Knight Creative Communities Initiative Evaluation—2007-2008
From 2007 to 2008, SIAP conducted a process evaluation of the Knight Creative Communities Initiative (KCCI). The initiative was part of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's recent interest in the development of social entrepreneurs to promote community transformation based on Richard Florida's creative class theory to stimulate economic development. The focus of KCCI was sponsorship of the "Creative Community Leadership Seminar" in three regions in order to "train Foundation staff and selected community leaders as creative community leaders." Florida's consulting firm, Creative Class Group (CCG), implemented the initiative in Charlotte, North Carolina; Duluth, Minnesota/Superior, Wisconsin; and Tallahassee, Florida.
SIAP's evaluation involved site visits to the three communities, a series of phone interviews with CCG staff and participants, an analysis of census data for the three communities, and two on-line surveys of the "catalysts" who were the focus on the initiative.