Blog
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A lost voice in the immigration debate
In spending much of last week in New Mexico, I heard a great deal about Arizona’s immigration debate. Each day a new story appeared in the newspaper. Each night the television news would run another piece. When I finally got home late last night, I hopped in a cab, pining for my family. But no sooner did the cab pull away from the curb, than the conversation with my Pakistani cab driver began. His voice is nowhere to be heard in the raucous immigration debate. It should be . I remember working with the Orange County Register back in 1994 when they were covering Prop 187, also known as “Save our State,” which called for the screening of all individuals and families before receiving health care, education and other social services, in order to keep out illegal immigrants. Ultimately, that law was struck down by the courts. But, at the time, one of the things the Register editors told me was that they had regretted their coverage of Prop 187 – ...continue reading -
What we can learn from Las Vegas
Last week I was in Las Vegas where I discovered a community once on top of the world fighting to come back in the wake of the Great Recession. What people in Las Vegas are doing offers a vision of what it will take for communities across the country to rebound from this tough economic and social time. It’s not a mere roll of the dice that’s bringing Vegas back, but intentional actions to create real change and community. The Harwood Institute worked in Las Vegas earlier this decade with the support of the Omidyar Network. In 2004 we produced a report entitled, On the American Frontier . It captured the incredible “can-do spirit, confidence, proven track record of growth, and innate sense of vibrancy” of Southern Nevada. For many people, Vegas was the best, last chance to pursue a customized version of the American Dream. But even then people were starting to wonder if ...continue reading -
Sarah Palin's New Movement:"Moms Awakening"
Maybe you can feel the earth trembling as the stampede of “pink elephants” comes thundering toward Washington, DC, their arrival slated for election-day November 2, 2010. This is Sarah Palin’s vision out in her new (beautifully-produced) 2-minute video found on SarahPAC. Palin seeks to rev up women to vote for conservative candidates this fall. She tells us there is a “mom awakening” happening across America, so watch out! But I want to know, toward what end? I’m all for moms. I myself have a great mom, and my wife is an incredible mom to our two children. But when Palin talks about moms in her video, she means only “conservative moms.” She tells us that she speaks for those conservative moms who are “rising up” for “common sense solutions,” moms who are as strong as “mama grizzlies” and who are weary of anyone who might “attack their cubs” and “do something adverse.” I’m off to Chicago ...continue reading -
Would you let the mosque be built?
Last night while driving home I heard a live broadcast of a gubernatorial candidates’ debate in Tennessee. One question was about whether the candidates would allow a mosque to be built in a neighborhood. As I listened to their responses, my stomach began to turn, and then I considered my own question: Is this the country we want? It would be enough to write this morning about the silly format of the debate itself. Indeed, when I first tuned in, it would have been easy to mistake the broadcast for a bad TV game show. In one segment, each of the four candidates had 15 seconds to ask another candidate a question, and in turn that candidate had a mere 30 seconds to reply. When a candidate went over the allotted time, a bell would go off – “ding.” This happened to one candidate who was asked why he voted for the TARP bill in Congress. So, on and on the debate went, with two moderators, chattering together as ...continue reading -
How to re-engage and mobilize Americans
Last week I told you that I had “banned” the phrase “civic engagement” from the Institute’s work and I got quite a reaction – some in support, others not. My point was simply that engagement needs to be more about people and impact, and less about endless discussions over inputs and process. For people in the country want to re-engage and get to work; at issue is our response. We sit amid the morass of a continuing recession, two wars, and the BP oil disaster, to mention just the highlights of the nation’s current challenges. As I travel the country, there is a deepening sense the nation is barreling off course. People are searching for, well… a sense of “hope.” But experience tells us that the upcoming mid-term elections won’t be the tonic. They will surely produce more cynical electoral maneuvering from both sides of the aisle and from all quarters (including the ...continue reading -
Why I banned "Civic Engagement"
Sometime ago I found myself standing in front of a thousand people giving a speech and saying that I had banned the phrase ‘civic engagement’ from The Harwood Institute’s work. The phrase has become a catch-all, a kind of Good Housekeeping seal that we’re doing honorable work in the name of community and the common good. But what I find is that the phrase gets in the way of our very goals. As soon as the phrase ‘civic engagement’ enters a conversation people become activity happy. Right away, you’ll hear them launch into an animated discussion of how many forums they want to hold, the number of flip charts they need, how many different color magic markers they want (and whether they are scented!), and concern over what to do with all the pages of newsprint they put up on the wall. It’s enough to drive me crazy. Somewhere in the litany of activities we lose sight of our real purpose and the real people that we ...continue reading -
Organization-First Report goes International
Amazingly, all across the U.S. and in 24 countries and territories people have ordered The Organization-First Approach Report. After 20 years of innovation with communities in the U.S. we are excited by the strong interest and applicability of this report across the globe. So far copies have been downloaded in: Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Ghana, Great Britain, India, Iraq, Israel, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Virgin Islands. Please help us continue the spread of this report. If you haven’t already done so, order your free copy of The Organization-First Approach Report , and send free copies to friends and colleagues in your community and abroad. ...continue reading -
Office of the Repealer
People’s anger over politics and more continues to envelope the country, and the question is: what should we do with it? One answer comes from U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, who is running for governor of Kansas. He’s proposed an “Office of the Repealer,” a new state office to terminate stupid, idiotic, and silly laws and regulations. Why not, right? Well, there’s a better path for us to take. I don’t doubt that there are numerous laws and regulations that need to be repealed. I often argue with my colleagues and friends who believe government action must be the solution to every problem. I fear when any institution gets too big or too powerful. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why I do the work I do: I believe in a strong civic culture, made up of many groups, organizations, networks and individuals, all working out what’s best for society over time. But I also disdain cheap shots like “Office of the Repealer,” and especially now, when so many ...continue reading -
Voter Antipathy Rising – Now What?
