Equity and innovation in Cambridge
We're soon launching a report entitled Equity and Innovation Cities: The Case of Cambridge. All community members are invited to join us in a conversation on its findings, April 7, 8:30am.
March 2021
A letter from our president: Let’s raise our voices for tolerance and respect.
Dear neighbors, Last week, the voices of eight citizens, including six Asian women, were silenced by a white man with a gun. This devastating act changed the lives of their loved ones, raised fear among Asian Americans in communities across the nation, and elevated, yet again, the ugly face of racism in the United States. In Cambridge, a city that cherishes its diversity, we respect all cultures, religions, ethnicities, and racial groups and honor each for how they enrich our community. We stand with all communities that experience fear and prejudice. We speak out against injustice when we see it. It matters how we treat each other and how we value one another because we are not separate from our community; we are part of its voice and protectors of its values. So, as we move into another week, without those eight voices in Georgia, let’s raise ours through words and deeds. Let’s embrace tolerance and respect for one another. Let’s learn from those with lived experiences and a story to tell. Let’s do the work necessary to combat racism and expand equity in our community. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a community that is digging into this work now. Tomorrow, the Cambridge Public Library Foundation will host
January 2021
As racial injustices weigh on our nation, Cambridge acts in honor of MLK.
A spotlight on Cambridge's 2021 MLK Week of Service and Learning, led by our nonprofit partners Many Helping Hands 365 and My Brother's Keeper Cambridge.
December 2020
CCF and City of Cambridge award $257,500 in grants to arts and culture organizations, hard-hit by the pandemic
Twenty-five Cambridge-based arts and culture organizations have received Cultural Capital Fund grants to date.
October 2020
Cambridge Community Foundation Recognizes Five Groups with Second Annual Imagined in Cambridge Social Innovation Award
Photo of blackyard, 2020 Imagined in Cambridge Award winner, by Philip Keith for The New York Times. Supporting Grassroots Projects Tackling Pressing Social Issues October 8, 2020—Cambridge, MA At a virtual celebration on October 8, 2020, the Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) named the recipients of its second annual Imagined in Cambridge! Social Innovation Award, recognizing five grassroots projects that nurture strong communities and tackle systemic barriers to equity and opportunity. Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui announced blackyard, a co-op for Black and multi-racial youth and teenagers that in the words of its founder: “dismantles white supremacy within and lifts up the brilliance of Black, Indigenous, and Brown people,” through homeschooling, arts activities, conversations around equity for youth and teenagers, and supports for youth organizers, as the first prize winner. The program, founded by veteran teacher and Cambridge resident Ashley Herring, was awarded $5,000, and joined by four runners-up—Friday Night Hype, Kids Fete, Our Fire Collective, and Women of Cambridge Cards—each receiving $1,000. The five award winners offer innovative solutions to big social needs, such as supporting Black and Brown youth, promoting social justice and cultural pride, offering mental health supports for youth and teachers, and elevating female leaders. Watch our short
September 2020
Six weeks of Starlight
In this op ed, Geeta Pradhan and Michael Monestime call on the community to take action to help protect our local arts ecosystem.
July 2020
The Cambridge Community Foundation distributes $200,000 in grants to nonprofits through MA COVID-19 Relief Fund
The Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) has distributed $200,000 in new grants to nine nonprofits providing support for basic needs and mental health to vulnerable individuals and families in Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford.
Remembering Pat Pratt: activist, community builder, artist
On May 16, at the age of 91, Patricia Ross Pratt, the Cambridge Community Foundation’s President Emeritus, passed away, leaving a legacy of community engagement and civic action that shaped Cambridge and the Cambridge Community Foundation as we know them today.
June 2020
The Cambridge Community Foundation distributes $265,000 in grants to nonprofits through Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund
Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, this round of nonprofit grantmaking builds on the Foundation’s COVID-19 relief and recovery response.
Relief…and recovery: A letter from our president
June 26, 2020 | Cambridge, MA Relief...and recovery Three months ago, we couldn’t have predicted how widespread the pandemic’s impact would be, but we, like so many of you, knew we needed to respond quickly. For an organization that does its work squarely within the nonprofit sector, that meant stepping outside the box. We began awarding cash grants directly to individuals, families, and artists in crisis, while continuing to partner with nonprofits to give small grants to people in their circles. We also provided grants to arts organizations who took an enormous hit with the loss of audiences and early closures. The results are eye-opening. A new point of view The process has given us a fresh, first-hand view of our community and its needs. One of the biggest privileges of our COVID-19 relief work has been connecting with people from all corners of the city and hearing from them directly. We've also witnessed the incredible creativity and tenacity of our nonprofits, who met community needs despite their own financial pressures. By the numbers As of June 25, we allocated 1,162 cash grants to individuals, families, artists, and small businesses. We’ve also helped hundreds more through our support
