Project Objective
The Emerging City Champions is a fellowship program for young civic innovators with creative solutions to complex urban challenges. The program provides funding and capacity building opportunities to upcoming community leaders who are committed to improving civic engagement, mobility, and public spaces in their city.
Info / Share
- Date: 2015-ongoing
- City: The program is open to applicants in 26 U.S. cities
- Funding: Knight Foundation
- www.emergingcitychampions.org
Each year, we receive hundreds of applications from 26 American cities where the Knight Foundation invests. Our review panel selects 20 applicants to participate in the program.
Emerging City Champions receive $5,000 in seed funding and professional guidance from established city builders to turn their ideas into reality. The fellowship begins with a trip to Toronto, where the Champions refine their project ideas and develop detailed implementation plans during the five-day Emerging City Champions Studio.
Participants in the program have founded advocacy organizations, transformed public spaces, created innovative public art, and launched youth mentorship programs. This work has strengthened communities and broken-down barriers in cities across the U.S.
