Communities – Page 42 – Knight Foundation

Program Area: Communities

To program a new space, once vacant, with activities targeting POC communities (youth & adult skating lessons with Black instructors) that reflect St. Paul’s diversity and increase density in the downtown core, especially with Black & Brown peoples.

Lilly Weinberg is director for community foundations at Knight Foundation. Below, she highlights a recent report detailing the impact of the Knight-supported On the Table initiative, which brings together community residents over mealtime conversations to discuss pressing community issues.  

In a time of growing polarization, when trust in institutions of all kinds has hit all-time lows and social media conversations often descend into hateful rhetoric, it may seem difficult to find pathways for consensus and common ground. At the same time, the strength of our democracy and our local communities relies on connected action — the ability of residents to hear each other, make informed choices and shape decision-making.

Through this lens, in 2017 Knight Foundation expanded an initiative of the Chicago Community Trust called On the Table. Founded on the basic premise that ‘we all need to eat,’ On the Table brings people from different backgrounds and income levels together to share a meal and discuss pressing community issues. In a few short years, with the help of community foundations across the country, it has united tens of thousands of city residents on a single day to talk about issues from affordable housing and climate change to racial equity and transportation.

At Knight Foundation, we’ve witnessed the impact of On the Table first-hand. We’ve seen how these conversations have informed decisionmakers and led to greater community attachment and connection. In 2017, we convened more than 40,000 people in 10 cities across the country; conversations took place in large and mid-size metropolitan communities and rural areas from the South to the Midwest to the Pacific Coast.

This year, we’ve seen the momentum grow, with participant numbers across 10 cities up to 50,000, and more to tally. Community foundation partners are fueling this energy, offering micro-grants to implement ideas discovered through On the Table in cities such as Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C., and helping participants raise awareness for issues important to them. In Lexington and Macon the conversations and data informed their five-year strategic plans. Democracy at its best!

What’s most extraordinary however is that amidst growing community narratives of division and dissent — people still want to convene. On the Table reveals, in fact, that city residents are hungry for connection. They want to help make their neighborhoods better and take action in their shared community. And despite the growing role that technology is playing in our lives, there’s a deep desire for in-person, solution-building between people who would otherwise never meet.

This grasp of the ‘power of local’ is important. At the end of the day, your vote for president is secondary if your local school system is broken or your lake polluted. Local communities are where people have the ability to affect change and see its immediate results. And On the Table is giving them a forum to do just that.

In an effort to measure the initiative’s impact, we conducted real time surveys with participants with the help of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement. Here are four important takeaways from the findings:

  1. Most participants gained new understanding of how to address issues facing their community. The majority of people (58%) said they gained a somewhat-to-much better understanding of how to address issues in their community.
  2. On the Table spurred new connections with neighbors and encourage civic action. Many respondents reported making new connections with other respondents, including speaking with someone new (62%). Nearly 9 in 10 respondents (86%) said they are somewhat-to-very likely to take action after On the Table, with 40% saying they are very likely.
  3. Knowledge is power. Learning about new ways to address community issues encouraged civic action, among both those who are very involved in their community (87 percent) and those who aren’t (72 percent). 
  4. Local context matters. Equity and social inclusion, economic issues and poverty, and education and youth development were among the top issues discussed during the On the Table conversations. But topics varied depending on the city. Housing and homelessness, for example, played a large part in discussions in Silicon Valley and Long Beach.

The results are a powerful reminder that despite daily reports of political conflict and ideological collides, people are hopeful—they want to find a way forward. By combining the common need to eat with a platform for positive local change, On the Table provides an outlet for that movement.

To learn more about the On the Table Initiative and the impact of the initiative, click here.

Akron is growing. That is a phrase we haven’t been able to say since the 1960’s when population peaked at 292,000.  Since then, the city has lost roughly one-third of its population. Yet Akron grew by 135 people in 2015, according to the most recent Census estimate. It’s not a lot – you could line them up, count them, pose for a group picture. But we believe it’s a key sign of what will come, a turning of the tide for a city that has struggled for decades to reverse the forces of decline.  

Knight Foundation is one of many organizations working to push Akron forward. To encourage the city’s progress towards stabilization and growth, Knight invests in public spaces, with a focus on building vibrancy in downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. We believe that great public spaces help connect people to place, advance civic participation and provide quality of life incentives that draw in newcomers and encourage residents to stay.