The Washington Post released a troubling new poll this morning which captures the depth of people’s anger and disgust sweeping the country. Anti-incumbent sentiments have reached an all-time high. But no matter who wins the upcoming primaries in 12 states, the rest of us will have to deal with this antipathy as we try to get things done in our communities. Here’s how. The Post poll reflects what so many of us already knew: business as usual will not enable us to solve problems and build stronger communities. The pervasive sense of acrimony and divisiveness throughout the country is palpable. It reminds me of when I wrote Citizens and Politics: A View from Main Street in June 1991 with the Kettering Foundation. Then, as now, people were fed up with the negativity and finger pointing in politics and public life. But there was another finding in that report that I think applies to our situation today. While people had lost faith in “politics,” they still wanted to ...continue reading -
A Simple Prayer for Memorial Day
Welcome back from Memorial Day, which always offers us a day of rest from work and eases us into the summer months. But over the years I have found that for many of us there’s little real connection to Memorial Day itself – I know that’s true for me. The meaning of the day somehow gets lost amid cook-outs and busyness. So, today, I offer a simple prayer for Memorial Day to remind us of the day’s importance. I was struck by a photo this morning of President Obama standing under an umbrella during an intense thunderstorm at Andrews Air Force Base trying to give his Memorial Day remarks. Eventually he had to tell the audience to disperse for fear of lightening. You’ll recall the president was highly criticized for not attending the traditional Arlington Cemetery activities when he decided to go to the Lincoln Cemetery in Illinois. When it rains it pours. I fear that his words were lost in the storm. But what would any of us say if we had the opportunity to ...continue reading -
The Life and Death of Libraries
Across the country, public library systems are being gutted as states and localities slash their budgets. Libraries are an easy target – often seen as non-essential services. But our support of libraries is a test: do we believe communities are important? The truth is that public libraries don’t need to be protected from budget cuts; their budgets need to be expanded. Here’s why. In Illinois two weeks ago, the Alliance Library System laid off 22 staff people, shuttering entire functions that support libraries throughout its region. On the same day I was the keynote speaker for an online conference on innovation in public libraries, which attracted people from across the U.S. and other countries. When growing up in Upstate New York, we had a fine library for a small town. It sat right at the town’s center for everyone to see and use. But I do not pine for those days. Instead, as in so many communities, the bonds that once existed in many communities have been ...continue reading -
Protecting The Urge Within Us
How do we protect our urge? How does our urge within help us to stay focused and create change? -
Woman football coach shows the way
I can imagine many people might be asking why Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C. named Natalie Randolph, a woman, as their head football coach. But when I read about her, I didn’t wonder why a woman was the head coach, but how the rest of us, of either gender, can be clear on what really matters. Randolph was the focus of a lengthy article in yesterday’s New York Times: A Coach Used to Tests Insists Players Pass Theirs. In speaking of her players, Randolph told the Times, “I hope that they know that I really don’t care about winning football games. But I do care about school.” When kids learned of her appointment, one said, “I was like ‘Ms. Randolph? The science teacher here? No way.’” But even though she may not look like the prototypical football coach, she has the kids’ attention. The Times reported, “After school, Randolph’s players must attend an hour-long study hall, where they do homework and receive tutoring or help with SAT ...continue reading -
The BP Oil Meltdown
Like you, I have been watching the BP oil spill spread across the Gulf Coast. The potential negative effects are beyond imagination. Or, as BP might say, they’re “Beyond Petroleum,” the company’s clever tagline. So, when things go wrong, as they have with BP, I’m wondering: is there a difference between contrition and responsibility? Since the spill, the head of BP, Tony Hayward, has been on nearly every television and radio program, in newspapers and online, and seemingly everywhere else. He’s done an admirable job of representing his company. One can only imagine the number of crisis management consultants that have schooled the BP exec in pinpointing the exact language and pitch to use. But saying you’re sorry – indeed, being contrite – should never be confused with embracing responsibility and, ultimately, accounting for one actions. For someone like Tiger Woods to be contrite but not accept responsibility is one thing; for BP it is something entirely ...continue reading -
Why Relevance = Accountability
Each of us wants our work and efforts in community and public life to be relevant. It’s something I hear everywhere I go. Last week, when hosting the Hands On Network LEAD Summit at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., I found myself saying: to be relevant requires that you are accountable. This notion of “relevance” is critical nowadays. It goes to the heart of whether people in communities and in our larger society view what we’re doing as important, meaningful and useful. Funders also want to know that what we’re doing is relevant; it is one gauge they use – either explicitly or implicitly – to determine who and what gets supported. But what does it to say that to be relevant one must be accountable? To be relevant means that we’re accountable for knowing the context of our communities – to clearly understand people’s aspirations, their issues of concern, and the kind of change they seek. Otherwise, how can we be relevant? To be relevant means ...continue reading -
Obama the discussion leader
There’s a desperate need to re-engage Americans in the work of our communities – the work of our country. The first step is not to launch into yet another new program, but rather to pry open space for people to see and hear themselves again. This is at the heart of our nation’s challenge today. The perfect leader for this discussion is President Obama. Just last week at the Nuclear Summit the president demonstrated once again his keen ability to lead tough conversations. He seems to relish being in such spaces. Such skills were at work during the health care summit, too. Now we need them in a new arena. This Wednesday is the one-year anniversary of the Serve America Act. Many good things have emerged from this initiative, but there’s so much more to do. Our challenge remains how to engage people in the work of communities and to rebuild trust among people. I’ll leave the programmatic side of this task to another time. For now, I want to focus on something even more ...continue reading -
A West Virginia Miracle?
