Day One: The Challenge of Leadership

This is how Andrea Bazan, president of the Triangle Community Foundation, characterized a day of challenges and discovery:

"Interesting seminar so far. Alberto's words framed this well: we have some challenges in the community foundation field to truly be an information innovator. Do we have the capacity, knowledge, funding? But I agree that if we are truly community leaders, this is an area where we need to focus on."

Wednesday's breakout sessions had heads spinning over these questions. Some foundation execs were looking for a blueprint to serve the information needs of their community. Others shared best practices. Some imagined new ways to fill a void in local communities that is essential to democracy. And many wondered aloud about the risk of change: What are the implications for community foundations if they assume the role of information providers? Or if they empower citizens in their communities with that power? What are the implications with donors? How should they position change with their boards?

These are the big questions for more brainstorming on Thursday.

In his opening address, Alberto created the framework for what is essentially a challenge of leadership:

" ... At this conference, we want to discuss a premise that information is a core community need. And we want to explore with you whether, as organizations created to meet community needs, meeting the information needs of your community in this democracy is a proper leadership role for community foundations - and if the answer to that inquiry is that "yes," that meeting the information needs of a community is a proper role for a community foundation, then we want to start - we won't finish this part here - we want to start a conversation about how Knight Foundation can support you in that effort."

On Thursday: stories, capacities and additional challenges of building community in our diverse society.