News

The Partnership for Public Service, Inc., an RBF grantee, has published a report entitled Toward Common Ends: The Foundation Sector and the Federal Government. It addresses the issue of the philanthropic community's role in ensuring the government operates effectively, and was first examined at a Pocantico conference in October 2009.

RBF grantee the National League of Cities Institute, Inc. has released an action guide to help local elected officials more effectively promote constructive civic participation that leads to problem solving. Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving presents seven principles along with best practices to help leaders strengthen democratic governance.

Dwell, a magazine about modern architecture, profiled the Marcel Breuer House at Pocantico in their February issue. Curator Cynthia Altman and Staff Architect and Director of Operations Kimberly Miller discussed restoring the house to Marcel Breuer's original design, while making it habitable for artist residencies and other public programs.

Stephen Heintz discussed the Rockefeller Brother Fund's experiences with mission-related investing during his keynote address at Confluence Philanthropy's Practitioners' Meeting on January 26, in New York City. Mr. Heintz encouraged the group of foundation leaders and financial advisors to prioritize mission-related investing, and talked about the RBF's early progress since helping to create the Sustainability Investments Initiative last year.

New York City's arts and cultural community is gearing up to welcome dozens of artists from Cuba and across the United States to partake in "¡Sí Cuba!" a three-month festival celebrating Cuban arts and culture that will encompass music, dance, cinema, literature, and the visual arts. The festival will run from March 31 to June 16 in venues across New York City.

Naomi Jackson, program officer for the New York City program, examines why only 21 percent of eligible voters, ages 18-29, turned out for the 2010 midterm elections, and offers ways to engage and empower young people in time for 2012.

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has released a special edition of their China Environment Series. This 11th issue focuses on major energy trends in China and examines the energy and climate relations between the United States and China. 

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund has updated its Sustainable Development guidelines. The new guidelines clarify the Fund's definition of 'sustainable development' as well as its focus on the single goal of advancing solutions to climate change with four accompanying strategies.

Ash Hammond, development coordinator at F.I.E.R.C.E., an RBF grantee, has co-written a piece reflecting on the spike in LGBTQ violence in 2010, and the commitment to working for a more peaceful year in 2011. The essay, "Shoulder to Shoulder, Ending the Violence," appeared in The Huffington Post on Dec. 30, 2010, and was co-written with Sharon Stapel, executive director of New York City Anti-Violence Project.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has appointed RBF President Stephen Heintz to serve on the Commission on Key National Indicators.   The bipartisan Commission is charged with overseeing the implementation of the Key National Indicator System, which will be executed by the National Academy of Sciences.