" We did not receive the miracle we prayed for.” This is what West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin said when he announced the deaths of the last four coal miners found after the April 4 accident at the Upper Big Branch mine. But it wasn’t a miracle that they should have wanted, but responsible human action taken months before the accident ever happened. Let’s not confuse the two. The Upper Big Branch mine is owned by Massey Energy Company, which dominates West Virginia coal and politics. Its safety record is appalling, cited for 30% more violations than similar mines. But as someone on National Public Radio said this morning, mine safety in the U.S. is akin to someone being able to drink and drive without repercussion – even after they kill someone. Back in 1985 I went to West Virginia to work with people along what’s called “Chemical Valley” to explore the kind of safety they wanted after a local Union Carbide chemical plant blew. Just eight months earlier, the ...continue reading -
The Fire Next Door
My house still smells from ashes. Out of the blue last week I got a call that the house next door was engulfed in flames and that my home would be next. At the time, my family and I were in Upstate New York and could do little but wait. But what would constitute good news in this kind of situation? What does one hope for, or even expect? Here’s what I’m thinking about today. I don’t know that I learned anything new – like some new revelation about life and death – as much as I witnessed once more the beauty of goodness amid loss. We all have our own stories about such scenes; so I don’t mean to suggest that mine is special or unique, only that it holds meaning. For instance: 1. The neighbor who called-in the fire saw that neither my wife nor I was home. So, she went online to our neighborhood list serve and asked if anyone knew how to get in touch with us. Joan, who lives around the corner, and is a school teacher, saw the message during one of her breaks. But she ...continue reading -
When Incivility Rules
In recent days, many people have urged me to write about the acrimonious and divisive public discourse that has gripped the nation around health care. But each time someone has made this request, I found that they themselves would engage in some form of incivility. The question is: Where are we right now, and where do we want to go? Whether you like the legislation or not, the passage of the historic health care bill has revealed glimpses of the worst in us. You’ll remember that much of the nation’s discord hit a noticeable low during last summer’s infamous town hall meetings. Perhaps then we thought the worst of our lousy discourse was over; and yet now we know that assumption would have been wrong. In just the past week we’ve reached new lows as we’ve witnessed the spewing of homophobic and racist comments, and with some congressional members being labeled “baby killers.” I hear such comments and wonder what has gotten into those who utter them, those who repeat ...continue reading -
Sister Rose and the Jocks
Today, on the front page of The New York Times , is a must-read story about a 77 year-old nun who is demonstrating that big-time college sports can work. Sister Rose Ann Fleming is the academic advisor for Xavier University athletics, where all 77 senior basketball players have graduated since she came to Xavier. That’s remarkable in age when too many people are willing to dumb-down expectations for jocks. It’s well known that many universities graduate relatively few ballplayers. Just take the 65 teams that will take part in “March Madness,” the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Times reports that a new study by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida shows that one in five tournament teams have graduation rates below 40 percent. Where are all those kids going? When such topics arise, you can usually hear apologists say, “But that’s big-time sports, get over it,” or, “At least those kids get to go to a ...continue reading -
Obama: Call more summits
I know people have said the health care summit came and went with scant notice – that it was either a naïve or cynical political move. But we should look again. There’s genuine potential in holding a series of summits that the Obama Administration should seize. It would be good politics; even more, a real contribution for the country. Before you dismiss me out of hand, please read on. At the moment, our politics are a mess. Battles between Democrats and Republicans are at fever pitch. There seem to be new scandals revealed each day. The name of the game is to corner your opponent and do as much damage as possible. The dominant frame of reference is now the mid-term congressional elections – not taking substantive action on major issues. Ordinarily, I have pooh-poohed efforts like one-day summits. What in God’s name could ever be accomplished? But these are no ordinary times. The demonization of opponents without any accountability for what one says leaves the ...continue reading -
O Canada, You Hockey Puck
Just to the north of us sits a grand and vast nation that just hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics with grace and aplomb. As I watched the Olympics unfold, I was reminded of what it means to have a neighbor you respect, even adore. And I was reminded of the beauty of patriotism that comes in the form of humble devotion. First, before another word, let me get something off my chest: I am a devoted hockey fan, and I was crushed when Canada defeated Team USA on Sunday, 3-2 in overtime. I remember standing in a Skidmore College dorm, watching the 1980 Miracle on Ice with my buddies, when Team USA defeated the Soviets and then went on to win the Gold. That was an incredible moment, and this year’s team was comparable. And yet, truth be told, I was also filled with joy for Canadians on Sunday. Just watching the game, you could feel the swelling pride of the nation as Team Canada asserted itself. The red and white uniform of Canada was adorned by almost all fans – perhaps all ...continue reading -
Health Care Summit - Do or Die
