11 Feb Electric Beginnings & Nurturing Resilience: 10 Years of Bold Ideas with Knight Emerging City Champions

By Raisa Hossain, 8 80 Cities Project Coordinator

Knight Emerging City Champions is a fellowship program that supports people with bold ideas for building stronger, more connected communities. Powered by 8 80 Cities with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, KECC brings together 20 civic leaders from the 8 Knight Cities: Akron, Charlotte, Detroit, Philadelphia, Macon, Miami, San José, and St. Paul. 

2025 marked the program’s 10th anniversary and the launch of the 8 80 Cities Knight Emerging City Champions 8th cohort. The Champions found playful ways to mark their identity. During the orientation session, the Champions leaned into numerology, noting that they are the 8th cohort of KECC in the program’s 10th year, part of an organization literally named 8 80 Cities. The number 8 kept showing up, sometimes in small, funny ways, sometimes in moments that felt oddly meaningful. It became a shared thread, a reminder of connection, timing, and collective energy. 

Their projects range from community gardens and food-driven gatherings to archival storytelling, wellness spaces, youth programs, and creative uses of technology. Learn more about each Champion and their projects.

Knight Emerging City Champions Winner Announcement Graphic.

In August 2025, the 2025-2026 cohort gathered in Toronto for our in-person studio. From the very beginning, there was something different in the room. The energy wasn’t just high; it was electric and palpable. Champions arrived ready to listen, ready to share, and ready to lead alongside one another.  

The Toronto Studio as a Starting Point 

We began our time together at Evergreen Brick Works, guided by Indigenous leaders Selina Young and Grandmother Liz. Everyone was invited to slow down, connect with the land and all those we share it with, and reflect on their own journeys. A smudging ceremony set the tone, offering a moment to arrive fully and intentionally.  

From there, Champions dove into project visioning through hands-on, playful making. Using classic 8 80 co-design materials like playdough, popsicle sticks, magazine cutouts, and pipe cleaners, ideas took shape through storytelling and creativity. Our tech partners at Helpful Places began working with Champions on how technology could responsibly support their work.

Champions, Ellie, Xiem, Jacoub, Lauren, Jerjuan, and Dominique (from bottom left to top middle) use co-design materials to visualize their projects.

After a full day of presentations and workshops, we headed out for an Evergreen Brick Works history tour to ground ourselves in place, sustainability, and adaptive reuse, and to see firsthand what long-term community transformation can look like. We wrapped the day around the table for dinner at The Depanneur, where Carole Nelson Brown cooked, sharing food, stories, and laughter.

Champions engage in conversation while waiting for their meal at The Depanneur.

Day two brought us to 401 Richmond, also home to the 8 80 Cities office, where champions shared their projects. The room was full of encouragement as people stood up to share their ideas. This led to a skills-sharing activity that underscores one of the KECC program’s greatest strengths: its network.  

Champions Raven, Lauren, Khaia, Jerjuan, Jessica, and Andrew sit in the JAYU studio, listening as other Champions share their experiences and discomfort.

Following this, a session led by Jay Pitter encouraged us to sit with discomfort and speak honestly about power, systems, and what it means to lead community work that does not always fit neatly within existing structures.

Champions laugh and clap as Hannia speaks during the Chinatown tour, standing together near the entrance of the Chinatown Centre.

We then headed to the Chinatown Centre, where Hannia Cheng and Kaitlyn Chan shared lessons on building community power and the grit required to protect place and culture through the story of the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust. What stood out most was how humour was used to build trust and to practice resistance. Not to minimize challenges, but to create space for honesty, approachability, and shared understanding. 

Champions, DeMarcus, Marcus, Khaia, and Ellie (left to right) gathered outside the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust’s community space.

On the last day, Gil Penalosa, the founder of 8 80 Cities, delivered an engaging keynote on Cities for Everyone. The day did not go exactly as planned. Flight cancellations and travel disruptions due to an Air Canada strike meant plans shifted quickly, with sessions shortened or reshaped on the fly, one of our superpowers at 8 80. Throughout, everyone handled it with grace. There was patience. There was compassion. There was a real willingness to step in and support one another. It was stressful, yes, but it was also a clear demonstration of resilience in practice. Amid the chaos, there was an impromptu presentation by the Champions of The Activ8, a zine created by Moi Reilly in collaboration with the rest of the Champions, detailing their experiences and learnings throughout their stay in Toronto. 

On day 3, Champions reflected on their studio experience while gathered in a cozy meeting room at the Ace Hotel (top left: Andrew, DeMarcus, and Moi at one table; bottom left: Jessica speaking with Lorena listening at another table)

Beyond the Studio 

Now, nearly six months into the fellowship, that initial energy hasn’t faded. Monthly meetups have created space for learning, problem-solving, and celebration. From Communications 101 with 8 80 Comms Manager, Camila Uriona, to a deep dive into responsible technology with Helpful Places, Champions continue to show up curious and prepared, generously sharing resources and insights with one another. We continue to leverage the KECC network’s strength through alumni-led monthly meetups. We kicked off the year with an honest and passionate session led by alum Ayanna-Grace King on building relationships in community work, reminding us that networking is really about connection and trust. 

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And the impact is already visible.  

Dominique Waters’ work with Akron Sneaker Academy and SOLE Box landed on the front page of the Akron Beacon Journal and secured additional funding. Xiem Busch-Vuong successfully launched Community Garden Connect, bringing together stewards from over 15 growing spaces. DeMarcus Beckham debuted The Still Point at Macon Pride, offering moments of calm and care within celebration. Jerjuan Howard launched the Puritan Avenue Archive Project, already uplifting powerful neighbourhood stories. Miranda De Gasperi launched Mapping Miami with a community art workshop and has begun developing an interactive archival map that preserves neighbourhood stories and cultural memory through community-created artwork. 

These are just a few highlights. Across all cities, Champions are building, testing, listening, and leading; each champion is firmly rooted in the work they believe in. 

Looking Ahead 

What began in August as an electric gathering developed into a resilient, connected network of leaders. As we approach the next 6-month mark, we’re excited to continue sharing how each Champion’s project is evolving, what they’re learning, and how their leadership is shaping their communities. Stay tuned and follow along on our social channels as we continue to amplify the work of this incredible cohort.