San Jose has no shortage of big ideas. But we need some that live not in “the cloud” but on the ground. San Jose’s ground.
For decades, the cafes in downtown and the white boards and offices across the city’s tech campuses have helped to develop and incubate the ideas that shape our world. As we watch the global political and geographic landscape forever change for the better thanks to (insert your favorite local company or innovation here), we ask — how can this success and expertise help San Jose itself?
Make no mistake, San Jose is a phenomenally successful city already. But with that success comes challenges. The projected population growth in Santa Clara County — 23 percent by 2040 — is daunting. With it comes the need to meet the demands of a new generation of urban residents seeking better transit, access to economic opportunity, places to learn and connect, and an active downtown core. How will we get new residents, and more of the existing residents, engaged in civic life so that they are part of the solution?
San Jose should be good at this. What if the know-how behind building networked systems helped build networked communities from East San Jose to Willow Glen? What if the ingenuity that reduced file transfer times reduced the time we spend transferring ourselves across town on our congested highways? What if the talent that created beautiful graphic design created less sprawl and more beautiful and walkable neighborhoods?
We aren’t just asking. We are, in fact, challenging the city of San Jose: What’s your best idea to make this city more successful?
This is the question posed by the Knight Cities Challenge, an initiative of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a long-standing investor in San Jose’s success.
Knight is investing $5 million in the big ideas and dedicated people working to re-imagine the potential in this city and 25 other Knight Communities across the country. Specifically, we aim to support what we believe are the three main drivers of success across cities: 1) talent — attract and keep the best and the brightest; 2) opportunity — expand economic prospects and break down divides; and 3) engagement — spur connection and civic involvement.
How do you do that by using the power of our city’s unique places, from San Pedro Square to Cesar Chavez Plaza, South First Street, its museums and its campuses. How can you make them places that bring out the best of San Jose and make the city irresistible?
Whether you are a maker, hacker, artist, academic, neighborhood-know-it-all, designer, city official, teacher, do-gooder or unaffiliated big thinker, we encourage you to share your big ideas in support of these principles at KnightCities.org.
The big ideas in San Jose and Silicon Valley become the big disruptions that reach the far corners of the world. And we already have so many folks in town making change in their community. Now is the time to think big, think bold and think local.
Imagine a San Jose that uses the power of unique places to attract and retain even more talent in the city. Imagine a San Jose designed to break down barriers between diverse communities. Imagine a San Jose where civic participation is pervasive.
Now stop imagining and, together, let’s make it happen.
Carol Coletta is the Knight Foundation vice president of Community and National Initiatives, and Danny Harris is the foundation’s new program director for San Jose. They wrote this for this newspaper. The deadline to submit to the Knight Cities Challenge at KnightCities.org is 2 p.m. Nov. 14.
