In these deeply polarized times, the future of our country depends on Americans believing change is possible and that their participation matters. We at Adirondack Foundation believe in the power of local, rural communities to help shape America’s future. In my two-plus decades of leading the community foundation for the greater Adirondack region, I have worked with people of every background and political stripe, all who agree on at least one thing: they care deeply about this special place.

It gives me reason to hope we can come through this tumultuous period stronger.

Like our country, the Adirondack region is in transition, with too many young people leaving, limited economic mobility, and housing beyond the reach of even the middle class. Each Adirondack community is experiencing different circumstances and challenges, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but we are all feeling social cohesion slipping away.

Yet everywhere I look, I see a community-centered approach to addressing economic distress, poverty and displacement. New child care centers and food pantries are being built, pilot projects are showing success at addressing homelessness and our housing crisis, we are improving access to community college and trades programs, and supplying food and fuel to households. When residents of the Adirondacks step up to volunteer, they bring an entrepreneurial spirit to encourage civic participation and help people with different viewpoints and backgrounds work together.

Across our region, communities are demonstrating the power of everyday efforts that help Adirondackers design the future they want to see. Whether it is improving access to groceries, providing an elderly neighbor comfort, offering job training, or assisting with disaster relief, local groups are reshaping traditional civic life by meeting the unique needs of their communities.

There is no shortage of ways to contribute to building a stronger civic life. You can attend your town or school board meetings; join a civic organization such as Rotary, American Legion, or a snowmobile, canoe or ski club; volunteer for your local fire or ambulance squad; mentor a local student or small business owner; stay informed on local and regional issues; vote, and not just in presidential elections; or register for the next Adirondack Common Ground Alliance meeting, where participants from across the region work together to envision a better future.

Last month, Adirondack Foundation was honored to be among the first organizations to receive a grant from the newly established Trust for Civic Life, part of an $8 million investment in strengthening communities across rural America. The Trust for Civic Life was initiated by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Stand Together and Omidyar Network, and it has grown to include over a dozen philanthropists and foundations. The Trust’s first round of grants will support groups in rural areas, which are traditionally overlooked by national philanthropy. Despite accounting for 20% of U.S. residents and the vast majority of the nation’s land, rural regions receive only 7% of U.S. philanthropic dollars every year.

We believe in an Adirondack future where meaningful interaction across partisan, educational, and income divides creates understanding and tolerance; conversations about our biggest challenges, our past and our future, are less polarized; and the region is even more welcoming to the diversity and vibrancy of our communities, yielding deeper social cohesion. That is civic life at work and it moves all of us from feeling like things are happening to us, to believing things are happening because of us. If you have ideas to build social cohesion and trust, please reach out to me at 518-523-9904.

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Cali Brooks is the president and CEO of Adirondack Foundation, the community foundation serving the greater Adirondack region. Acting as a forever source of philanthropic capital and a compassionate problem-solver working to enhance the lives of people, the foundation is the largest private grantmaker in the region, anchoring hundreds of organizations and uniting thousands of donors.