Latest news with #LouiseRichardson
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh's new concert hall handed million dollar grant by Andrew Carnegie foundation
Edinburgh's first purpose-built new concert hall for more than a century is to benefit from the fortune left by Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... His philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York has made a $1 million grant - £735,000 - towards the Dunard Centre, which is set to be built on the recently cleared site behind the historic Royal Bank of Scotland building in St Andrew Square. The news comes as a new report projects the 1,000-seater venue will generate £170 million in gross value added in first 20 years and boost tourism spending by £8.6m each year. Work is due to start this summer and the new venue is expected to open in 2029. The Dunard Centre will be a 1,000-seat concert hall complete with a multi-purpose space, café and bar. | David Chipperfield Architects, Reiach and Hall Architects Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dunard Centre - expected to cost at least £115 million - will provide a permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival. The Carnegie foundation, which is led by Dame Louise Richardson, former principal and vice-chancellor of St Andrews University, was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911, to manage the bulk of his philanthropic giving. He wanted it to 'promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding'. It is backed by an endowment valued at around $4.5 billion and between 2023 and 2024, it awarded grants totalling $174 million. The Dunard Centre, expected to open in 2029, will become the permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra | supplied Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'We are hugely grateful for this grant, which recognises both the global significance of the Dunard Centre and the role it will play in enriching the lives of local people, by giving them greater access to the arts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The money will help us develop and advance our engagement strategy, which is a vital element of our mission to create a 'Hall for All' here in Edinburgh. 'With a focus on supporting civic participation and socioeconomic mobility, we intend to build trusted relationships, design thoughtful creative engagement programmes, and establish the team that will bring this work to life when we open our doors in 2029. 'We look forward to the opportunity of exploring and sharing the parallels between the transformational philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie – and the mark this left upon the world –and the various ways civic society benefits from the provision of outstanding performance and lifelong engagement with music.' The centre is named after the Dunard Fund, an arts charity established by philanthropist Carol Colburn Grigor, which has contributed £35m toward the project. In total, the new concert hall has attracted record private donations of £80m. And it is backed by £25 million of public investment through Edinburgh's City Region Deal.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City Public Library awarded $500,000 to expand literacy, teen programs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Public Library (KCPL) has been awarded a $500,000 grant to expand its programs, the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced Tuesday. The KCPL is one of 11 public library systems to receive a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York through its Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy initiative – which is aimed at helping public libraries expand access to adult literacy and college readiness programs. This national effort builds on the foundation's renewed commitment to libraries as trusted public institutions that help reduce political polarization. New upscale beach-themed restaurant to open in Kansas City Power & Light District 'Andrew Carnegie believed libraries were ladders upon which anyone and everyone could rise, and that belief continues to guide us,' Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie, said in a news release. 'At a time when trust in public institutions is fraying, libraries retain public trust. We are delighted to support these grantees as they provide essential programs and community services.' The KCPL was selected as part of an effort to help deliver critical services that promote socioeconomic mobility. 'Libraries are critical infrastructure in our communities – spaces that nurture learning, connection and possibility,' KCPL Director and Chief Executive Abby Yellman said in a news release. 'We are honored to receive this grant, which reaffirms the vital role libraries play in the ecosystem of community life. This generous support strengthens our commitment to expanding opportunity for all while fostering a shared sense of community and belonging.' The grant will be used to expand three of KCPL's flagship programs: Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment (RISE) Teen Leaders of Today (TLOT) The Kansas City Digital Media Lab (KCDML) The KCPL said it established RISE in 2014 to connect immigrant populations with quality library services, resources and lifelong learning opportunities through outreach, education and advocacy. The program serves more than 3,000 patrons and offers more than 100 English language classes each year. The Carnegie Corporation grant will support the development of new multilingual courses to offer instruction that supports workforce certifications in high-demand fields. The KCPL's college and career readiness programs for teens and tweens will also be expanded thanks to the award. TLOT offers teens leadership and volunteer opportunities at the KCPL's branch locations. The Digital Media Lab, based in the Southeast Branch, gives teens access to a variety of digital tools and training in two broad areas of focus: media production and engineering. Potential Royals move to Kansas sparks mixed reaction in Overland Park 'Libraries are places where people build knowledge, skills and agency,' said Ambika Kapur, an education program director at Carnegie. 