Great communities turn scarcity into abundance.  About a year ago through the Community Progress Initiative, we hosted two powerful speakers in our community – Tom Beech, president of the Fetzer Institute, and Dr. Parker J. Palmer, author and activist. They helped show us that abundance isn’t represented by secured stockpiles of food or cash, or influence or affection, but in belonging to a community   more ...

When the Community Progress Initiative began in 2004 as a partnership between the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance and the Community Foundation, we knew that even if we had financial and organizational resources backing the program, we would fail without community engagement. To our great credit as a community, residents  more ...

In Duluth’s fall 2007 mayoral primary, 11 candidates ran for the top city position. This is a significant accomplishment in a city where politics was once referred to as a “blood sport” and mayoral candidates were few and far between. So, what does Duluth have to do with central Wisconsin and the Community Foundation?  more ...

Who are our community leaders? In answering this, I challenge you to think beyond the standard answers of mayor, school superintendents and corporate executives, though they still play an important role. There is a new group of leaders emerging in the greater South Wood County area.  more ...

Something special happened in your community today and I’ll bet you didn’t even know it.  There was no fanfare; no brass band played.  But this event ensures that a century from now this community foundation will be serving greater south Wood County and its changing needs.  more ...

When you hear the words “financial capital” you probably think of the word “money”. But when I mention “social capital," what words come to mind?  more ...

We live in a community with great assets, including committed people who are working together to capitalize on its strengths. Earlier this week we were fortunate to have two fantastic speakers – supported by the Community Progress Initiative – in town to show us ways to make it even stronger.  more ...