b'Where would you be if others had callously Cambridge has painstakingly sent your ancestors back tocreated its heritage of inclusion. that hellish brutality, Theres an accessibility toexperiences here thats unique. instead of offering the Its worth celebrating. Itshuman hand of humanity? worth protecting for the future Is that the America we through philanthropy. want to see? Geeta PradhanRegie GibsonI am proud to serve a city andOne measure of the justnesscommunity that does not crim- of society is how it treatsinalize poverty, homelessness,the least fortunate, the mostsubstance abuse, or mentalvulnerable among us. When Ihealth issues and is committedlook out tonight, I see many,to working with other partners tomany people who are committed help the most vulnerable . whileto trying to do more for thosealso working together to keepwho are less fortunate. ThatsCambridge a world-class city. why you are here, thats whyI am here with you. Christine Elow Larry BacowCommon goals munity leaders dont work to guide development, she CCFs annual dinner this spring left attendees feelingmaintained, Cambridge may soon no longer be a place energized, said president Geeta Pradhan like thewhere everyone can live a fulfilling life irrespective of if Foundation is at a moment of change and served as anthey are rich or poor.invitation to join an agenda of inspired action over rhetoric.Economic inequityWe have a responsibility to preserve the things we value, Pradhan said. We must come together, from the biggestChristine Elow, superintendent of the Cambridge Police organizations and most powerful executives to the small- Departments Support Services Division, echoed that est nonprofits and the families in our community.theme, recalling her Cambridge youth as an amazing experience but calling todays Cambridge a tale of two The annual gathering was a microcosm of diverse groupscities economically. Social service providers, nonprofits, working toward common goals. It opened with a livelyand the police must work together, she said, to provide spoken-word performance by poet Regie Gibson aboutresources and support for the most vulnerable of our the United States beingand sometimes not beingcommunity while also brainstorming and working as a a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees. Americateam . to enhance the city and its vibrant culture.at her best, Gibson said, offers a safe haven for suchvulnerable communities. In our country we spend a lot Giving backof time talking it, he said. Im glad to be here in a place, The evening came full circle with the introduction ofin a town, that walks it. Harvard President Larry Bacow, whose parents wererefugeeshis father from the pogroms of Eastern Working across sectors Europe and his mother from Auschwitz, which claimed her Gibson set the tone for an evening that emphasizedentire family. I feel fortunate to have lived the American inclusivity and served as a rallying cry for cross-sectordream, Bacow said, citing the kind of social capital CCF collaboration. I love that Cambridge is a place of passionis creating to incubate opportunity. I have yet to meet and compassion, and so much more, said Pradhan. anybody who thinks the world we live in is perfect. TheS E G N O N V E N I R C I V I C L A E D CBut I find myself asking, do we accept that change isonly way it gets better is if good people work to repair it. inevitable, or should we manage this change? If com- That is our collective responsibility. Photos by Kayana Szymczak5'