In In 2015, Akron was selected as one of five cities to participate in Reimagining  Civic Commons, a national initiative that leverages parks, trails, libraries and other public spaces to connect people across communities. Civic Commons, Downtown Akron Partnership and the City of Akron have engaged the community in a downtown planning process that identified a series of projects to improve neighborhood life. The Akron Civic Theatre’s expansion and adjacent Bowery Redevelopment Project, bolstered by a $4 million investment from Knight, are keystone projects for Main Street revitalization. They also support efforts by the city and private developers to encourage more people to live downtown. 

Downtown Akron Partnership also worked with Gehl Studio, an urban research and design consultancy, to complete a Public Space Public Life survey.  The study examined how people use sidewalks, parks and other public spaces in downtown, revealing that people are hiding in office buildings rather than exploring the places around them. The next phase of the effort involves a series of projects that invite everyone in downtown to come out and enjoy the city on a daily basis.

Photo courtesy of Gehl Studio

Here’s what they will find: A section of the fence in front of Lock 3 Park has been removed to make way for “Lock Next” – a pop-up patio for people to meet up and hang out.  Northside Green, an outdoor living room in the Northside District, now houses a large mural, furniture and restructured parking lots. Once desolate Cascade Plaza hosts numerous activities during the week including picnics, yoga and food trucks.

Akron’s Kenmore, Middlebury and North Hill neighborhoods are doing similar work, designing with residents and the authentic character of the place in mind.  With recording studios, guitar shops and nationally renowned Earthquaker Devices, which makes guitar-effect devices like guitar pedals by hand, Kenmore has a burgeoning music scene. To build on the momentum, the Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance hosted “Live Music Now” featuring local bands in a formerly vacant building. The events connected neighbors and helped people imagine a renewed business district.  

The Well Community Development Corporation converted a formerly vacant church in Middlebury, the into its headquarters and the ground floor into a coffee shop. Credit: Tim Fitzwater

In addition, think tank City Observatory just named North Hill as one of the most racially and economically-diverse neighborhoods in the nation.  To build on that strength, Knight helped support the Exchange House, which hosts AirBnB rooms, providing revenue to help sustain the staff, as well as a community space and adjacent park.  Recent events include a ceremony to honor the Police Department’s first Bhutanese Police Officer, a Gum Dip Theatre performance and the North Akron Community Development Corporation’s farmer’s market.

Photo courtesy of The Better Block.

As we study successful cities across the country, a refrain that rings true is that talented people have choices, and the quality of a place is very important them.  Akron can be a destination for more people. Knight will continue to invest in initiatives that attract them, by enhancing public spaces, revitalizing neighborhoods and inviting citizens to participate in public life.

Kyle Kutuchief is Akron program director for Knight Foundation.

Akron, Ohio — Nov. 15, 2018 — Akron Civic Theatre today announced plans to transform Akron’s Whitelaw Building into a vibrant new theatre, revitalizing a key corridor of Akron’s primary downtown entertainment and residential district and introducing new opportunities for Akron residents to meet and connect. The project is a collaboration with the Bowery Development Group and is supported by $4 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and $1 million from GAR Foundation.

The support forms part of the Bowery Redevelopment Project, an initiative that seeks to renovate and repurpose five empty buildings next to the Akron Civic Theatre on South Main Street, as a way to enliven and revitalize downtown. The Bowery Project will break ground tomorrow.

The Akron Civic Theatre has served as a downtown Akron cultural anchor since its opening in 1929; it now draws more than 135,000 people to Akron’s Main Street each year. With new support, one of the six buildings — the Whitelaw building, constructed in 1895 — will be granted new life as a vibrant, 225-capacity performance and flexible-use event space, operated by the Akron Civic Theatre as a complement to its historic 2,592-seat auditorium. The Civic Theatre’s restoration and expansion project, expected to have a total cost of $8.5 million, will also support the revitalization of the theatre’s Grand Lobby and entry arcade that began in 2002, create a multi-level outdoor deck to connect Main Street to public spaces in Locks 3 & 4, and replace the theater’s box office and administrative office.

In late 2016, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan announced the planned renovation by the Bowery Development Group of the historic Landmark Building and the adjacent five vacant structures connecting to Lock 3, now a downtown park that hosts community and cultural activities. These buildings, each vacant for a decade or more, will be transformed into mixed-use residential, office, retail, bar/restaurant and entertainment space.

“This neglected block of Main Street has served as a physical and psychological stumbling block for too long,” Horrigan said of the redevelopment. “The renovation of these buildings will add desirable residential and retail options that will activate this important section of downtown and complement investments in Locks 3 and 4 and the TIGER grant-funded renovation of Main Street. Most importantly, this project will catalyze additional investments and elevate Downtown Akron as a place where people want to live, businesses want to locate, and visitors want to invest their dining and entertainment dollars. And a stronger downtown means a stronger, more prosperous Akron.”

