Latest news with #AndrewCarnegie
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Share Parkland's present, shape its future at Courier Journal mobile newsroom
For too long, Parkland's story has been about making do. Before November 2024, when Norton West Louisville Hospital opened in Parkland, the West End had gone 150 years without a hospital. Parkland had also gone 40 years without a library until February of this year when Parkland Library, one of Louisville's first nine libraries, funded by millionaire Andrew Carnegie, reopened after budget cuts forced its closing in 1986. Blak Koffee owner, Ronyale Smith, opened the shop's second location in Parkland's Goodwill Opportunity Center to fill another gap in the neighborhood. 'The same thing that drew me to Jefferson Street (Blak Koffee's first location) is the same thing that drew me here,' Smith said. 'This far west, there's not really restaurants and there's definitely not coffee shops for people to gather.' Parkland's history is probably familiar even if you don't know it. It follows a common pattern of struggle against racial barriers found in predominantly Black neighborhoods across the country. Some Black folk know it intimately in the boil of their blood, the fatigue in their bones. I'll give you the ultra-summarized version of one of this neighborhood's many stories. Once upon a time, Black people were just trying to make it. Oh, I'm sorry. Black people are always just trying to make it. Let me be specific. It was 1968. And Black people in Parkland were doing alright for themselves with a nice community of Black businesses and homeowners when a white police officer, Michael Clifford, attacked Manfred Reid, a Black man, during a racially-motivated traffic stop that turned violent. Clifford was suspended for excessive force. And reinstated weeks later. After a rally at 28th and Greenwood, where Stokely Carmichael, a leader in the Black Panther Party, was scheduled to speak but didn't show, a bottle smashing to the ground brought police, expecting gunfire, rolling onto the scene. All of the racial tension that had been building since Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination a month earlier, the attack against Reid and, well, forever went boom! Young Black people who were sick and tired of being sick and tired looted and burned businesses. The National Guard was called in. After days of destruction and military presence, two people were dead, 52 injured and 472 arrested. The white flight was swift. Many of the remaining businesses left, along with essential services and resources that opened gaps still visible to this day along with half-hearted city maintenance. Gerth: Courier Journal great Bill Luster, 'the most beloved person in all of photography,' dies | Opinion Leemesha Cole, who I met at the Goodwill Opportunity Center, said of Parkland, 'It stinks here. They should fix the sewers, the potholes. They don't care about us down here.' Carl Barrett, originally from New Jersey, said when he lived in Valley Station he used to tell people back home about the smooth streets. 'The roads were beautiful,' he said. When Cole spoke about Parkland's potholes, Barrett, who now lives downtown, shook his head in mournful agreement. George Harbin, who's lived at various locations across West Broadway, said Parkland 'needs to be cleaned up' and there should be 'more resources in the community for kids.' He added, 'I think the Goodwill (Opportunity Center) is a good start.' Dorothy Jackson, a Louisville native, agreed: 'I think it's nice what they're doing now. They didn't have that when I was growing up. It was the state fair and Fountain Ferry, only on Saturdays. There wasn't much to do. There's a spot here for children, ages 16-24. I think it's fantastic.' I met James Cross, another Louisville native, at Blak Koffee watching a chess match so intense the players didn't lift their gaze from the board to acknowledge my greeting. His face lit up when I told him the Parkland Library had reopened. 'I used to go to Parkland Library years before it closed. I'm happy to know Parkland is open.' Cross is affiliated with the West Louisville Chess Club, run by Corbin Sevrs. 'Corbin recruited me to promote chess in the area with young people. The owner of Blak Koffee wants us to be here.' Cross echoed Harbin's concern about youth, caught in the Parkland Uprising's aftermath. Their restlessness and anger hold the potential for destruction and violence that could keep this vicious cycle spinning. 'They're not all bad. They just need care and attention.' Opinion: Kentucky public schools depend on federal funding. We can't afford to lose it. Recent developments in Parkland raise hopes for the future, but large federal budget cuts and racial barriers that continue to mount under an administration hostile to diversity, equity and inclusion could stop that progress. What is the story of Parkland's next generation? What do they want us to know? What stories are we not telling? The Courier Journal's mobile newsroom will be at the Parkland Library, 2743 Virginia Ave., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 9-13. We will be raffling off a $50 gift card to Blak Koffee. But most of all we want to meet with you, hear your stories, your ideas and your concerns. We invite community members of all ages and backgrounds to join us and offer your take on topics big and small. Why? Because we're here to serve you, and knowing what's important to you will help us do that. Also, because stories teach lessons. They resurrect history so we don't repeat mistakes. They set records straight and share blueprints of how we got over. If more of us tell our stories, maybe we won't have to make do; maybe we can make things better. Tell us what you think. Send your letter to the editor. Kristen Gentry is the engagement and opinion editor at the Courier Journal. Reach her at KGentry@ and (585) 479-0660. You can also follow her on Instagram at and Facebook at This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Parkland, the CJ mobile newsroom wants to hear your stories | Opinion
