The strong partnership between Galesburg and Knox College, a driving force for the city’s growth, was highlighted Friday in a WGIL Galesburg’s Morning News discussion with Phil Dickinson, owner of Landmark Cafe & Creperie, and Knox College President Andrew McGadney.
According to McGadney and Dickinson, Knox’s sponsorship of the Sept. 5 First Fridays event on Historic Seminary Street shows its commitment to local events that unite the community. Dickinson stressed Knox’s historical role, saying, “The city is here because of Knox College. There is no other reason for Galesburg.” He added, “There’s no town without the gown,” noting that Knox events like graduation and homecoming boost local shops and restaurants, creating a “huge financial windfall.”
McGadney called community involvement a “no-brainer,” saying, “If the city’s going to shine, the college needs to shine and vice versa.” He praised “increased efforts” with City Manager Eric Hanson, emphasizing a shared vision where “communities, businesses, other nonprofit organizations, the college, the city of Galesburg all lean in to say, ‘Hey, we believe we can do great things together.’”
Knox’s Venture Boldly campaign, launched in 2021 with a $175 million goal and over $120 million raised. McGadney also talked about a Galesburg innovation fund to invest in the city and a new 4,500-square-foot biological field station at Green Oaks, fully donor-funded.
McGadney said the partnership with the community extends beyond economics, with Knox faculty and staff raising families in Galesburg and their children attending local schools. Students, including international ones, broaden local perspectives, helping residents “see all points of view” in a divided world, as Dickinson noted.
