The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced grants totaling more than $1 million in support of civic engagement efforts in San Jose, California.

The grants will support projects focused on leveraging public spaces to highlight local culture and talent and boost the capacity and impact of those working to create positive change in the city.

Grant recipients include the City of San Jose, which was awarded $220,000 to expand the My San Jose technology application, which fields common service requests from residents; the African American Community Service Agency, which will receive $30,000 to boost civic engagement by supporting emerging community leaders through its Leadership Matters 2018 program; the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, which was awarded $30,000 in support of its Sonido Clash Music Festival; and the Center for Media Change, which will receive $25,000 to expand Hack the Hood, a program that introduces young people of color to careers in tech.

"Civic engagement is rooted in attaching people to place," said Danny Harris, Knight Foundation program director for San Jose. "To do that, residents need avenues to contribute and connect and opportunities to immerse themselves in local culture; they need to feel that their stories are reflected in the fabric of the community. These investments aim to help advance those bold goals."

For a complete list of grant recipients, see the Knight Foundation website.

(Photo credit: John S. and James L. Knight Foundation)