Lots of people are saying the televised health care summit on Thursday will be all show and no substance. While the meeting itself may produce little, the nation is at a critical inflection point. There’s a way out of the current gridlock and acrimony, but it will take real courage and humility by President Obama and congressional leaders to make progress. Here’s how to start. It’s safe to say that public discourse on health care has reached an impasse. No one is budging. That shouldn’t be a surprise given that the nation itself is at a classic impasse stage. People of all political persuasions said in the last election, “Enough is enough!” in terms of the nation’s silly and vacuous politics; but all agreement ends there. It’s a mistake to confuse people’s desire to change politics and public life with common ground on how to move forward on major issues. In this situation, the more one pushes, the more people dig in. At issue is how best to move ahead. ...continue reading -
Patrick Kennedy's Redemption
I was filled with sorrow when I heard about Patrick Kennedy’s recent decision to leave Congress. My reaction to his announcement is completely different from how I feel about the many Congressional members now lining up to leave town. Patrick Kennedy helps us to see what personal redemption might look like. As a nation, we need him. Here’s why. Over 15 years ago, I received a series of major grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts to work on issues of political conduct. As part of that work, we convened Citizen Assemblies with citizens to create what became known as the Harwood Barometer for Political Conduct . In those citizen sessions, we showed a PBS Frontline documentary about Patrick Kennedy’s first Congressional race – an ugly, disheartening look at politics as usual. Unfortunately, young Kennedy was off to an inauspicious start. But something happened to Patrick Kennedy along the way. He found himself face-to-face with personally harrowing challenges, including ...continue reading -
Lessons from Snowmageddon
I was stuck in my 43-degree house for days after the power and heat got cut off during our recent snow storm. It’s been a cold and dark house; and all time seemed to stop. But there’s been some light. Indeed, sitting with layers of blankets draped around me, I’ve had lots of time to think. Oh, the lessons from Snowmageddon . 1. Did you hear the uplifting stories about Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints quarterback? He’s the real deal, a real leader. He’s not just a football player or budding celebrity. In listening to people in New Orleans talk about him, he is an example of someone who deeply knows his community, acts with affection, and stays connected even when the cameras aren’t rolling. He has found a way to keep his balance even as he has transcended sports, celebrity and public life. He’s a good role model. 2. Then, there’s Sarah Palin. I listened to her speech to the Tea Party convention on my battery-operated radio, in the dark, and have since seen ...continue reading -
5 Ways to Mobilize America
Amid all the calls for economic and policy packages in Washington, it’s time to mobilize Americans to rebuild their communities. Let’s not delay. But let’s also be smart. Because the truth is, we’ll need more than ordinary volunteer programs to make hope real. We must take a different path. Here are 5 keys. I spent much of January in Michigan. Discussions about the state and other hard-hit communities are usually framed as though these places are nothing more than “job sites” – mere locales for economic development. We often assume that most people want to flee these communities. But, in Detroit, Battle Creek, and Greater Lansing, people tell us they want to stay in their hometowns. When asked about what changes need to occur, they consistently express the desire to create safe, connected, and caring communities. Of course, people want jobs. But let’s be clear: people want to rebuild their communities, not simply create a job site. The good news is people are ...continue reading -
Four Keys for Obama and Us
On Wednesday night, President Obama will give his first State of the Union Address. I’m less concerned about his specific speech than I am about the overall trajectory of the nation – and whether he speaks to it. At issue is how we get the nation on the right trajectory. Here are my four keys. You’ll remember that after the 2008 presidential election, people thought there would be a fundamental shift in the nation’s politics and people’s engagement. I didn’t buy that notion then, or in 2004 when President Bush assumed he had a clear mandate after defeating Senator John Kerry. Make no mistake: people yearn for a new kind of politics, but there’s little consensus in the country about what to do. At issue is how to navigate these troubled waters and make hope real. Here are four keys for President Obama, and others, who seek to move the nation forward and restore a sense of possibility in politics and public life. 1. Your authority (and support) is rooted in ...continue reading -
Haiti's Cry of Grace
Like you, I’ve been watching the news from Haiti and wondering how that small nation will lift itself up from despair. So much has been destroyed, ruined, and wrecked. So many lives have been lost, and those which remain are tattered. But all is not lost in that nation. Listen closely and you can hear people’s cry of grace. I watched on the news last night as a husband vigilantly kept watch over the site where a bank once stood and his wife once worked. Now a pile of rubble, people told him that his wife would never be found. He should go home – wherever that might be now. But, he kept returning and he kept digging with whatever make-shift tools he could find, and, ultimately, he could hear the faint voice of his wife coming from below. He then waved down a visiting Los Angeles rescue crew to help him, and they dug some more, eventually lifting her out from the debris. The news report’s final scene was of the woman driving away with her husband in their car. What was ...continue reading -
My Michigan Wish