'This initiative reflects our belief in investing in civic participation—wherever people come together to learn.' Carnegie has been one of the largest philanthropic funders of libraries, from the early construction of libraries in the United States, to helping establish the endowment of the American Library Association, funding the nation's first graduate library school and digitizing archival collections around the world. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gwinnett County Public Library gets $350,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation
One of the oldest philanthropies in the United States gave the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) a major grant. According to the library system, the Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded $350,000, which they plan to use for expanding English language classes, in partnership with Gwinnett County Public Schools. The Carnegie Corporation said GCPL was one of 11 libraries across the U.S. to get an award from the Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy initiative. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'Andrew Carnegie believed libraries were ladders upon which anyone and everyone could rise, and that belief continues to guide us,' Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie, said in a statement. 'At a time when trust in public institutions is fraying, libraries retain public trust. We are delighted to support these grantees as they provide essential programs and community services.' TRENDING STORIES: 'Black Mecca' no longer? Atlanta prices cause families to move out of the city Atlanta Public Schools announces new first day of school, 13 new principals Georgia father drowns after getting caught in Gulf rip current Through the additional funding, GCPL said they'll be able to increase the number of free English classes and recruit more community volunteers. The funding will also go toward stipends for volunteer English teachers and bus passes for those participating in the program. 'Fluency in the English language is essential for everyone to participate in American society, culture, politics, and business. We are delighted that the Carnegie Corporation has recognized the importance of English language classes and libraries in general to maintain a literate and engaged citizenry,' Charles Pace, Executive Director of Gwinnett County Public Library, said. 'Thanks to this generous award we will be able to better support the English language learner needs of the Gwinnett Community than ever before.' The Carnegie Corporation said more than 1,400 applicants sent requests for funding from the program. The organization said they 'prioritized initiatives' that had shown both strong demand from their communities and success either teaching Adult English language and literacy to build job readiness, or college access programs for teens with academic, civic and leadership skills, college admissions knowledge and with support from families as they transition to college. 'Libraries are places where people build knowledge, skills, and agency,' said Ambika Kapur, an Education program director at Carnegie. 'This initiative reflects our belief in investing in civic participation — wherever people come together to learn." [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Boston Globe
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
From funny to somber, here are some of this year's most memorable commencement speech quotes
Commencement speakers employed a mix of wisdom and humor to inspire and guide graduates through changing and challenging times. 'Just friggin' go for it' At Advertisement 'When you find the thing that you want to do, I really want to highly recommend, just friggin' go for it,' said Coolidge, who graduated from Emerson's performing arts program. 'You really have to psych yourself up into believing absurd possibilities, and you have to believe that they are not absurd.' 'The decisions you will make in the future under pressure will say something about your character' In a Advertisement 'Graduates, the decisions you will make in the future under pressure will say something about your character, while they also shape and transform you in unexpected ways,' Verghese, an immigrant from Ethiopia, said. 'Make your decisions worthy of the opportunities this great university opened up to you, as it works to preserve the value of what you accomplished here and the values it stands for.' Cambridge, MA - 5/29/2025: Author, physician & professor at Stanford University, Abraham Verghese walks in the procession during Harvard University's 374th Commencement in Cambridge, MA on May 29, 2025. (Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff) Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff 'What I learned in that desert and in every moment since, is this: Hope is not naïve' Hampshire College alum 'So, Hampshire graduates,' Castro said, 'if my journey from that desert to this podium feels improbable, remember this: Improbable things happen when people show up for each other.' Louise Richardson, an Irish trailblazer who was the first woman to head Oxford University in England, and now the first female to lead the Carnegie Corporation of New York received an honorary degree from BC President William P. Leahy, S.J. on May 19. