versions of these amenities at the heart of city life.
Thoughtful communities will strive to rebuild in a way that is resident-driven, with community members at the table, particularly where quality of life amenities are scarce. In the Knight community of Philadelphia, listening to resident needs during the pandemic resulted in a simple solution: roping off “playstreets” in neighborhoods that lack outdoor recreational space to create it, while empowering neighbors to manage the program. This is just one of many creative solutions popping up as communities and residents work together to reimagine the shape of urban life. The time is now for American cities to focus on these questions if they are to successfully reopen and reinvent themselves as desirable cities of the future. Instead of reorienting our cities towards sprawling suburbs, this study suggests that providing equitable access to key quality of life amenities at the heart of communal life — while solving for safety — might be the new holy grail for post-pandemic community design.
Click here to view and download the full report.
Evette Alexander is a director of learning and impact at Knight Foundation and Lilly Weinberg is the program director for community foundations at Knight Foundation.
report
Community Ties: Understanding what attaches people to the place where they live
Understanding what attaches people to the place where they live
May 20, 2020
Community Ties: Understanding what attaches people to the place where they live
To further grow Miami’s talent base by supporting underrepresented community members to become certified for a career in the tech sector.