When you think about Detroit and the state of Michigan what do you see and hear? What emotions come over you? What kind of response do you want to give? All last week I was in Lansing, MI for our Public Innovators Lab and I came away more hopeful than one might expect about the situation there. Now, I have one simple wish for Michigan and other communities. Times are tough in Michigan, as they are in many places across the country. Severe budget shortfalls plague both state and local governments. Unemployment and under-employment riddle people’s lives. Progress and hope can feel out of reach. At times it seems that everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. But look again and listen to what people have to say. At the Lansing Lab we had more than fifty participants go out onto the streets to “Ask Lansing” about people’s aspirations and thoughts about the community. Sure, many people talked about the need for more jobs. But the thrust of what Lab participants heard ...continue reading -
Back to Michigan - Updates from the Lab
This week we are returning to Michigan. In June we made a commitment to the people of Detroit, the people of Michigan to bring the Public Innovators Lab to that city. This week we're again bringing the Harwood Public Innovators Lab to Michigan - this time to Lansing. Each day this week we'll be sharing Rich's Reports - video essays from Lansing- touching on the kind of challenges facing our communities, and the kinds of change we can create if we turn outward. ...continue reading -
My Response to Sarah Palin’s Book
At Thanksgiving I wrote about Sara Palin’s new book, Going Rogue, and said that I planned to read it over the holiday break. That brought quite a response from many of you. Now, I want to let you know what I found out. The good news is that I finished the book at all – it’s 400 pages! But it’s a quick and easy read. And it’s worth reading – I urge you to buy your own copy or get one from the library. But there’s more – much more. All of us are shaped by our childhood and surroundings and Palin is no exception. She presents herself as an avid outdoors-woman, a person of the land and water, a no-frills individual. She even says she was a nerd all through school. She wears these attributes proudly. But at the same time she seems to leave little room for others, their background, and the things they value. In the book, you get very little sense that she’s thought much about, or appreciates, the rest of America – people who live in urban Detroit, suburban ...continue reading -
How Ken Armstrong is Working to Make Hope Real
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Obama's Afghanistan Speech
Tonight, President Obama will give his long-awaited speech on his Afghanistan strategy, and he’ll do so from West Point. There will be much said about his strategy in the coming days. But, today, I wonder what would have happened if the president had chosen to give his speech before a crowd of young campaign supporters, rather than before the nation’s best warriors. Here’s why I ask. Dana Millbank in this morning’s Washington Post reported that until the presidency of George W. Bush, most presidents had given very few speeches before men and women in military uniform. One can only guess that President Obama has chosen West Point because he wants to look strong. I also suspect he did so because he wants to look the young men and women he plans to send in harm’s way right in the eye as he lays out his thinking. If that’s the case, then I applaud his actions. But I wonder how this moment might be different if the president were to speak tonight before a crowd of ...continue reading -
Sarah Palin-tology
My question to you on this Thanksgiving is, “Are you planning to read Sarah Palin’s new book?” I keep hearing people ask one another this question as they watch others line-up at Palin’s various book events. During this Thanksgiving, I plan to buy and read her 400-page bestseller, and I hope you will, too. Keep reading… I remember being taken to task when I wrote here that Palin should be given a chance after Senator John McCain named her as his running mate in the 2008 presidential race. I urged people then not to stereotype Palin and to simply write her off. I still get sharp jabs from people about that blog posting. After watching Palin campaign and then return to Wassila to resign her governor’s seat, my own views evolved. Indeed, I wrote after her resignation as governor that she should have stayed in office and fought for what she believed; but she chose to give up her office and give in. That’s not the kind of leadership we need. Now, we are ...continue reading -
How to do good work in hard times
I keep getting asked the same question no matter the stetting I’m in. People wonder, “How can I get those I’m working with to stay upbeat and engaged in such hard times?” It’s not an idle question. Funding for many groups has been cut just as community needs have gone up. Here’s what you can do. The frustration that so many people feel about these changing times – indeed, even the anger and resentment that I often hear – is real. Many people are struggling with why a foundation funds one effort and not another? Why aren’t funders investing where it matters most? Why have some partners pulled out? People ask, “How can we make progress under these conditions, and does anyone hear my concerns?” I do. I have heard so many people who are doing such good work express deep concerns about their ability to make a difference in these hard times. They often tell me they’re deeply frustrated with the very people they work with – their colleagues, partners, ...continue reading -
Andre Agassi's Redemption
Watching Katie Couric interview Andre Agassi on 60 Minutes this past Sunday was painful. Agassi recently revealed his past drug use in his new book, Open. His admission raises the question once more for me about when and how does someone find redemption in their life. I have vivid memories of Agassi as a player. He always seemed to be living on the edge, pining for people’s attention through his unorthodox play, dress, even appearance. He was a fighter on the court. Now we know that he was fighting internal demons, too. It was striking just how Agassi answered Couric’s intensely personal questions that probed and picked at his lifestyle, mental health, and drug use. But throughout Agassi never once blinked; he directly answered Couric’s questions, never seeking refuge to hide. What emerged over the course of the conversation was the sense that here is an individual who has taken the time to closely examine his life and account for his actions. We’ve all seen someone in ...continue reading -
Today's Elections: A referendum on what?
