Apply Now for the 2025–2026 Knight Emerging City Champions Fellowship

Knight Emerging City Champions: 2025–2026 Fellowship Now Open

The Knight Emerging City Champions (KECC) program is a fellowship and micro-grant initiative for younger civic innovators with daring concepts to create extra vibrant, related, and resilient communities. Powered by 8 80 Cities and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, this program helps modern native leaders with funding, coaching, and a strong nationwide community.

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What to Expect

KECC is trying for future metropolis leaders—individuals with artistic, actionable options to native city challenges. Proposed tasks ought to give attention to a number of of the following themes:

• Downtown & Neighborhood Revitalization
  Projects that reinvigorate public areas, carry communities collectively, and improve native id.

• Enhancing Community Connection
  Initiatives that construct belief and civic engagement by means of:

• Fostering Creative Expression
  Projects that protect and promote native arts and tradition, and have a good time freedom of expression.

• Building Community Resilience & Economic Opportunity
  Projects that strengthen native economies by fueling entrepreneurship and supporting community-based options.

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Fellowship Details

Eligibility Criteria

• Projects that reply to neighborhood wants

• Ideas that construct on native property

• Initiatives carried out by means of collaboration and creativity

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Who Can Apply?

Applicants should meet the following standards:

• Age: 18–35 years outdated at the time of application

• Residency: Must reside in the United States

• Location: Project should happen in one in all the Knight Foundation’s 8 resident communities

• Must be obtainable for:

  • Virtual Orientation: August 4, 2025 | 6–8 p.m. EST

  • KECC Studio in Toronto, Canada: August 13–16, 2025

Eligible candidates embrace:

Register for the Info Session – May 8, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. EST through Zoom

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KECC Studio in Toronto

The fellowship begins with an in-person KECC Studio in Toronto, Canada, the place Champions will:

• Build expertise to launch their mission

• Learn from main city practitioners

• Connect with friends throughout the U.S.

Learn More About the Studio

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The KECC Network

Fellows turn out to be part of a rising nationwide community of rising metropolis champions. As part of this neighborhood, they obtain:

• Mentorship from consultants in planning, know-how, communications, and design

• Exposure to further funding {and professional} growth alternatives

• Ongoing assist from 8 80 Cities and the Knight Foundation

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Ready to Lead Change? Learn extra

If you’re a younger civic innovator able to make an actual difference in your metropolis, now’s your likelihood. View full particulars: HERE

Applications for the 2025–2026 interval are actually open! Apply Now

Explore extra alternatives on: opportunitiesforyouth.org

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