Broadband Initiative

Community Leadership – Increasing Social Capital

At the Community Foundation of Mendocino County we view our work as a three-legged stool of serving donors, making grants, and providing community leadership. The Community Foundation of Mendocino is committed to providing the leadership necessary to increase the social capital of our county. Social capital is reflected in a community’s ability to provide for the health and well-being of residents, respond effectively to natural disasters, and plan for and effectively address community opportunities and challenges. 

In 2009, a “Community Mapping Project,” funded by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation, allowed the Foundation to “explore how our grant and leadership programs can capitalize on the assets that exist in our region.” This project led to the formation of our Broadband Initiative which in turn led to the formation of the Broadband Alliance of Mendocino County.

The Community Foundation supports the Broadband Alliance of Mendocino County in working to ensure that the county’s population has affordable universal broadband access in their homes, businesses and public places to support economic viability, ensure health and safety and access educational opportunities. From the United Nations to France to Finland, broadband is now recognized as a basic human right, yet many areas of our county remain underserved.

More information is available at http://www.mendocinobroadband.org/