Sharing My Story at the Knight Media Forum
It's not an overstatement to say that CivicLex probably wouldn't exist right now without very early support from the Knight Foundation and Blue Grass Community Foundation, especially from Lilly Weinberg and Lisa Adkins, J.D.
I got started down my current path with a $5k grant in 2016 from 8 80 Cities through their Emerging Cities Champions program. I was working on a project to increase access to civic info through public transportation. That program was funded by Knight, and Lisa pushed me to apply. Later, once CivicLex launched, BGCF's early support of us through their Knight DAF — a $100k grant over four years — gave us the stability we needed to grow.
Our early connection with Knight always makes it special to attend the Knight Media Forum. This year especially so, as I was asked to share my personal story from the stage alongside two people that I have deep admiration and respect for — Orlando Bailey and Giovanna Torres. What an honor to share the stage with them!
The story I told came out of my relationship to being from Kentucky. It's a place I was taught to not value for much of my early life, but since I moved back home years ago, thanks to so many fellow Kentuckians, it's a place I'm deeply proud to be from and fiercely proud of. On stage, I talked about the connection between my relationship to place and my drive to help others find their agency over decision making in Lexington. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be so candid and personal about the importance of pride of place in front of so many very important people.
I'm also so thankful for the personal and professional support from so many folks at Knight, especially Lilly and Marisa Kwiatkowski. I wish all foundations were as committed to the ideas of investing in place and local leadership as Knight is with its communities.
It can be scary to bare your soul on stage in front of hundreds of people (especially in 6 minutes!), but it's also comforting to do so in a space where you feel supported and valued. Thanks so much to all that I saw that expressed kind words, and to Megan Finnerty for the coaching on the story!