February 2025 Newsletter: Connecting Our Campaign to the New Civic Path; Harwood Lab in Indiana
“What Rich’s visit did for us was to help demonstrate that we have the capabilities to bring in smart, thoughtful, helpful resources from around the country to help support our community, not trample over our community.” - Larry Olmstead, United Way of Northern California
Connecting the Campaign to the New Civic Path
“[The campaign] was a catalyst for me and for my organization. We were inspired, energized, and more connected with what we have in common rather than defining ourselves by our differences.” - Diane LaPierre, Executive Director, Poudre Libraries
Last year, Rich took our “Enough. Time to Build.” campaign across the country, visiting communities from Florida to Michigan to California and everywhere in between. We ran our campaign in juxtaposition to the political campaigns to show a real alternative for creating change in America today. Instead of dividing people, we found ways to bring people together. Instead of demonizing people, we recognized people’s real differences. Instead of placing blame, in community after community we helped people figure out what they could agree on and how they could start moving forward.
Now, we’re gearing up to launch the next phase. As part of that, Rich is releasing a new book on June 1, The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation. Our latest video showcases where the campaign took us and teases where we’re headed next.
Unlocking a New Path Forward in Indiana
“I feel ready! Oftentimes we leave training with ‘but now what’ questions. I feel like I have what I need to be more Turned Outward in my career and personal life.” - Lab Participant
On February 6-7, we partnered with Indiana United Ways to host an in-person Unleashing Impact Public Innovators Lab for leaders representing nearly a dozen different United Ways across Indiana. Building on a previous partnership, Indiana United Ways was eager to deepen and accelerate the use of the Harwood approach in its network across the state. The Lab was designed to meet these leaders where they are in their public learning journey, demonstrating the accessibility and flexibility of our approach.
The Public Innovators Labs are a signature offering of The Harwood School, which makes our time-tested approach available to everyone, everywhere. Your community can take advantage of our Harwood School offerings, too. We’d love to talk with you about how we can help you forge a new path forward, whether it’s for your community or your entire state.
Register Now for the April Getting Started Virtual Lab
Do you believe that we can do better and be better as individuals, in our communities, and as a nation? If so, our Getting Started Virtual Lab is for you!
This April, step forward to be trained as a Public Innovator. In the Getting Started Lab, you'll learn a time-tested, road-tested approach for creating change in your community. After five weekly sessions, you'll be equipped with a fresh approach and re-energized to take on challenges in your community.
You can make a difference—and The Harwood School can help.
Alamance County, NC, Workspace
On February 13, 2025, members of Alamance County’s five Harwood action teams—Arts & Culture, Faith, Youth Wellness, Narrative, and Bridging—came together to lift up, share, and celebrate stories of progress from across the action teams; put a stake in the ground about the change we want to see moving forward; and tell the larger story of progress and change happening in Alamance.
This Workspace comes at a critical point in the work. At the start of the Initiative, some people in the community didn’t think change was possible in Alamance, but those who came to this Workspace—and others who have been part of this Initiative for the past two years—are demonstrating that creating change and making progress is not only possible, but already happening. Additionally, they are establishing new norms for how people and organizations are talking and working together.
The initiative in Alamance County, NC is part of our larger work to prove Americans have the public will and ability to address society’s fault lines by coming together to get things done. We’re also working deeply in DeSoto County, FL; Union and Logan Counties, OH; Reading, PA; and Owensboro, KY. Individually, these communities represent the different divides in society today. Collectively, they demonstrate our innate capacities to change how we work together and create a new trajectory of hope by applying the Harwood approach.
Harwood Team Updates
This month, Leah Croghan joined the Harwood team as our Social Media Manager. In this role, she will craft social media strategy and manage all of Rich Harwood and the Institute’s various social media platforms, spreading inspiring and practical messages and content that engages people and shows how communities are creating change.
Leah has cultivated a diverse career as a brand strategist and visual artist, collaborating with organizations to shape storytelling-driven brand identities and impactful digital content. In her new role, she continues to merge artistry with strategy, striving to foster genuine connections and spark meaningful conversations through her work.
The Harwood Institute in the News
We need to rethink polarization via The Fulcrum
Residents disconnected from local issues via The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
Make sure you follow Rich on LinkedIn to be nourished and supported as we go together.
