04.14.2009 -  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 13, 2009) –Local mayors representing Palm Beach County municipalities have each been invited by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties to cut a virtual ribbon commemorating the launch on April 20 of the County's first-ever "Digital Public Square."

"With a single keystroke on their computers each of the County's mayors will have the opportunity to ceremonially "cut the ribbon" to declare YourPBC.org and the Digital Public Square officially open for civic engagement," said Leslie Lilly, President and CEO of the Community Foundation.

The ceremonial launch of YourPBC.org is the first stage in the Community Foundation’s newest leadership initiative to connect Palm Beach County through extraordinary civic engagement and the power of web 2.0 tools. "Our democracy is organized around geography, and like many in our community, we care deeply about our region's future. YourPBC.org harnesses new media and technology to keep area residents and visitors informed about community news, coverage of issues, concerns, and events exclusive to Palm Beach County neighborhoods," Lilly added.

The landmark "Digital Public Square" project is being funded by a two-year civic initiatives leadership grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Knight Foundation is encouraging community foundations nationwide to pursue similar leadership initiatives. "At Knight Foundation, we firmly believe that the affairs of a community in a democracy cannot be effectively managed without the free flow of information. It’s a core community need, as critical as any to a healthy community," said Trabian Shorters, vice president for communities program at Knight Foundation.

Modeled after the traditional “public square” where townspeople would gather to exchange views, YourPBC.org provides a virtual platform for the exploration of issues, the sharing of ideas, creativity and opinions while developing solutions to the community's challenges. The Community Foundation has been forging civic and nonprofit partnerships to develop engaging content and online training tools for YourPBC.org from a wide array of resources. The site’s rich content steam will include video footage of community events and an interactive historical timeline of Palm Beach County’s history, nonprofit news and comprehensive databases of community information that are being developed.

Initial nonprofit partners contributing content for the “digital public square” include the Center for Technology, Enterprise and Development; the Florida Public Health Institute; the Historical Society of Palm Beach County; the Children's Services Council; the Palm Beach County Film and Television Institute; the Legal Aid Society; 1000 Friends of Florida; 211 of Palm Beach County; Nonprofits First; P.E.A.C.E. (People Engaged in Active Community Efforts), the Community Partnership Group and the Glades Initiative.

The ongoing development of YourPBC.org includes training for content partners, the provision of grants to area non-profits, public outreach, development of grassroots civic journalism among community organizations and citizens, recruiting content contributions from across the region and staff support and technical training.
"As the project matures we're inviting more partners to join our efforts to develop and share content, including government organizations and individual community members who offer a unique and diverse perspective on issues affecting Palm Beach County," Lilly added.

About the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties connects people who care with causes that matter. Since 1972, The Community Foundation has granted over $4.5 million in scholarships to over 1,200 students and $74 million to nonprofit organizations in the community. The Foundation accepts contributions in support of community initiatives, special projects and permanent endowment. Income from endowment is used to make grants and award scholarships primarily in Palm Beach and Martin counties. To learn more, please visit www.yourcommunityfoundation.org.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation invests in journalism excellence worldwide and in the vitality of U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Since 1950, the foundation has granted more than $400 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression. Knight Foundation focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.