Knight Foundation

It's an exciting day in South Florida! Our ClimateReady Tech Hub has just received a $19.5 million boost from the Department of Commerce, thanks to the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. This significant investment will propel us forward in our mission to create a resilient coastline and foster equitable place-based economic growth through innovation in climate technology.     Knight Foundation is honored to have contributed to this effort alongside other visionary leaders and organizations. I want to offer a special thank you to Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo, who so clearly sees strong economic development that supports innovation and entrepreneurship will enhance the United States' global competitiveness and national security. Done right, it will also power "inclusive, equitable growth," she stated. I couldn't agree more. And there's no better proving grounds than Miami-Dade County, a majority-minority community built on a strong entrepreneurial spirit and much grit. Congratulations to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Florida International University President Kenneth A. Jessell, and the "maestro" behind the Climate Ready Tech Hub Francesca de Quesada Covey, as well as the innovators and entrepreneurs who contributed to this effort. With a diverse group of members from local governments, businesses, universities, and organizations, the Tech Hub underscores what our community can achieve when we work together.  This is a moment of pride and optimism for Greater Miami, the first of twelve nationwide winners of the U.S. Economic Development Administration investment and the only one focused on tackling climate challenges. The designation and now the subsequent funding is an endorsement of our community’s commitment to developing Miami as a climate-resilient tech ecosystem. It positions South Florida as a global frontrunner over the next decade and signifies that we stand to become a model of resilient infrastructure and inclusive economic development.  Marta Viciedo Kelly Jin Raul Moas Jon Belgrad Rebecca Needler Dinar   Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/evMW7E96 

Knight’s staff heard insights from leaders in philanthropy, activism and community work in support of the LGBTQ+ community during an educational session at our Miami headquarters as part of Knight’s DEI programming around Pride Month.  Rich Ferraro of GLAAD shared research findings that show the lack of coverage of LGBTQ+ issues in local media in the U.S. South–emphasizing that there were only 23 substantive stories about HIV out of the 1,300 stories analyzed over 18 months (2019 – 2020) across nine Southern states.   DeMarcus Beckham, co-founder of Macon Pride and senior regional organizer for the Human Rights Campaign in Georgia, spoke about the evolution of the LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia since the eighties, sharing that Macon Pride has found partners across the community, from faith groups to youth groups and the local sheriff’s department, who are all working together to foster a safe space for LGBTQ+ people. Mateo A. Ventura Bruer, Aqua Foundation for Women and Lindsey Linzer, The Miami Foundation, spoke about their experiences serving the LGBTQ+ community in Florida. Ventura Bruer said Aqua has seen an uptick in LGBTQ+ people who are seeking support to leave the state. Linzer shared how the foundation’s LGBTQ+ Equity Fund addresses the shifting needs of Florida’s LGBTQ+ community, like their recent round of grants which expand support for LGBTQIA+ youth who experience homelessness in Miami-Dade.

The Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) is hiring!  We are seeking a Communications Director to lead communications strategy as part of our foundational team. Applications are welcome from superior communicators with deep knowledge of the media ecosystems influencing tech policy. https://lnkd.in/gUd5SX4P  

NEW: As voters prepare to elect more than 100,000 officials across federal, state and local elections this year, Knight Foundation is supporting the launch of the Knight Election Hub, empowering local newsrooms across the country with critical resources to serve audiences with reliable, nonpartisan information. More: https://kf.org/3VTE9h4

Technology and algorithms increasingly mediate our relationship to information, ideas and each other. We are only beginning to grasp the magnitude of both the challenges and opportunities. For these reasons, Knight Foundation has now committed more than $100 million to support independent research and nonpartisan policy insight to promote a more informed public dialogue. In a comprehensive report, journalist Issie Lapowsky examines how research can inform action—impacting how we engage with technology and harness its potential for the common good.

59% of United States X users say keeping up with politics or political issues is a reason they use the platform. By comparison, 36% of TikTok users and even smaller shares of Facebook or Instagram users (26% each) say the same about those platforms. #PewKnightInitiative

Technology and algorithms increasingly mediate our relationship to information, ideas, and each other. We are only beginning to grasp the magnitude of both the challenges and opportunities. Knight Foundation has now committed more than $100 million to support independent research and nonpartisan policy insight to promote a more informed public dialogue. This new report, written by the brilliant Issie Lapowsky, tells the story if how research can inform action and harness technology’s potential for the common good.

Strong showings from #Knightcities #SanJose, #Philadelphia, and #Miami in the brand new Oxford Economics Top 50 global cities index. Allan Madoc and Marta Viciedo

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is inviting Akron, Detroit, and South Florida’s arts practitioners to apply for funding for innovative new works that use technology to enhance the way art is created, experienced and shared. Knight New Work was created to further digital transformation in the arts, recognizing that technology spurs the development of new modes of expression through the creation of works that immerse and reach new audiences. To catalyze inspired and engaging new works of art, Knight welcomes artists, collectives and arts organizations, who are based in Akron, Detroit, or South Florida or have direct ties to the cities to apply. Proposed works must incorporate technology and premiere in Akron, Detroit, or South Florida. Applications will open on June 14 and close on July 12, 2024 and will be reviewed by a national panel of artists, practitioners and Knight Foundation staff. Knight will be hosting information sessions and office hours to allow prospective applicants to ask questions and learn more about this opportunity. Learn more: https://kf.org/4aHyMFK