Business Wire
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Wire
Carnegie Reporter Magazine Explores the Prevalence and Impact of Political Polarization and Finds Possible Solutions
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Summer 2025 edition of Carnegie Reporter magazine examines what is driving division in our society and how individuals and communities are finding ways to come together to reduce political polarization. The Summer 2025 issue of #CarnegieReporter magazine highlights the individuals and organizations working together to understand and overcome polarization, with special features on Carnegie's legacy of supporting libraries and librarians. Share Published by the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York, the magazine explores domestic and international factors contributing to polarization, from growing income inequality to immigration policy. It highlights the leaders, thinkers, and practitioners who are working together across differences, building local connections, finding the causes of polarization, and focusing on shared goals. 'I believe that philanthropy has a role in lancing this boil of polarization; indeed, I see it as our responsibility. It will take a long-term, multifaceted approach that supports hands-on societal efforts to bridge divides,' writes Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie, in the issue's opening essay. 'There is so much more to be done, but the stakes have never been higher.' The issue also offers a special section on the nearly 1,700 libraries that Andrew Carnegie funded in communities across America, and celebrates the contributions of 10 exceptional librarians who are strengthening and serving communities every day. A former New York Times foreign correspondent shares photos and stories about the 150 Carnegie Libraries that he has visited, from New Jersey to Texas, and why what he saw and learned made him proud to be an American. Among the articles: Why Polarization Is a Problem Carnegie president Dame Louise Richardson, a political scientist and terrorism expert, writes about the short-, medium-, and long-term approaches to the deeply complex issue of decreasing political polarization — and how philanthropy can play an important role. How Polarized Are We? It depends on where you look. A new survey finds that local government is far less affected by division than at the national level — even after the 2024 election. Find out how local leaders are navigating divisive challenges and addressing and reducing polarization's most harmful effects. 'Nothing Is Unfixable' Former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean, in conversation with former Financial Times editor Lionel Barber, reflects on a lifetime of bipartisan leadership, from chairing the 9/11 Commission to guiding the Carnegie board for over two decades. Kean argues that political compromise remains essential to solving national problems — and shares why he remains optimistic about America's ability to navigate divisions and emerge stronger. Welcome to a World Defined by Polarization Political scientist and Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer analyzes a new era when Americans have been primed to view their fellow countrymen on opposite sides of the political spectrum as 'enemies of the people,' and no country is both willing and able to drive a public global agenda and maintain international order. What can be done? Bremmer advises bringing more understanding to our political divisions and doing more to work against them. Want Greater Prosperity? Mind the Gap Why are the richest 20 percent of countries 30 times richer than the poorest? Three economists — two of whom received funding from Carnegie — have an answer, and it won them a 2024 Nobel Prize. Their research shows that it depends on a society's institutional structures and whether they provide opportunities and incentives to people. Welcome to the U.S. A rural town in Iowa, where just one in 50 residents are foreign-born, came together to provide homes and jobs to Ukrainian refugees. Will they be able to keep the community they've created? The American Exchange Project Is Creating Cross-Country Friendships Fifty-four percent of young people in America have never seen a cow in real life — many have never traveled outside their own state. The American Exchange Project, founded after a life-changing 7,100-mile road trip across the country by a college senior, hopes to make a week in a different town as common to the high school experience as the prom. Additional highlights: A Carnegie Library Road Trip Former New York Times foreign correspondent Mark McDonald traveled to more than 150 Carnegie Libraries across the United States. Through his text and photos, McDonald documents how