Accelerate Kentucky

Civic Imagination

One of AccelerateKY's key tenets is that of encouraging Civic Imagination—wherein we dream up our communities' greatest possible potentials and map the path to such a future.

Civic Imagination Incubator

Each year, AccelerateKY and the USC Civic Imagination Project host the CI Incubator. This program—which brings together worldbuilding, storytelling, and the civic imagination—empowers creatives through mentorship and collaboration. Over the 8 month incubator, 6 fellows develop media projects that engage participatory practices and tell impactful stories. The second CI Incubator cohort began March 2024 and will conclude in the Fall.

CI Incubator Website
2023 Civic Imagination Incubator fellow Madison Whittle presents her completed project at the Sky Arts Film Festival
2023 Civic Imagination Incubator fellow Madison Whittle presents her completed project at the Sky Arts Film Festival.
Dr. Henry Jenkins, USC Provost Professor, presents at the 2023 Civic Imagination & Worldbuilding Conference
Dr. Henry Jenkins, USC Provost Professor, presents at the 2023 Civic Imagination & Worldbuilding Conference.

Civic Imagination & Worldbuilding Conference

In 2023, the inaugural Civic Imagination & Worldbuilding Conference was held at the Innovation Campus in Bowling Green, KY. The event featured a number of speakers across industries making waves in KY. We heard talks on what has been, is being, and can be done across the Commonwealth to create positive change in everything from education to work to culture.

Watch 2023 Conference on YouTube

Drawing on Kinship

Lead by Digital Promise, in collaboration with two KY Appalachian school districts, the Drawing on Kinship initiative takes a “kinship-based” approach to computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT) K-8 education.

Drawing on Kinship Website
Appalachian educators take part in the Drawing on Kinship initiative
Appalachian educators take part in the Drawing on Kinship initiative.