According to pundits we’ll soon know which way the country is “leaning” once election results pour in tonight. But I wonder, is that really true? Exactly what will we know in this crazy time? Here’s a quick set of questions for you to sort out what’s really happening. Let me know what you think. 1. What if the Republican candidate for Governor wins Virginia the year after President Obama won the state? Does it really mean there’s been some kind of fundamental shift (once more) in the American mood? If so, what is that shift? If not, why not? 2. What if any of the three gubernatorial candidates win in New Jersey after such a horrid, negative race? That’s right, what if one of them actually gets elected! Indeed, what would it say if Chris Daggett, the Independent, holds his own, garnering maybe 10% of the vote? 3. What about the circus-like congressional race in Upstate New York (not too far from my hometown)? The Republican drops out due to pressure from ...continue reading -
Dithering in Afghanistan?
Yesterday, 8 American soldiers died in two separate incidents in Afghanistan, making October one of the deadliest months in that war. Meanwhile, former Vice President Dick Cheney has been saying that President Obama is “dithering” in making a decision about what to do next. What kind of decision-making is needed here, and what do we expect of our leaders, and ourselves? This morning the pressure to take decisive action in Afghanistan grew as Matthew Hoh, a former Marine who fought in Iraq, and has served in the Foreign Service in Afghanistan, up and quit. He says the war there is a mistake – largely an internal civil war in which the U.S. can only play a marginal role. No matter which way the president turns, there’s no clear path. I’m not a great fan of endless planning – thinking over every option, turning over every stone. At some point, such discussions can become counterproductive. I often see people bogged down, unable to move ahead, paralyzed by fear and ...continue reading -
What do you make of “Balloon Boy?”
I can’t help but wonder what was going on in the minds of those parents who used their children to gain national attention flying that home-made balloon. Maybe, at first, our interests were piqued, but then it became clear that those parents were dangerous and deceptive. What do we make of such flagrant violations of human decency – and where do they lead us in our own lives? Of course, there have always been pranks. Think Orson Wells and the War of the Worlds. Now, that was quite a prank! I can think of lots of other pranks closer to home that simply involved my older brother and which I can’t tell you about; or, that I did as part of any number of school athletic teams. Let it be known, I love pranks. But there are lines to be drawn in what we do. I sometimes worry that we are becoming immune to things like the Balloon Boy episode. We look at them, we know they’re wrong, we shrug our shoulders, and we move on. It’s true that in some ways there’s nothing we can do ...continue reading -
Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
Most everyone I know was stunned by President Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. But it’s not people’s initial reaction that I want to discuss, but rather their second and third thoughts, which tell us a lot about our collective condition. It’s also something we have the power to do something about. I must admit that I was among those who were taken aback when the Nobel Committee named Obama. In fact, I remember going online that morning only to see the headline and wonder if this was some kind of news spoof. Had he achieved enough, yet? Of course, it wasn’t some kind of trick. The Nobel Committee awarded Obama the prize as part of his aspiration-based approach to politics and world peace. What followed maybe says more about us than about either the Nobel Committee or the president. Those who consider themselves Obama’s loyal opposition came out swinging. Rush Limbaugh said, “This fully exposes the illusion that is Barack Obama." He was joined by a chorus of ...continue reading -
Where will the Vazquezes go?
I had planned to write today about how so many pundits are now pronouncing President Obama’s presidency in danger of coming apart at the seams; but, then I read a piece in The Washington Post this morning that brought me back to a more-grounded reality. It was about a Virginia family’s slide from middle class to a homeless shelter. I ask you: Isn’t this what we should be focusing on? The article chronicles the lives of Ron and Yolanda Vazquez and their three children, who have fallen upon hard times. Ron is an engineer who lost his job months ago; his wife, Yolanda, a part-time property manager. They were evicted from their three-bedroom townhouse and are now in their second shelter. Tomorrow, their time at this shelter runs out, too, and they’ll need to move yet again. The plight of Vazquezes is not uncommon these days. According shelter managers quoted in the Post’s story, they’re seeing schoolteachers, computer technicians, and interior designers come through ...continue reading -
When forgiveness is possible
This is one of my favorite times of the year, when Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, calls me to atone for my sins from the past year. Everything stops, and a new sense of possibility emerges. But in order to atone, one must engage in forgiveness – asking others for forgiveness, and forgiving yourself. It is the latter part I want to focus on: What it means to forgive yourself. On New Year’s Eve many of us make “resolutions” for the coming year. We vow to exercise more, visit our parents, or pick up a new hobby. We make these resolutions with gusto, only for them to flag a few weeks or months into the New Year. But Yom Kippur is not about looking ahead so much as it is about looking back; the task is to see how we’ve done in the past year and to account for our actions, words, and deeds. What’s clear in all this is that no one can be perfect. There’s no way for everything that we do to hit the mark. But nor is there a place to hide from our imperfection; ...continue reading -
September 11th - Where has it gone?