these historic buildings — among the nearly 1,700 libraries Andrew Carnegie funded across America — house stories of civic life, education, and community resilience. Great Immigrants, Great Americans To highlight the extraordinary contributions of naturalized citizens to American life, Carnegie has commissioned a comic series to illustrate how they are contributing to communities across the country. Three Great Immigrants are featured in the issue: DC comics publisher and artist Jim Lee, Flint public health advocate Mona Hanna, and librarian Homa Naficy, who has pioneered services for new immigrants. For more information, visit the online issue of the Carnegie Reporter. Subscribe to receive the print edition and our newsletters — always free. The Reporter has been the flagship 'magazine of ideas' for Carnegie Corporation of New York for more than two decades. Readers are encouraged to republish or excerpt articles by seeking permission from the foundation. About Carnegie Corporation of New York Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace. @CarnegieCorp
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Burlington's Fletcher Free Library begins building renovation
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – The Queen City's 121-year-old central library building is getting a long-overdue refresh. Restoration work on the exterior of the Fletcher Free Library's Carnegie Building began May 27, and is expected to continue through late 2025. Neagley & Chase Construction is performing the work, and aims to preserve the building's historic character. The Carnegie Building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976, and was last restored in 1977. The library will occasionally close rooms throughout the year as construction progresses. The east side of the library's youth section will be closed starting June 9 for about two weeks. The library as a whole, however, will remain open. The Fletcher Free Library was established in 1875, only a decade after Burlington's incorporation as a city. In its early years, the library was located in the old county courthouse, but once lack of space became a concern, steel magnate Andrew Carnegie was eventually persuaded to step in. A Burlington acquaintance of Andrew Carnegie addressed aninquiry to the industrialist then at the height of his program of library endow-ments, requesting him to donate funds for a new building to house the FletcherFree Library. Carnegie offered $50,000 under the conditions that the city fur-nish a site and resolve to provide $5,000 a year to maintain the library. Excerpt from the building's application to the National Historic Register For over a century, the Carnegie Building and its later additions were the only home of Burlington's public library. A second branch in the New North End neighborhood was finally opened in 2021. Today the library carries about 155,000 items, with 111,708 being books. The project is being funded in part by the Save America's Treasures grant program, which has helped fund work on National Historic Places and Historic Landmarks since 1998. The City of Burlington, which matched funds from other grant programs is also paying for a part of the cost of the operation. Additional information on the Fletcher Free Library's history and events can be found on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scotsman
11-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Scottish Government should step in to help cash-strapped universities, says former St Andrews principal
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The former principal of the University of St Andrews says the Scottish Government should step in to save universities struggling to survive amid a major funding crisis. Dame Louise Richardson, who headed up the prestigious Fife institution and later became vice-chancellor of Oxford University, said Scotland's universities were 'essential to the success of society'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad St. Andrews University | Getty Images/iStockphoto A number of Scottish universities have recently announced redundancies as financial problems plague the sector. Dame Louise, who was principal of St Andrews University from 2009 to 2015, is in Scotland in her new role as president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, founded by Scot Andrew Carnegie in 1911. She said: 'Universities are so critical to society. They're the engines of the economy and important for so many people. This is something Andrew Carnegie understood - they are the engines of social mobility, but they're much more than that. They're guardians of the culture and generators of new ideas. They're absolutely essential to the success of society. 'Scotland's tradition of higher education is so admirable. The fact that there were, for centuries, four universities in Scotland, is pretty impressive.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dundee University is cutting around 300 full-time jobs – down from an initial figure of 632 - as it tries to tackle a £35 million deficit. A £22m support package has already been approved for Dundee University by the board of the Scottish Funding Council. The University of Dundee's Queen Mother Building | Lisa Ferguson The University of Edinburgh is meanwhile looking to make £140m of cuts over the next 18 months, with 350 staff already believed to have taken voluntary redundancy. Edinburgh University principal Sir Peter Mathieson last month said he could not rule out compulsory redundancies. Dame Louise said : 'Every university principal is going to want more government funding. No foundations are big enough to fill the gap in government funding in any sphere. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So I hope the Scottish Government will, and indeed the British Government, figure out a way to maintain the calibre of Scottish higher education, just as I hope that American universities are not damaged by current political problems in the US.' Leaders of the 26 Carnegie organisations worldwide gathered in Edinburgh this week to award the 2025 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Awards. The biennial event, also known internationally as the "Nobel Prize of Philanthropy', was held in Scotland for the first time in more than a decade. Philanthropists including Comic Relief co-founders Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry were honoured for their philanthropic work, as well as Dr Carol Grigor, who has funded arts projects across Scotland, including the building of the Dunard Centre, Edinburgh's new concert hall. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dame Louise pointed to the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland fund set up in 1901 by Carnegie, which funded every student at university in Scotland at the time and still offers grants to students whose tuition fees are not eligible for government funding. Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who was born in Dunfermline, became one of America's richest men, after starting work in a cotton mill aged 12. Dame Louise said: 'At the time, it was about 1 per cent of the population. Now with nigh on 50 per cent of the population attending university, no combination of private foundations can fill the gap. 'We're finding that in the US at the moment, when the government is cutting back in various areas, there's a big call for philanthropy to fill the gap. And much as we would like to, the scale of government funding is so great that we can't, collectively or individually. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dame Louise Richardson receiving an OBE for services to Higher Education in 2022. | Getty Images 'I think the best possible return on investment is investment in education. That's what Andrew Carnegie certainly felt. That was the tradition he brought with him from Scotland to America. And certainly, education has transformed my life and the life of so many others. ' Ahead of the medal ceremony on Wednesday night, the Carnegie organisations attended a meeting where they were addressed by former prime minister Gordon Brown, who spoke on the importance of civic spaces for communities to meet, as well as the dangers of polarising politics, something which Dame Louise said was a key focus of her organisation. Although it is unable under its status as a non-profit organisation to take part in political lobbying, the Carnegie Corporation of New York is funding academics from Stanford University to do research on political polarisation - how it came about and how society could mitigate it. Dame Louise said: 'The other focus I've had since coming into my role has been to try and address the political polarisation that is really - this perhaps sounds hyperbolic, I was going to say - tearing America apart, but it is certainly causing so much damage and distrust in American society.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She recalled living in Scotland through the 2014 independence referendum and the 2016 Brexit vote. 'There's nothing more polarising than a referendum,' she said. 'I lived through the independence referendum here and the Brexit referendum when I was in Scotland. And that, of course, forces a binary choice, and people end up making a decision on a single issue that is actually influenced by all sorts of extraneous issues. So that, in itself, is deeply polarising.' Dame Louise praised medal winner Dr Grigor for her 'quiet philanthropy'. 'She has such a breadth and range of philanthropy, and she keeps it all very quiet,' she said. 'She's so admirable in an age when so much philanthropy has become quite transactional and philanthropists are seeking public recognition.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dunard Fund, which is chaired by Dr Grigor, has provided millions of pounds worth of grants to charities in the arts and heritage sectors. Recipient organisations include the Edinburgh International Festival, National Galleries of Scotland, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, National Library of Scotland and Britain's major opera companies, as well as the new concert hall. Previous winners of the Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy include Dolly Parton in 2022, Michael Bloomberg in 2009, and Scottish businessmen Sir Ian Wood and Sir Tom Hunter in 2019 and 2013 respectively.
Bloomberg
10-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
To Save Its Economy, China Needs to Make Marriage Cool Again
Welcome to the weekend! In his 1889 essay The Gospel of Wealth, Andrew Carnegie wrote, 'The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.' Which billionaire cited that quote in an announcement on Thursday? Find out with this week's Pointed quiz. Then head over to the Bloomberg app to enjoy our Weekend audio playlist: six great stories, read by human beings.
