Volunteers Named for the Knight Creative Communities Institute 2010-2011 Catalyst Class
TALLAHASSEE, FL—The Knight Creative Communities Institute has selected 31 members to be a part of its 2010-2011 Community Catalyst Class.
These “community catalysts” will work together with local leaders and advocates to develop projects aimed at diversifying Tallahassee’s economy beyond government and education.
Members of KCCI’s most recent catalyst class were responsible for producing an array of initiatives: Tallahassee Business Resources; Talent Lives Here; Identify Tallahassee; Illuminate Tallahassee; and Explore Outdoors.
The 2007 pilot initiative created the Tallahassee Film Festival, the environmental group Sustainable Tallahassee, and the Get Gaines Going Initiative to turn the street into an arts and entertainment district.
“We really focused on diversity this year—background, experience, industry, age, gender and ethnicity,” said Laurie Hartsfield, executive director of the institute, which is based at Tallahassee Community College. “We have an extraordinarily talented and creative group of individuals who reflect our community’s demographics really well. We also have a few new Tallahassee residents who bring a wealth of experience from other creative cities.”
The catalysts, who were selected from more than 80 applicants, will combine the work of renowned social theorist Richard Florida with survey data and community dialogue to devise new ways to help the city’s economy grow. The volunteers will begin by participating in a three-day training seminar and continue to meet over the course of a year.
“I am looking forward to working with other individuals who share the same love I have for our city and to explore different ways to improve Tallahassee’s economic and cultural climate,” said Robert Sniffen, an attorney with Sniffen & Spellman, P.A. and a 2010-2011 KCCI Community Catalyst. “I view KCCI as one of the better opportunities out there to make a difference, and I appreciate the opportunity to serve.”
Community Catalysts
Frank Alarcon, Dia Kuykendall, Jenay Sermon, Peggy Bielby, Chiquita McKnight, Lauren Shoaf, Nancy Blum-Heintz, Cindy Meredith, Enrika Sissle, Bobby Boone, Jason Moore, Leslie Smith, Somnath Chatterjee, Ed Murray, Robert Sniffen, Gary Cummings, Jeff Peters, Alyce Lee Stansbury, Justin Ray Domer, Jamal Raddar, Alison Voorhees, Ken Foster, Clayton Randle, Meghan Walker, Amity Gay, Dottie Roberts, Adam Watson, Nita Jackson, Rob Schiffer, Charlie Johnson, Floyd Self
For more information about KCCI, please visit our website at www.kccitallahassee.com or contact Laurie Hartsfield at (850) 201-6442.
KCCI is funded through a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and local community businesses and is part of the Center for Workforce Development at Tallahassee Community College.