I don’t know about you, but for me, September 11th came and went as a “national day” without much notice this year. And yet, personally, this day will forever be ingrained in my own consciousness, as I lost my college roommate in one of the World Trade Towers. I can’t help but wonder about our nation’s response to losing Frank and other innocent bystanders on that day. Each year since September 11, 2001, we, as a nation, have engaged in the ritual of remembering those who lost their lives, and declare our re-commitment to fighting terrorism wherever it may dwell. Maybe because of the recent health care debate, or other distractions, this year the 9/11 rituals seemed to gain little traction. Tell me, did I miss something? I often wonder if we have squeezed out the meaning from this day – with all the speeches, declarations, seminars, press conferences, and the like. What do they add up to? This year, the president even declared 9/11 to be a National Day of Service, ...continue reading -
Liar, liar, pants on fire!
Representative Joe Wilson calling President Barack Obama a “liar” during the president’s health care speech last week is a sign of a coming inflection point in U.S. politics and public life. But brace yourself, Wilson’s comment in only the tip of the iceberg. So be it, this inflection point can’t come soon enough. I think it’s all for the good. I watched President Obama’s speech on TV and was dumbfounded when I heard Representative Wilson call him a liar. Had I ever heard such a thing before? Did I hear what I think I heard? Indeed, even before his outburst, the noisy and rambunctious chamber sounded more like the British Parliament than the U.S. Congress. It felt like at any moment things could spiral out of control. But in people’s haste to condemn Wilson, we shouldn’t lose sight of a bigger issue. Wilson’s outburst is yet one more sign that our political discourse has run amuck, that it’s producing very little value for the American people or the ...continue reading -
The leaders we need in a nasty time
Amid the rising anxiety and anger vexing Americans today, I wanted to write about what it means to lead in this nasty environment. First I thought about focusing on the president, then congress, or corporate leaders; but each time I started, I found myself veering back to one person in particular: my high school tennis coach, who just won a national award for his exemplary leadership, and who has some lessons to inspire us all. There are more than enough examples these days of challenges of leading in a nasty world. But anything I would say points me back to Rich Johns, a real life example of a genuine leader. Last week, Rich won the Starfish Award given out by the United States Tennis Association, for his “no-cut” system of high school coaching. Every kid who comes out to play is on the team. But that’s only the beginning of the story. First off, don’t misread how or why he won the USTA award: he’s no pushover. Lesson #1, He ...continue reading -
The President's Vacation Questions
Listening to the car radio on my way into work this morning, I heard more rumblings about whether President Obama should be on Martha’s Vineyard vacationing when his agenda seems to be spiraling out of control. My hope is that he takes a serious vacation – he needs and deserves one! But during his time away I would ask him to reflect on three key questions. The president left for vacation not a moment too soon. People on the left are complaining the president isn’t driving “change” fast enough. Those on the right argue that all he wants is big government. If you believe the polls, independents are peeling off, increasingly dissatisfied with him. Fearing this situation, The White House is now scheduling the president for more and more press events while he’s away. Living right outside Washington, D.C., I can still remember the feeling during President Obama’s inauguration. The crowds on the mall were overflowing; the sense of pride throughout the ...continue reading -
The Michael Vick Question
About two years ago Michael Vick, then the Atlanta Falcons’ star quarterback, was convicted for running dog fights and for that and other crimes was swiftly sent off to prison. Now, he’s out, and he’s playing football again, and people are split about whether that’s right. The Vick case raises a question for all of us: when do we forgive someone? This past Sunday, Vick sat for a lengthy 60 Minutes interview . As I watched the interview, I kept wondering whether I should believe him, even forgive him. Here’s a man who was on top of the world before being convicted – a star athlete, with $135 million worth of contracts in his hip pocket, and a promising future. Now, he’s served his time, and so in a legal sense he has paid his debt to society. But forgiveness often goes deeper than serving time. It involves people believing that you understand your transgression, that you seek to better yourself, and that you are willing to walk a different path. In our ...continue reading -
Turning Outward: The Strongest Predictor of Success
The blog this week is a video excerpt from Rich Harwood's “Stations Turning Outward” videoconference. The videoconference was a call to public broadcasters and others to turn outward toward their community. In this segment, Rich argues that the strongest predictor of success and impact among the numerous organizations he's worked with was the extent to which they were turned outward. “If you want to reengage and reconnect with your community you must turn outward. It’s about what our purpose and intention is in doing our work.” Download The Organization-First Approach Report which documents the pressure to turn inward and put one's organization before the community. ...continue reading -
Finding (Public) Solitude
I’ve been thinking lately about “solitude” and what it means and where we find it. Maybe it’s because so many people I know feel under the gun, rushing around trying to make their organizations, their jobs – indeed, their lives – work. All this busyness can produce the desire to retreat or hunker down. But solitude is not about that; rather it’s a way to deeply connect with the individual and public lives we lead. I’ve long been interested in language and its implications for community and public life. For instance, I’ve looked at the connection between “grace” and one’s public work, as well as notions of “devotion” and “civic faith” and “hope” and the relationship between “imagination and reality.” Each word or phrase holds special meaning for us in our public efforts, and special implications for what we say and do. “Solitude” is no different. So, my first question for you is: “Where do you find ...continue reading -
Sarah Palin the Quitter
When Senator John McCain asked Sarah Palin to be his running mate in the 2008 presidential campaign, I begged people not to judge her too quickly . Many people told me I was nuts, but I'm still glad I did it. But her recent resignation as Alaska's governor changed my views of her. Her contorted logic and political maneuvering represents the worst of politics as usual. You probably recall when McCain picked Palin. She revved up America's conservative political base and even drew bigger crowds at campaign rallies than McCain. Sometimes the campaign had her flown in for his rallies to gin up crowds. Now, some Republican operatives, like Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and conservative columnists, such William Kristol, tout her as genuine 2012 presidential timber. Maybe so. My goal isn't to make political hay over Palin. Rather, my chief concern is her resignation and its meaning. Here is a first term governor who left the state to run for the vice ...continue reading -
A Reminder of What's Important in Life
Every so often something comes across your desk that reminds you about the basics of life. I don't mean about how much money you make, or your most recent promotion, or even how you're going to make next month's budget given these hard economic times. I'm talking about your sense of humanity -- what it means to be alive and the choices we make. Watch this video, and you'll see what I mean. The video was sent to me by my wife's friend because she knows I have coached boys and girls soccer for years. You may have seen it already. The video tells the story of a group of girls playing competitive softball, and what happens when they realize there's more to the game than simply winning. Or, put another way: You should always do all you can to win, but still make good choices. When a player from Western Oregon hit a home run during the conference championship, she tore a ligament while rounding first base, and couldn’t get up to finish running the bases. Her opponents, ...continue reading -
The Sotomayor Hearings: Are We Hearing Anything Real?
