CEOs for Cities Launches Online Forum for Citizens to Contribute New Ideas on the Future of Public Life in America
CHICAGO, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Public life in the U.S. declined for much of the latter half of the 20th century. Since the 1960's, cities have experienced the effects of fraying connections once made strong by participation in civic activities like voting, volunteering, and a commitment to public amenities like libraries, community centers and recreation facilities. The effect of this withdrawal from public life—and each other—has important implications on American life and citizen engagement.
Starting today, CEOs for Cities invites thousands of citizens to share in the visioning of a new, robust public life in America with the launch of the Community Challenge TownHall - http://forum.ofbyandforus.org/ - developed in partnership with Microsoft.
The forum allows for the co-creation of what a contemporary robust public life looks like, what attracts people to it and how we get more of it.
The Community Challenge TownHall draws upon findings of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's Soul of the Community polling by Gallup. The survey has found that a community's openness to all people, its social offerings, and aesthetics are the top three factors that make people loyal to and passionate about where they live. With the Community Challenge TownHall, civic leaders and residents can start to use these factors to make decisions and recommendations that will influence residents' attachment to their communities and help them thrive.
This online platform allows users to offer a new idea, promote a policy position, propose a project or declare an issue their top priority. Users can contribute ideas that reflect the critical role of attachment based on the findings of the Knight Soul of the Community poll. The ideas and Knight findings will stimulate discussion at the upcoming US Initiative Detroit Community Challenge to be held in Detroit November 10-11.
Visit www.ofbyandforus.org for more information about the Detroit Community Challenge and the US Initiative, a national effort to imagine a new future for urban life in America.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and invests in the vitality of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects that promote informed and engaged communities and lead to transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.
SOURCE CEOs for Cities
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