Long Beach Projects Make Finalists List in Knight Cities Challenge
Release Date: 2016-01-12
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced the 158 finalists for the Knight Cities Challenge. Five of those nationwide projects are here in Long Beach, CA!
"Civic innovators from across the country submitted more than 4,500 ideas to this year’s Knight Cities Challenge. That’s a lot of ideas. More importantly, that’s a lot of people who care enough about their city to sit down and write about what they want to do to make it more successful. Picking a set of finalists from that field is a daunting and difficult task.
"After two months of reading and deliberating and receiving invaluable advice and support from more than 40 grantees and experts who we called reviewers, today we’re announcing 158 finalists in this year’s challenge.
"The finalists have until the end of January to submit full applications."
Long Beach Projects:
- DeForest Wetlands Neighborhood Access by Global Green USA (submitted by Tim Bevins): Connecting an underserved neighborhood to the recently restored DeForest Wetlands adjacent to the Los Angeles River in Long Beach by providing direct access via a public stairway and ramp.
- MADE in Long Beach by Localism Inc. (submitted by DW Ferrell): Increasing economic opportunity with MADE, an accelerator for local independent businesses that uses technology to help sell their products and connect them to the community.
- The Outdoor Office by Long Beach City Manager's Office (submitted by Rachael Tanner): Promoting creativity and collaboration in Long Beach by transforming a portion of a public park into a space that encourages collaboration and productivity and encourages residents to take work to the park.
- Placemaking the Vote by City Fabrick (submitted by Brian Ulaszewski): Developing a kit for creating temporary pop-up social spaces at voting polls in historically low voter turnout areas to encourage people to vote and provide venues to celebrate democracy afterwards.
- Strip Down to Become a Center by City Fabrick (submitted by Brian Ulaszewski): Converting a strip retail center into a vibrant community space by working with existing businesses and neighborhood members to reconfigure the parking lot into shared space for people to meet and connect, and introduce new amenities and activities.
Read the full list. Learn more about the Knight Cities Challenge: www.knightcities.org.
