Yet demographic, political and economic trends are testing this tradition of involvement in rural areas like ours. Throughout the region, overall populations are flat or shrinking at the same time that income inequality -- which can drive down participation -- is on the rise. Many worry that community involvement is declining, while others report feeling excluded from vital aspects of public life.

That's why  increasing community engagement is a strategic priority for Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation as we look to help create a more vibrant future for residents.  We know that when people come together to tackle an issue or solve a problem, they build relationships, strengthen networks, and boost levels of trust and reciprocity. We remain a broad-based funder helping donors with varied interests commit to a range of causes; in addition, we are dedicating time and resources to unique efforts that will help bridge differences, connect individuals to institutions and promote leadership.  

Our communities are clear-eyed about their own challenges and opportunities. As they weighed in on pressing issues over the last few years, residents have shared perceptions of declining engagement, with aging leadership and younger generations constrained by the economic and social demands on modern families. They described growing divides -- between rich and poor, long-term residents and younger and newer residents, including a swelling second homeowner population in some places -- that raise concerns about levels of involvement in organizations. Clearly, these shifts create uncertainties for institutions and communities alike.

At the same time, residents frequently named the region's arts and culture institutions as among the most important assets, which distinguish our region from other places. They also cited the critical role of the creative economy, which employs more people here than in other parts of the country, contributes to quality of life, and helps attract and retain residents and visitors.

What We're Doing

Our new Arts Build Community initiative combines research, grant support, network and capacity building, and donor engagement to increase levels of involvement in the arts and creative process among year-round residents and organizations in Berkshire County. It is specifically focused on creating stronger connections among arts and community-based institutions and young people, people of color and immigrants, and low-income communities. Key highlights include:

• New Grants: With a total investment of $200,000 through a funder collaborative, we seek to  spur innovation among Berkshire County arts and cultural nonprofits and community-based organizations as they launch new projects, expand existing programs and collaborate with other organizations.
• New Programming: A group of seven arts and culture nonprofit organizations in Berkshire County are participating in a new  yearlong learning program with a curriculum designed to help them address barriers to participation in the arts, foster resource-sharing and experiment with new approaches through a grants program. Together, these organizations will receive an investment of nearly $120,000. 
• New Networks: BTCF, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission are joining forces to create a  shared vision for arts educatio n that will ensure equitable access to cultural resources for all students, increase the use of arts-based strategies in student learning and create paths to employment at cultural institutions.

	The inaugural Board Leadership Forum last fall

In addition, we want to ensure that the nonprofit sector as a whole is stronger by promoting effective board leadership and helping boards to benefit from diverse perspectives. We are focused on leadership training through the biennial  Board Leadership Forum [ read a recap], with seminars on critical issues for board leaders in alternate years, starting later this spring.