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'You look rather like . . . superheroes with capes.' Louise Richardson of the Carnegie Corporation issued a mighty challenge to thousands of proud Boston College 'Eagles.' 'Fly out of the gates of the college and save the world,' she urged the 4,512 graduates who filled the stadium for the university's 149th commencement on May 19. 'You look resplendent in your brightly-colored maroon and gold robes, rather like superheroes with capes,' the Irish-born scholar and philanthropist told the graduates seated beneath bright skies, their gowns billowing behind them. 'You look resplendent in your brightly-colored maroon and gold robes, rather like superheroes with capes,' the Irish-born scholar and philanthropist told the graduates seated beneath bright skies, their gowns billowing behind them. Advertisement 'This is not an idle comparison,' said Richardson, the first woman to lead the New York-based philanthropic foundation. '...As freshly-minted graduates, you are the new guardians of this galaxy.' 'Becoming isn't something you finish. It's something you commit to' At the 'The real growth happened in the quiet. In the lonely. In the moments between the big wins — the ones no one claps for," she said. 'Something very special and strange is happening on this planet and it is you' Hank Green, YouTuber and content creator known for his science-focused videos, 'Do. Not. Forget. How special and bizarre it is to get to live a human life,' he said. 'Something very special and strange is happening on this planet and it is you.' The first recommendation Green gave graduates, though, is MIT graduates tossed their caps at the end of the university's May 28 commencement ceremony. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff 'And what a mission.' Sunita Williams, the Needham-raised NASA astronaut, addressed Merrimack College graduates on May 15, recounting her extended journey in space and urging them to realize how far they have traveled. 'Yes, we could have worried about getting home those nine months, but instead, we had time to look at the foliage,' Williams said to graduates and their families assembled at Lawler Arena. 'And what a mission.' 'Sometimes, just stopping for a moment and looking around allows us to see what's happening right in front of us,' said Williams, 59. '[There are] unbelievable things, if you just stop for a moment and look out the window.' Advertisement 'The crisis of this moment, the challenge of this moment, also offers a huge opportunity' Mass. Governor Maura Healey addressed more than 600 graduates at Mount Holyoke College May 25, 'It may feel as if you're graduating in the worst timeline. But the crisis of this moment, the challenge of this moment, also offers a huge opportunity,' Healey said. 'It's an opportunity to make choices that truly matter, not only to yourselves, but to the world. ' 'Take it with a pound of salt' At Northeastern University's 'Every time someone says 'No,' think about what they said,' Grainge said. 'Then take it with a pound of salt. If your gut says you're right, ignore them completely. If they are right? Cool, good for them. Learn from it. Pivot. And try again.' 'The people who change the world, in my experience, are rarely the ones who feel comfortable doing it' Suffolk alumna, neuroscientist, and entrepreneur Dr. Frida Polli addressed Suffolk University's 'You are nowhere near done becoming who you are meant to be. So be bold. Be different. Be curious. Follow what fascinates you. And don't wait for permission, because where you go from here, excellence awaits you,' she said. 'A young woman would write her truth in your paper and find herself arrested and put in jail' Tufts University garnered Advertisement 'I could never imagine 55 years later that a young woman would write her truth in your paper and find herself arrested and put in jail,' Hrabowski said. 'But let me tell you that all of America salutes your president and Tufts University for supporting that student.' 'Be mindful of those who say, 'You can't boil the ocean'' At 'Be mindful of those who say, 'You can't boil the ocean.' They may be comfortable with the status quo. But you? You're here to lift people,' she said. Emily Spatz can be reached at
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Carnegie Reporter Magazine Explores the Prevalence and Impact of Political Polarization and Finds Possible Solutions
Carnegie president Dame Louise Richardson sees grounds for optimism as she leads philanthropic efforts to understand and decrease division A new CivicPulse survey finds that local leaders believe their communities are less polarized than national politics suggest and offers solutions for increasing cooperation Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer analyzes a new era when no country is both willing and able to drive a global agenda and maintain international order Governor Thomas H. Kean and former Financial Times editor Lionel Barber discuss bipartisanship and why "nothing is unfixable" Nobel Prize-winning research supported by Carnegie provides an answer to why the richest 20 percent of countries are 30 times richer than the poorest A rural Iowa town welcomes refugees from Ukraine, turning strangers into neighbors NEW YORK, June 04, 2025--(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. 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 View source version on Contacts Celeste Ford | Carnegie Corporation of New York | Chief Communications OfficerEmail: CFC@ Sign in to access your portfolio
