Fort Wayne a Knight Cities Challenge Finalist

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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTwo project proposals from Fort Wayne are finalists for a share of up to $5 million from the Florida-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The quality-of-place initiatives are competing with dozens of other communities, including Gary, to be included in the Knight Cities Challenge.
Entries focus on three success "drivers": talent, opportunity and engagement and seek to answer "what’s your best idea to make cities more successful?"
The foundation says the Fort Wayne community submissions are:
- Tired-a-Lot by Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Center (submitted by Réna Bradley): Creating a design studio that will engage local youth to identify and create solutions to transform vacant lots in their neighborhood with low-cost materials.
- Creative Collaboratory Jam (CCJ) by Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (submitted by Mike Fritsch): Creating a space equipped with art and technology, where diverse groups can participate in “idea jams” to solve community problems, have fun and figure out ways to execute ideas.
Close to 160 projects are in the running. They were selected from a total of more than 4,500 applicants. Winners will be announced in the spring.