In each community, the Knight Soul of the Community study identified factors that emotionally attach residents to where they live. Another strength noted in the study is our top notch higher education offerings at our local colleges and universities that have been recognized at the local and national levels. Some of these community characteristics that drive attachment were rated highly by residents, and are therefore community strengths while others were rated lower, making them opportunities for improvement. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced 36 finalists were chosen in the 2019 Knight Arts Challenge Akron. In Akron, Knight invests in public space and public life to attract and engage people, with a focus on building vibrancy in downtown Akron and surrounding neighborhoods. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Half the money will go toward rebuilding Summit Lake’s north shore into a community-focused park and recreation area. The study found that our stunning parks have long been a strength for the people of Akron. We believe that great public spaces help connect people to place, build a sense of shared community, and provide the quality of life incentives that draw in newcomers and encourage residents to stay. The goal is to reinvent public spaces such as parks, trails and recreation areas to bring together people from all backgrounds, develop new local leaders who can shape the city, and foster a more active, engaged community. Knight Foundation believes arts and culture are at the core of community, connecting people to place and to each other. Knight’s investment is focused on improving the city’s public spaces. The Knight Foundation has committed another round of funding to Akron projects that aim to "Reimagine the Civic Commons." The information in our study covers the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight … The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced Thursday $650,000 in grants to two small Akron arts and cultural nonprofits, ArtsNow and the Nightlight Cinema, including support to hire new staff at both organizations. The foundation "supports ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts." We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. The Knight Foundation has invested $104k in creation of Akron's new Office of Integrated Development. If you’re interested in Knight Foundation’s Arts program in Akron, read more here. The Knight Foundation grants will enhance two public spaces in Akron: Summit Lake and Lock 3. And the money couldn't come at a better time as the constraints of the pandemic take their toll on arts organizations. In addition to the Civic Commons initiative, Knight’s Akron efforts focus on: If you’re interested in Knight Foundation’s Arts program in Akron, read more here. I’d be interested in your thoughts on how we can attract and retain our young people in our area. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a … "We're thrilled about these investments," said Priya Sircar, arts program director for the Knight Foundation. Lebron James continues to make an impact in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The Knight Foundation has selected 10 Akron finalists from a pool of 4,500 applicants eligible to receive a share of $5 million in its Knight Cities Challenge. AKRON, Ohio -- The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is looking for artists, collaboratives and art organizations of all genres to submit ideas that connect people to … Summit Lake Park is receiving the largest grant: $4 million that the foundation is putting up to help redevelop the area around Akron's largest lake. In the Akron area, social offerings (entertainment infrastructure, places to meet people), aesthetics (an area’s physical beauty and green spaces) and openness (how welcoming a place is to different kinds of people) are the most important factors emotionally connecting residents to where they live. As the year closes out, two Akron arts and culture organizations are getting a shot in the arm from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation — $650,000 in grant funding. Columbus. ABOUT GAR Established in 1967, GAR Foundation was born of the philanthropic desire of the Roush family to support the needs of those in the Greater Akron area community. Our communities program supports the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Other copyrights apply where noted. Restoration of the Knight House adds another marker on Akron’s “historic row.” The Knight House rests along North Portage Path, south of the Akron Woman’s City Club on Exchange Street and north of the John Brown Home and Perkins Stone Mansion, each open to the public and owned by the Summit County Historical Society. In 2015, Akron was selected as one of five cities to participate in the national Reimagining the Civic Commons initiative, a partnership of funders, citizens and city government. Perception of local leadership was down significantly in 2010. AKRON, Ohio – The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced it will award grants totaling $650,000 to ArtsNow, a nonprofit advocating for … The power of public spaces: What five cities learned. Log In WATCH LIVE. Social offerings continues to be seen as an area needing improvement, even though Akron has had significant gains in the perception of nightlife over the past year. There is little difference in attachment among education levels. January 2017. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. The arts challenge seeks out ideas that connect people to each other and to place to ultimately strengthen communities. Revitalizing downtown and Akron’s inner neighborhoods so that they can continue to attract residents; Strengthening residents’ attachment to the city and creating economic opportunities through technology and the arts; Empowering local leaders, new and established, so that they can help improve neighborhood life and bring diverse people together to shape the city’s future. WKSU Member Portal Login; WKSU Member Portal FAQ; WKSU Pledge-Free Stream; WKSU Pledge-Free Stream FAQ; WKSU Member Portal Login; WKSU Member Portal FAQ Other copyrights apply where noted. Despite the continuing economic challenges, attachment to the Akron area remains basically flat in 2010. Aesthetics – particularly the parks, playgrounds and trails – is seen as a strength. AKRON, Ohio - The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded grants totaling $743,000 to 17 art projects in the 2017 Akron Knight Arts Challenge. