Youth

Youth services have been a major focus of the Community Foundation since it was founded, and the most visible of those has been the Youth at Risk conference, attended annually by 400-500 experts in the field. Over the last decade ECCF has developed, sponsored or managed other strong youth programs – The Greater Lawrence Summer Fund, First Jobs, The Hardscrabble Fund, The Youth Leadership Institute and Scholarship Funds. In addition, youth are beneficiaries of every other ECCF activity, from the Hunger Initiative to The Women's Fund.

The Foundation’s staff is currently working with a wide array of advisors from the field to re-order those many ideas and meld them into an integrated Youth Development Initiative for Essex County. We’ll have news of the master plan soon. Please contact Julie if you would like to get involved.

Get details on the upcoming Youth at Risk Conference! 

Greater Lawrence Summer Fund

Hunger

The Essex County Hunger Relief Project was started in the spring of 2009 in response to the economic downturn which forced many more families to seek assistance from food pantries and soup kitchens. We have created a website in collaboration with all the Hunger Organizations in the county to:

• To get people involved in their local food pantry through donations or volunteering time
• to show all the meal sites and food pantries in the region
• to facilitate communication and resource sharing between food organizations through the private forum and access to excess page
  

The website was  launched on Oct 1st 2009. Please check it out and let us know what you think! www.essexcountyhungerrelief.org.
This is a new project and there is still much to be done. If you would like to volunteer your time for marketing, advising or tech support we would love to have you. Please contact Julie Bishop or Jonah Ruh to learn more.

Women

Environment

The Essex County Forum was created in 1999 to promote and provide planning guidance for Smart Growth and sustainable development. 25% of the land in Essex County is preserved, its economy is strong, and the creative tension between the two has produced new zoning rules, cluster housing, projects near train stations, and a broad range of thoughtful decisions about the future health of these 34 towns and cities. The Forum has convened partners, taught courses, provided expert counsel to towns, advocated for community decision making, and created a forum for civil discussion of tough subjects. It has been led by a professional planner and a steering committee of organizations invested in these issues.

In response to the tough economic climate, the Essex County Forum has temporarily suspended its operations. ECCF remains committed to helping municipalities and organizations and we encourage all interested parties to contact us with funding and program ideas. Although development pressures have moderated to a slower pace, we are still concerned with maintaining a healthy balance of development and preservation in Essex County. The Forum will be back in one form or another as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone who gave this program their time, energy, and support over the past decade.

 Arts

• Identified all arts organizations that could benefit from this project
  
  
• Surveyed those organizations to determine mission, size, audience, financial stability, impact of current economy and needs and issues
  
  
• Convened the Essex County Arts Forum to set common goals and solicit ideas for a countywide capacity building project

• Work with the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau and Historic New England on joint programming to expand audiences by showcasing arts groups during the popular 17th Century Saturdays series at historic sites throughout Essex County
  
  
• Continue to convene the Essex County Arts Forum and expand participation
  
  
• Pilot a back-office capacity building program for arts organizations designed to reduce costs related to financial audits and IRS form 990 filing by 25% by standardizing accountancy practices