Knight Foundation Funds Creative Community Initiative

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, in partnership with the Richard Florida Creativity Group (RFCG), recently announced the formation of the Knight Creative Communities Initiative in three metropolitan areas of the country: Charlotte; Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wisc.; and, Tallahassee. The goal of the initiative, utilizing Dr. Florida’s theories on the importance of creativity and innovation for economic growth, is to produce through community dialogue a vision to enhance each region’s environment for ingenuity.

 

With the assistance of local foundations and organizations, the initiative in each of the communities will be spearheaded by a local host committee of civic leaders who will then solicit the opinions of a diverse set of 30 emerging leaders and volunteers to identify the distinct assets of the community. These “territory assets,” along with a region’s capacity for talent, tolerance and technology form the “4T’s” - which Dr. Florida often refers to in his writings. After these 30 volunteers are provided with training, data and support, they will begin work on the creation of a community vision and set of initiatives to promote economic growth.

 

These pilot projects will enable the theories of Dr. Florida, under the direction of his consulting team, to be utilized in the future strategy of these three regions.

 

More information is available at: http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp?story=cpp/index.asp