“The Civic Theatre is a cultural gem that draws people to the heart of our city,” said Kyle Kutuchief, Knight Foundation program director for Akron. “Its restoration will add new life to Main Street, strengthening a downtown beacon that will help energize the neighborhood and connect people to Akron and to each other.”

Locally-based GAR Foundation has also stepped forward with enthusiastic support. “This revitalization project gives overdue attention to our community’s front door on Main Street, in the heart of downtown Akron,” said Christine Mayer, president of GAR Foundation. “The Civic Theatre’s contribution to the local arts and culture sector continues to strengthen Akron’s identity as a vibrant and creative community.”

Additional support has been committed from the State of Ohio, Akron Reimagining the Civic Commons, Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation, Lehner Family Foundation, Robert O. and Annamae Orr Family Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, Akron Civic Theatre Women’s Guild, Kenneth L. Calhoun Charitable Trust, GPD Group, and other leadership.  A total of $6.5 million has been raised for the project to date.

According to a recent study by Americans for the Arts, (Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 Report) the Civic currently generates an annual $8.1 million in economic activity by presenting 200 events annually. The expanded performance and event space will host 100 events each year and attract 15,000 people pushing the immediate and ongoing impact of the theater’s operations beyond $9 million.

“The Civic is an economic driver in the heart of downtown, and a cultural anchor in our community” said Candice Carlyon, president of the Akron Civic Theatre Board.  “We are deeply grateful for the support of the private sector, as well as that of the City of Akron, County of Summit, and, the Development Finance Authority of Summit County, without which this impactful project would not be possible.”

Following a strategic framework created in 2007, The Civic programs a mix of national, regional, and local entertainment, as well as community events ranging from weddings to graduations.  A similar mix will be featured in the smaller-capacity new space, while making the existing theater available for more larger scale productions.

“This project is the culmination of more than 10 years of focused and strategic work by the theater’s Board of Trustees and staff,” said Executive Director Howard Parr.“We look forward to talking about this throughout our community and to continuing and expanding the theater’s impact as this exciting plan becomes a reality.”

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 knightfoundation.org.

About GAR Foundation

GAR Foundation was established in 1967 by Galen Roush, co-founder and chief executive officer of Roadway Express, and his wife Ruth Roush. GAR Foundation’s mission is to help Akron become smarter, stronger, and more vibrant. Visit www.garfoundation.org for more information.

About the Akron Civic Theatre

The Akron Civic Theater was built in 1929 by Marcus Loew and designed by famed theater architect, John Eberson.  The interior structure was fashioned after a Moorish castle featuring Mediterranean decor, including medieval carvings, authentic European antiques and Italian alabaster sculptures.  In June 2001, the Akron Civic Theatre underwent the most comprehensive restoration and expansion project in its history, whereby the theater was brought up to modern performance and patron standards.  The theater now attracts 135,000 people annually for nationally touring concerts, comedians, and family shows, as well as a wide variety of events featuring local and regional artists.  For more information visit www.akroncivic.com

CONTACTS:

Valerie Renner, Associate Director, Akron Civic Theatre, 330.535.3179, [email protected]

Howard Parr, Executive Director, Akron Civic Theatre, 330.535.3179, [email protected]

Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, Knight Foundation, 305-908-2646, [email protected] 

Dina Younis, Communications Manager, GAR Foundation, 330-576-2926, [email protected]

To support the Community Foundation Boulder County to better address community information needs by developing a strategy for equity journalism and its grantmaking.

To support the opening of the Minnesota Museum of American Art (the “M”) in a historic location in downtown St. Paul.

To program and execute an eight-month leadership development program for city transportation officials, to develop capacity to promote community engagement.

To support the general operations of the Funders’ Network through sponsorship of their annual conference in Miami for 2019.

Download PDF

In 2014, The Chicago Community Trust held its inaugural On the Table, which was designed to bring people together in small mealtime conversations for the purpose of brainstorming innovative solutions to address their communities’ most pressing needs. Inspired by The Chicago Community Trust, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation took On the Table nationwide in 2017 with 10 community foundations serving as partners to implement the initiative in their regions. 

Through the support of the Knight Foundation, these community foundations organized thousands of conversations across their 10 regions with an estimated 40,000 participants. Out of the total number of participants, 12,182 responded to a post-conversation survey administered by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement. 

This report summarizes survey respondents’ answers to questions about their demographic background, what they discussed during conversations, and the impact of their conversations.[1] In addition, this report provides analysis and observations designed to help conveners, practitioners and hosts as they seek to increase the impact of future community conversations like On the Table.

