Today, Americans have lost touch with one another and with civic activities. Our communities face huge problems, and the prospect of trying to solve those problems can be daunting. Solutions take time and proceed by trial and error. Solutions also depend on people and organizations working together, which itself is a tough challenge. Like democracy, the process of fixing our communities unfolds slowly and can be messy.
Democracy is about change, and change is a tough story to tell.
Change takes place in fits and starts. It's not a story that lends itself to screaming headlines and lurid details. But it is a story that needs to be told, and philanthropic leaders are beginning to take steps to tell it. Under the leadership of Dot Ridings, a former newspaper publisher, the Council on Foundations has begun a series of workshops to help foundations improve communications with lawmakers and the news media. The news media have done a poor job of telling the story of philanthropy.