CREATING A COUNTERFORCE
People say that society is stuck, polarized, and can’t move forward on fundamental issues. The Institute is working in a constellation of interconnected areas to create a counterforce to that narrative, powered by community-led change. Join us in spreading the message of healing and hope like a positive contagion and creating a more hopeful path forward for our nation.
Enough. Time to Build. Campaign
America’s challenges are mounting, mistrust is pervasive, and hope is in short supply. Election season rhetoric is tearing us apart. The vacuum in our public square is being filled by the most divisive voices. But there’s a way out of this mess. It’s time to step forward and declare, “Enough!” Enough hate, division, and fear. Enough hopelessness. It’s time to build together.
Amid contentious 2024 political campaigns, the country needs a strong civic voice to help us move forward. Real change must start locally to renew authentic hope. Let’s reclaim the public square from the most divisive voices and unleash our capacity as builders and doers.
Civic Virus: Why Polarization Is a Misdiagnosis
At a time of a national upheaval and rampant grievances, the Institute partnered with the Kettering Foundation to uncover the underlying issues concerning Americans today. The report, Civic Virus: Why Polarization Is a Misdiagnosis, disputes the conventional wisdom that Americans are more polarized than ever, reveals a civic virus wreaking havoc on our nation’s health, and outlines a path forward for our country.
“Fascinating. It examines what might be at the heart of what drives today’s toxic politics.” — Chuck Todd, Meet the Press Daily
work on the ground with communities
We are doubling down on our commitment to address the toughest problems facing our nation—including systemic racism and social injustices, persistent inequities, and a loss of trust and hope—and to provide new proof points about how communities can act on these fault lines and strengthen their civic cultures for long-term change. We are engaged in multi-year efforts toward community transformation in Jackson, MS, Alamance County, NC, Reading, PA, Clarksville, TN, and Lexington, KY.
LEARN HOW TO TURN OUTWARD
Build your ability and confidence, and unleash your innate capacity to transform your community and your life with The Harwood Institute School. We are developing virtual, self-guided, and in-person learning opportunities to help you bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. Current offerings include our collection of DIY resources to start using elements of the Harwood approach, our Virtual Public Innovators Lab series, and our Catalytic Community Guide Program ( more details below).
“The Lab changed my entire perspective on the work that I do, my commitment to my profession, and about how I think about how we everyday engage with our communities.” — David Seleb, Former Director, Oak Park Public Library
THE CATALYTIC COMMUNITY GUIDE PROGRAM
The Harwood Catalytic Community Guide Program is a new 12-week intensive training program for individuals who have a desire to guide their community to create lasting change using the road-tested Harwood approach. In this highly interactive and deeply engaging program, participants learn the mindsets and tools to guide others toward harnessing their innate capabilities and unleashing their potential. Our guides are challenged to actively apply themselves, be open, problem solve, apply what they are learning to different situations, receive and give feedback, and reflect on what it means to be catalytic.
HARWOOD CIRCLE OF CATALYTIC FUNDERS
The Harwood Circle of Catalytic Funders is an intimately connected group of funders committed to collectively discovering and developing new ways to accelerate and deepen impact in communities and people’s lives. The Circle is for philanthropic entities that have already used The Harwood Institute approach, and for those new to it that expressly seek to learn from it. Our goal is to forge a growing number of philanthropic entities that see the power of taking intentional actions in working with communities and see possibilities for broader engagement of their peers while creating the reach and momentum needed to meet the challenges of our times.