Across Haiti, residents tune in to Enfomasyon Nou Dwe Konnen (News You Can Use) to find out the latest information on basic services in their earthquake ravaged country. Questions from callers center on basic humanitarian needs, such as how to get a death certificate for a person whose body was never found or whether tenants should pay rent on properties that have collapsed.

Knight-funded Internews began producing the segment the week after the January earthquake, and has answered more than 380 questions. Now, just over six months later, close to 75 percent of Haitian adults listen to Internews' humanitarian broadcasts. The spots contain information on food, shelter and employment, urgent news for the nearly two million people still living in internally displaced persons camps.

This is an important time for Haitian journalism, and Internews is working to train journalists and strengthen the news and information infrastructure. The presidential election scheduled for November will also provide an opportunity for local journalists to cover important national issues. 'One of the candidates is hip hop star, Wyclef Jean, and his candidacy will increase international attention on the country and the election.

Internews is also reaching Haitians who migrated to rural areas after the earthquake through collaboration with the nonprofit organization Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities. 'The partnership is implementing a traveling news service.

Knight Foundation and Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities sponsored a meeting in May looking at how the media responded to the crisis. 'The event also evaluated the role technology and communications played in helping address the information needs of Haitian communities in the aftermath of the earthquake. 'Other Knight grantees at the meeting included representatives from Global Voices and Knight News Challenge grantee Ushahidi.

 

 

A small post in the Charlotte Observer this week caught my attention: The Carolina Thread Trail has now invested more than $1 million in community grants for trail development.

For a 15-county initiative with more than 500 miles of trails that will take 15-20 years to build out, this may seem a small figure. But these community grants are the first step in bringing residents together to plan and decide on the best routes for the trails. Knight Foundation has supported these sessions with a $1 million grant for the early planning of the trail.

As the trails are first envisioned, planned and then built, they'll link together to create a "green interstate" of walking and biking paths circling Charlotte.

Near center city Charlotte today, we'll celebrate the completion on one such link. Little Sugar Creek , once the most polluted creek in town, has been literally uncovered and a new linear park built alongside it. Little Sugar Creek Greenway is part of the Thread Trail, and a visible part of it. Unlike more rural or forested stretches of the greenway, this section along a major street to uptown has a more urban feel with fountains, a clock tower and a kiosk offering a restroom and spot to buy drinks.

It has taken years and millions of dollars to complete, but what a transformation.

Siobhan Canty joins Knight Foundation this week ' bringing two decades of experience in community engagement and nonprofit development to the Strategic Initiatives program.

Canty most recently worked as a U.S. change leader for Ashoka, Innovators for the Public. She also founded a consulting practice for nonprofits and businesses, and was president and CEO of Greater DC Cares, the largest volunteer facilitator in the Washington, D.C., area.

Knight's Strategic Initiatives Program supports innovative leaders and organizations working across disciplines to promote informed and engaged communities.

From today's release: 'Siobhan has the experience Knight needs to help identify and cultivate organizations that understand the life cycle and effective management of engaged community members,' said Paula Ellis, Knight Foundation's vice president of strategic initiatives.' 'Her range of experience ' from local community organizer to national innovator in volunteering ' allows her to see the issues of engagement from a unique and valuable perspective.'