Nadia Kamal, Agency Principal, has been selected from over 140 applicants to be one of the 31 community catalysts for the Knight Creative Communities Initiative (KCCI) for 2009-2010. This is a unique opportunity for Nadia to use her talent and creativity in order to help build economic prosperity in Tallahassee.

The Knight Foundation is a national organization dedicated to fostering journalistic excellence and community revitalization. In January 2007, Tallahassee was selected by the Knight Foundation as one of three cities nationwide to receive funding for community-driven initiatives aimed at boosting the local economy.

Richard Florida, a professor of Business and Creativity at the University of Toronto and author of the national bestseller The Rise of the Creative Class has conducted extensive research into the creative sector which is comprised of technology, arts, managerial and education based positions. Florida’s research into the economic implications of the creative sector became the foundation for The Knight Creative Communities Initiative a partnership between the Knight Foundation and Richard Florida’s Creative Class Group.

The KCCI catalysts will create a unified vision for Tallahassee’s future and an accompanying plan to help the community reach that vision. Catalysts will commit one year to educate, engage and enable fellow citizens in their initiatives.

“I’m very honored and excited to be a part of this group. As co-owner of Onyx Group, a local strategic marketing agency, I understand the value of creativity in the work place. I believe that my experience will allow me to contribute a unique and valuable perspective that will help foster creativity and prosperity in the community,” says Nadia Kamal.

Main goals for the catalysts include generating a greater local awareness of Tallahassee’s strengths and assets; achieving broader recognition of the value of the creative sector; and creating initiatives that improve communication and development in the areas of talent, technology, tolerance and territorial assets.

The focus of this year’s initiatives is to determine ways to make the Tallahassee area more attractive to young professionals in creative sector jobs.

Onyx Group is excited for Nadia and hopes that this year’s group of catalysts has success in achieving their goals!