What can a community do when economic recession threatens local arts organizations and makes donors cautious about their giving? In Sonoma County, these scary circumstances led to a strategy for showcasing local arts—while helping donors reconnect to their passion for creativity in community.

If you’re looking for ways to make the case for arts in a community suffering hard times, you won’t want to miss the appeal of Dana Gioia. Dana is an internationally acclaimed poet and the recent Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. His 13-minute talk is powerful, moving and funny.

Community Foundation Sonoma County is a participant in Communities Advancing the Arts, a major funding initiative of The James Irvine Foundation.

via Powerful message + Memorable event = New momentum | advancethearts.org.

With local health providers’ budgets strained by the current economy, two local foundations are teaming up to help keep Cambridge residents healthy. Tufts Health Plan Foundation and Cambridge Community Foundation joined forces to make $17,000 in grants this week for local health projects.

The Tufts Health Plan Foundation’s mission is to promote healthy lifestyles and the delivery of quality care in its communities. The Tufts Health Plan Foundation is focusing on healthy aging to help meet the challenges of an aging society. The Cambridge Community Foundation supports a range of agencies that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents of all ages and backgrounds. CCF has a rich history of bringing people and institutions together to meet the challenges of changing community needs.

The Kern Community Foundation released an important new study today, looking at the "Status of Women and Girls" in Kern County.

The full report can be read online, but warning: it's not for the faint of heart. As the report said, the most pressing issues faced by women and girls in Kern County are "domestic violence, substance abuse and self esteem."