4 The Foundation enters its second century with a community gathering More than 300 civic leaders gathered at the MIT Media Lab on March 28, 2017, to celebrate the Cambridge Community Foundation’s centennial. Friends and partners came from every corner, reflecting all who contribute to the city’s global reputation. “Cambridge Community Foundation plays such a critical role in strengthening our city,” said Massachu- setts Senator Elizabeth Warren, as she welcomed guests to the event in a videotaped message. “Thanks to your advocacy work and your partnerships with nonprofits, this organization makes our community a better place to live.” The evening’s theme, Our City Our Future, honored the Foundation’s past and captured a sense of common purpose. It highlighted accomplishments achieved through the support of the Foundation’s generous donors and the remarkable dedication of the creative and committed nonprofit organizations it works with every day. Two of those organizations captivated the audience with their artistic talents. The Longy School of Music’s regional youth orchestra Sistema Side By Side played a mini-concert to welcome all, and the Dance Complex’s troupe Bodies in Motion whisked between tables and onto the stage to join the evening’s host, Robin Young, of WBUR. The performances celebrated Cambridge as a city with the “artistic gene,” a heritage centuries old that is as contemporary as the technology companies that make Cambridge the epicenter of global innovation today. A video told the story of an immigrant family supported by Cambridge nonprofit Just-A-Start highlighted the opportunities offered to newcomers as they make their way into the American mainstream. The centennial capped a year in which the Founda- tion’s mission was delivered in fresh ways. New efforts included civic convenings with stakeholders and community leaders; new funds to create ways to give back to the community; new grantmaking strategies to strengthen families, promote early childhood devel- opment and create opportunities in the innovation economy. And ways to foster the arts in Cambridge— a city of ideas. The evening began with a video from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. She reached out from Washington D.C., with a welcome to all, honoring the long history and many accomplishments of the Foundation. Photos by Kayana Szymczak Celebrating 100 Years