Survey respondents’ self-reported demographics revealed that On the Table conversations were attended by people with a wide variety of backgrounds. Relative to local populations, respondents with less than a bachelor’s degree were by far the most underrepresented demographic group across all sites. Additional steps should be taken during planning, outreach and data collection to maximize diversity and inclusion in community conversations and expand the range of voices included in On the Table. 

A majority of respondents reported coming to the table to discuss and address important issues in their communities (68 percent) and learn from and listen to others (58 percent). In thousands of written comments, respondents reported discussing a myriad of topics. When IPCE grouped these comments, six themes emerged as the most prominent in all 10 sites: 

  • Equity and Social Inclusion
  • Economic Issues and Poverty
  • Education and Youth Development
  • Public Safety and Judicial System
  • Transportation
  • Housing and Homelessness

The prevalence of Equity and Social Inclusion, Economic Issues and Poverty, Education and Youth Development in diverse regions across the country suggests that if conveners hold a general, non-themed community conversation, they should expect participants to discuss topics related to these themes. Local context and priorities also matter. If transportation, for example, is a priority issue in an area then participants are likely to bring it up in conversation. Furthermore, focusing On the Table around specific topics can strongly influence the content of the conversation, as shown in Silicon Valley, where 82 percent of comments were related to housing and homelessness, which was the intentional focus of the initiative in this region.

[1] The report refers to respondents rather than participants because the results of the survey cannot be generalized beyond the respondent population.

A #LetsTalkPhilly conversation in 2017. Photo courtesy of The Philadelphia Foundation.

The Highlights

On the Table conversations can have both immediate and long-term impacts on survey respondents and their communities. Survey respondents frequently reported that they were impacted by their On the Table conversations, with results showing that:

  • Most participants gained new understanding of how to address issues facing their community. The majority of people (58 percent) said they gained a somewhat-to-much better understanding of how to address issues in their community.
  • On the Table spurred new connections with neighbors and encouraged civic action. Many respondents reported making new connections with other respondents, including speaking with someone new (62 percent), making plans for future action (18 percent), and exchanging contact information (28 percent). Nearly 9 in 10 respondents (86 percent) said they are somewhat-to-very likely to take action after On the Table, with 40 percent saying they are very likely.
  • Knowledge is power. Learning about new ways to address community issues encouraged civic action, among both those who are very involved in their community (87 percent) and those who aren’t (72 percent). In contrast, those who said they did not gain a much better understanding of how to address issues in their community were not likely to take action after On the Table, both among those very involved in the community (48 percent) and those who aren’t (26 percent).

A Brief Description of Major Themes


Equity and Social Inclusion

The equity and social inclusion category uses a social justice lens to account for forms of exclusion and issues of access and equality for underserved groups. This category refers to youth access and engagement concerns, racism, LGBT inclusion, and issues of disparity as noted across income levels, racial groups, and neighborhoods.


Transportation

The transportation category refers to transportation access and transportation infrastructure.  


Economic Issues and Poverty

The economic issues and poverty category refers to economic development on the one hand and economic insecurity or poverty on the other. It covers unemployment and jobs as well as income inequality, wage, and workforce development issues.


Public Safety and Judicial System

The public safety and judicial system category may refer to the criminal justice system as well as public safety and crime, including instances of gang violence, gun violence, drugs, trafficking, police misconduct ,and how officials such as police can better provide community security.  


Education and Youth Development

The education and youth development category refers primarily to schools and students with additional focal points on mentoring and general youth development. It is also inclusive of other related topics such as parent involvement, after school programs, job training, and education research.


Housing and Homelessness

The housing and homelessness category primarily refers to homelessness and issues around home ownership and renting responsibilities, especially housing affordability. 



Analysis of survey data about impact suggests different strategies for inspiring action after On the Table conversations:

  • To increase post-conversation action, make sure participants are learning new ways that they can address community issues and are making specific plans for future action with each other. Learning and making plans are powerful and effective methods for inspiring action, so much so that they inspire respondents who are less involved in their community to say they will take action at similar rates to the most involved.
  • To increase participants’ understanding of how to address community issues and make specific plans for future collaboration, make sure conversations are solutions-oriented. Learning and making plans are most likely to happen for respondents who take part in solutions-oriented conversations. 

Conversations served as a catalyst for generating ideas and potential actions and created a space for participants to make personal connections so that they might find ways to ignite change with fellow residents. With the goal of bringing about greater local action, the insights in this report provide conversation organizers with actionable strategies to further the impact of future On the Table initiatives.

Read the full report.

To support the St. Paul Downtown Alliance to activate and improve key public spaces in downtown St. Paul.

To establish the first Mayor’s Smart Cities Institute, in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors and New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.