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is an American non-profit foundation dedicated to fostering "informed and engaged communities" which the foundation believes are "essential for a healthy democracy." This month, the University of Akron’s inaugural opening of their new Info-Cision football stadium received recognition in the sports arena and will hopefully help to fortify Akron’s economy. The Knight Foundation will begin accepting applications, Monday, March 18 for the 2019 Knight Arts Challenge Akron. By Vivian Celeste Neal, Knight Foundation Program Director/Akron (2010). Copyright © 2006-2020 John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The winners get a share of $1 million to help them bring their ideas to life. The Knight Foundation's investment in Akron adds up to more than $10 million since 2014. Using Good & Wagner, which designed City Hall and the landmark … Since 2008 Knight has invested more than $58 million in Akron. This information can provide communities a roadmap for increasing residents’ emotional attachment to where they live, which the study found has a significant relationship to economic vitality. They launched cultural plans, reimagined a new normal, engaged communities in innovative ways, and embraced the use of technology to connect with new and current audiences, as they re-examined how best to fulfill their missions. Reimagining the Civic Commons. Now in its fourth year, the arts challenge has funded 63 ideas totaling nearly $3 million. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced Thursday $650,000 in grants to two small Akron arts and cultural nonprofits, ArtsNow and the Nightlight Cinema, including support to hire new staff at both organizations. Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. And the money couldn't come at a better time as the constraints of the pandemic take their toll on arts organizations. The goal is to use the arts to connect people to each other and to place. Knowing your community strengths is great, but having them confirmed by the Gallup research is icing on the cake! The Knight Foundation is making some big investments in Akron's public spaces with four grants, which the foundation said are purposefully large so they have the greatest impact. Empowering local leaders, new and established, so that they can help improve neighborhood life and bring diverse people together to shape the city’s future. On Tuesday (Dec. 15), the LeBron James Family Foundation announced plans to open up a 60,000-square-foot venue called House Three Thirty that will offer a broad range of community services like financial literacy advice, job training, youth activities and more. Those who enter could win a share of up to $1 million. For many years, we’ve had the opportunity to enjoy the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park, where you can hop on the Towpath Trail in Akron and ride one of the bike lanes to Cleveland! Downtown Akron Partnership and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation are bringing Pokemon GO in the 330 back to Akron this month, to help people connect with their city. Sharing over $10M, our 2020 Knight grantees reflect the rich diversity of Knight communities, and a broad array of artistic genres. The Gallup study results for Akron are really not a surprise to those of us who live, work, and enjoy the inviting lifestyle in the Akron community. Knight Foundation supports inclusive and equitable engagement in communities where the Knight brothers owned and operated newspapers. An Akron theatre company will premiere a series of vaudeville performances in September thanks to a Knight Foundation grant. Half of that money will go toward rebuilding Summit Lake’s north shore into a community-focused park and recreation area. The Knight Foundation announced it has committed $8 million in investments, in the form of grants, to help revamp some of Akron’s public spaces. Toggle navigation. The study found that our stunning parks have long been a strength for the people of Akron. John S. Knight Center has been welcoming convention planners, tradeshow exhibitors and event attendees to the heart of downtown since 1994. Research shows that economy is not the key factor in residents’ love for Akron but the study did find that positive feelings do have some connection to local GDP growth over a long period of time. The Knight Foundation announced Tuesday, Sept. 22, that it's providing $8 million in funding to Summit Lake Park, the Downtown Akron Partnership, Lock 3 park and the John S. Knight House. Copyright © 2006-2020 John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Akron will receive $1.6 million to extend efforts to revitalize public spaces in the Summit Lake neighborhood, develop the new Ohio and Erie Canal Park and continue work downtown with Locks 2, 3, and 4. By Jennifer Conn, cleveland.com. Wandering Aesthetics has raised nearly half of the money required for its $75,000 matching grant, which will be used for a project it calls “Bigger than a Breadbox.” As the year closes out, two Akron arts and culture organizations are getting a shot in the arm from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation — $650,000 in grant funding. By Vivian Celeste Neal, Knight Foundation Program Director/Akron (2010) The Gallup study results for Akron are really not a surprise to those of us who live, work, and enjoy the inviting lifestyle in the Akron community. We are northeast Ohio's premier meeting venue. We fund primarily in eight cities where the foundation has resident program officers, including Akron, where our founders started Knight Newspapers, and Miami, where their business was eventually headquartered. community book Soul of the Community 2010 report.pdf, data Soul of the Community 2010 report.pdf. Gathering together: Akron’s 2020 in pictures. Now on the flip side, Akron needs to continue to work on new ideas and hear from our thriving Young Professional (YP) population that is involved in the Greater Akron region in a number of ways. Demographic facts: Residents most attached to Akron now tend to earn less than $25,000 per year. Knight Foundation works to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. Bricks, steel and glass may comprise our structure, but our team is the actual foundation upon which your event will successfully rest. The Knight Foundation is committing $8 million in grants to help revamp some of Akron’s public spaces. Those earning $75,000 or more are the least attached income group. About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Akron Bar Foundation has created a fellowship to fund first and second year law students with a stipend while the student(s) is performing a summer clerkship with a not-for-profit, public interest or government position, preferably in Summit County. Knight Akron office:277 East Mill St.Akron, OH 44304Akron Community Advisory Committee members: Rep. Tavia Baxter-Galonski, Ohio House of Representatives; Robert Cooper, CBRE; Marie Covington, Community Volunteer; Cynthia Knight, Community Volunteer; Kirsten Lino, Huntington Bank; Blake Squires, DRIP. So is openness – it is still rated as least welcoming to job seeking college graduates and significantly less welcome to immigrants in 2010. DOWNTOWN AKRON — An artistic element has been added to this year's holiday window displays in Downtown Akron. Follow. Ratings of the local economy and basic services are significantly higher in 2010; however, the economy still was not an important factor in determining residents’ emotional connection to place. Knight Akron office: 277 East Mill St. Akron, OH 44304. Sixteen winning ideas will share a total of $592,000 from the 2019 Knight Arts Challenge Akron, ranging from an outdoor, public dance floor downtown to a play meant to help Bhutanese refugees heal. Public spaces brought people together and even sparked joy during an unprecedented year. 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