“Rich provided the idea that there is hope. That was what I needed in this moment.” - Michael Hyman, VP of Board of Education in Stamford, CT

Civic Convention: The Need for a New Civic Path

The presidential race has fundamentally changed. Yet the underlying conditions of the country and our communities remain the same—pervasive mistrust, growing inequities, a lack of hope. November’s outcome alone won’t solve those problems. Moving our country forward requires something deeper.

That’s why Rich Harwood’s “Enough. Time to Build.” campaign is holding a Civic Convention to show why now, more than ever, we need a new civic path that can address the growing despair and chaos in society. Give us an hour and we’ll give you hope. August 28, 7-8:00 pm ET, featuring special guests and musical performances.

Register for our Civic Convention

DeSoto County Coming Together

DeSoto County is a peaceful, unique, and caring community. People love the small-town feel and step up to care for each other, especially in times of crisis. But the area is dealing with an array of challenges and is facing a fundamental choice: Will the community remain stifled and separated, or will it come together and tap its shared capacity to build a brighter future?

In partnership with The Patterson Foundation, we recently released a report, DeSoto County Coming Together: Unleashing the Community’s Potential, to highlight key themes we heard from residents and leaders and kickstart an action phase in the community. Our initiative in DeSoto County is part of our deep work in communities—places like Reading, PA; Owensboro, KY; Logan and Union Counties, OH; and Alamance County, NC—that are working to address America’s fault lines and demonstrate we have the will and ability to move forward together.

Read DeSoto County Coming Together

Toward a More Perfect Union

What makes America different is that we refuse to settle in this country. We keep trying to become a more perfect union. At a time when it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges in our society, we must remind ourselves that so much significant change in this country began in our local communities. But it surely didn’t end there. The same can be true today. Let’s start locally to spread change across the country.

Watch Our Latest Ad

Rich Featured in The Fulcrum’s “Change Leaders” Podcast Series

Rich recently sat down with David Nevins, co-publisher of The Fulcrum, for an interview as part of their “Change Leaders” series. He took the opportunity to remind their audience of community leaders and active citizens that not all efforts have to be big. Small efforts are of value. They are worthwhile. And if enough of us step forward in our own ways with our unique contributions, then we can unleash a chain reaction of actions that grows, builds momentum over time, and ultimately spreads across the country.

Watch the full interview

Upcoming Events

Unleashing Impact Virtual Public Innovators Lab | Starting September 26, 2 pm ET
If you’ve taken our Getting Started Lab or used elements of the Harwood approach in your work, Unleashing Impact is the next step to becoming even more effective. Learn how to unleash, grow, and spread a chain reaction while strengthening your community’s civic culture in just five weeks! The next Lab kicks off September 26 at 2 pm. Reserve your spot today!