How Would You Transform Your City?

Knight Emerging City Champions is a fellowship and micro-grant program for young civic innovators with bold ideas for developing engaged, inclusive and equitable communities toward a more effective democracy. This program is powered by 8 80 Cities and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Stay tuned for updates on the 2025-2026 application period!

Here's How It Works

We are looking for future city leaders with creative solutions to promote more engaged communities within the following categories:

Downtown and Neighborhood Revitalization

Making an area more livable, attractive and economically vibrant by improving, developing and restoring downtowns and neighborhoods.

Public Spaces

Connecting people to the places where they live by supporting the programming, design and construction of inclusive and equitable public spaces.

Economic Opportunity

Attracting and retaining residents by advancing inclusive pathways to jobs and entrepreneurship.

20 Champions

The fellowship is open to U.S. residents aged 18-35 with an innovative project idea and the drive to see it through in one of Knight Foundation's 8 resident communities. Applicants may be community activists, educators, tactical urbanists, designers, artists, entrepreneurs, and more. We want diverse voices with fresh perspectives, talent, and commitment to building vibrant neighborhoods and cities.

Meet the Champions

1 Year. $5,000 + $500 Tech Bundle

Champions will receive $5,000 in seed funding to implement one community project in one year. Each champion will also receive a $500 tech bundle to support their project activities. We are looking for projects that respond to community needs, build on local assets, and are implemented through collaboration.

KECC Studio

Knight Emerging City Champions Fellowship will kick-off with an in-person KECC Studio in Toronto, Canada that will equip participants with the tools they need to begin implementing their community projects and connect them with champions across the U.S.

Learn more about the Studio

The KECC Network

Champions join a supportive and inspiring network of peers from across the country. They receive ongoing mentorship from experts in diverse fields such as planning, design, communications, technology, and more. 8 80 Cities and Knight Foundation will expose participants to opportunities for additional funding, professional growth, and support.

Civic Tech Curriculum

Recognizing the growing influence of technology in our public realm, this year, and for the second time, we have teamed up with Helpful Places. This Toronto-based social impact organization is internationally recognized as leaders in civic tech, community engagement and open innovation. Together, we aim to dig deeper and explore how to leverage technology within our existing pillars of public space, mobility, and civic engagement to create more informed and engaged communities and more equitable public spaces for all.

Are You Eligible?

Stay tuned for updates on the 2025-2026 application period.

Applicants must be able to attend the Virtual Orientation on August 4, 2025, from 6 - 8 pm EST.

Applicants must live in the U.S., and they must be aged 18-35 years old at the time they apply.

Applicants must be able to travel to Canada between August 13 to 16, 2025, for the KECC Studio.

Applicants must propose a community project that activates public life in public spaces, enhances mobility options, and/or builds a culture of civic engagement. The project must take place in one of the eight resident communities where Knight Foundation invests. Priority will be given to projects addressing Knight Foundation’s goals in that community. Learn more here.

Thank you to our Alumni Advisory Committee

Meet our advisory committee of former champions who support the ongoing development and amplification of the KECC program.

Meet the Advisory Committee

Inspiring Ideas

From past champions

Christine Edwards

Amplify is a toolkit and event series that makes it easier for people to interact with local government.
Charlotte, NC
See project

Erin Salazar

The Exhibition District is a wildly ambitious, artist-initiated effort to erect over 40,000 square feet of murals in the heart of downtown.
San Jose, CA
See project

Tonja Khabir

The Bobby Jones Project organizes community members to re-envision a cultural asset through collaborative planning.
Macon, GA
See project

Timothy Jackson

Detroit Hives repurposes vacant lots into pollinator way-stations to promote urban sustainability and conservation awareness.
Detroit, MI
See Project

How Would You Transform Your City?

Here's How It Works

Downtown and Neighborhood Revitalization

Public Spaces

Economic Opportunity

20 Champions

1 Year. $5,000 + $500 Tech Bundle

KECC Studio

The KECC Network

Civic Tech Curriculum

Are You Eligible?

Applicants must be able to attend the Virtual Orientation on August 4, 2025, from 6 - 8 pm EST.

Applicants must live in the U.S., and they must be aged 18-35 years old at the time they apply.

Applicants must be able to travel to Canada between August 13 to 16, 2025, for the KECC Studio.

Thank you to our Alumni Advisory Committee

Inspiring Ideas

Christine Edwards

Erin Salazar

Tonja Khabir

Timothy Jackson

The Latest Stories

Alignment Festival Taylor Nickens Philadelphia, PA

The Passion Project Shamere Duncan Detroit, MI

Beyond the Menu Rachel Whinnery Akron, OH

Macon Para Todos Laura Gómez Macon, GA

The Back Room Jordan Brasswell Charlotte, NC

Macon’s Most Inclusive Playground Jonathan Wetherbee Macon, GA

Mush St. Paul Jenessa Carlisle St. Paul, MN

Open Space Sandbox Hayley Oleksiak Philadelphia, PA

West Side Connect Marlin Wilson Charlotte, NC

Detroit Horse Power David Silver Detroit, MI

The Connected Community Initiative Chloe Mshana Philadelphia, PA

Creative Liberty Carman Tyra San José, CA

Project Safe Space Erica Banks Akron, OH

City Sprouts Ayanna-Grace King Detroit, MI

Connect Miami Beach to Dutch Boys Wafels

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