In this week's video blog Rich asks, if the nomination hearings for Judge Sotomayor are as important as everyone says, why is there so much pretending from our political leaders. What question could possibly take 8 minutes to ask? Are we hearing anything real? -
Hooray for South Carolina Gov. Sanford's Wife
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is holding onto his job for dear life. The state capital and TV and radio talk shows are abuzz with political gossip and elbowing. On many levels, this is an open and shut case: Sanford got caught in an extramarital affair and moreover went AWOL for five days – he should go. But, before we slam shut the door on Sanford, I can't help but ask, "What can we learn from Mrs. Sanford?" I followed the unfolding news about Gov. Sanford, when he couldn't be found by either his staff or the news media. At first we were told he was away, getting some much needed rest; then, it was said that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. Eventually we found out that neither his staff nor his wife knew his whereabouts. Such a disappearance would be odd for anyone, let alone a governor who holds responsibility for state affairs. After all, what would have happened if there had been some kind of emergency? Of course, in reality, there was an emergency. A governor ...continue reading -
Iran, Twitter, and the Human Spirit
The events overseas in Iran have been nothing less than breathtaking. Just weeks ago the conversation within the U.S. was focused almost entirely on Iran’s nuclear weapons, but today the most powerful weapon in Iran may be the smallest voice that comes from a Tweet. And, by far, the most important lesson of all may be about the human spirit itself. I remember watching TV during the weekend when the Iranian election returns had been “counted” and many pundits and onlookers declared that U.S. foreign policy would need to go back to square one. The incumbent in Iran had been declared the victor, and the U.S. policy of engagement had been declared over. But what these observers failed to notice was the strong undercurrent within Iran, the sheer force of people declaring that enough was enough. Many of us rushed to focus on the role of Twitter in this surge of public action, and there is little doubt of the power and force of this technology. Twitter and ...continue reading -
The Compelling Moment
Is this really happening? What are we to make of all the changes occurring around us now, and what can we do to tap into the emerging energy, momentum, and possibility? For those of us who seek hope and change, the question is, "Now what?" Here are some quick tips for making our way forward. In just the last week, there have been any number of changes that are compelling in terms of the possibilities around us. Just watching the Iranian election and reform movement in the past few days has been absolutely incredible. Of course, the usual talking heads on weekend news programs quickly reported that the election results signaled more business as usual: no new openings, no real progress, and no hope! But the people of Iran are demonstrating their yearning to create a more open society and their fundamental desire to re-engage and reconnect. The same could be said about my recent week in Detroit, the same week GM announced its bankruptcy. As we engaged Detroiters we discovered ...continue reading -
My Covenant with Detroit
I believe that we rise or fall together. It’s how I was raised as a kid, and it’s a belief that still guides me. At issue today is what happens to hard-hit communities like Detroit? What commitments are we willing to make? Here’s my covenant with Detroit, my pledge about how we will work with the people of Detroit. First, we held the Harwood Public Innovators Lab in Detroit last week. It was the largest Lab in our 20-year history. Originally the Lab was planned for Las Vegas or Miami; but instead we chose Detroit – I believe we needed to stand by the community. Right now, it’s too easy for many of us to turn our backs on hard-hit communities and people. Rather than run from Detroit, I wanted to actually go there and show support and engage with people. This is the first part of my covenant – we must see and hear all Americans; we must not turn away. Second, during the Lab, participants went into the streets to “Ask Detroit” residents about ...continue reading -
Letting GM go, finally
I'm writing this post on Monday afternoon while sitting in downtown Detroit looking out my hotel window at the humongous GM building. Hours ago I drove in from the airport and listened to President Obama on the radio announce GM's bankruptcy. The situation felt surreal; the unbelievable was now reality. Truth is, maybe now, Detroit and the rest of us can move on. Something as big as the GM bankruptcy is hard to imagine, and even harder to take in. How could this be? Is it real? GM isn't just any company. And it wasn't the product of some wacky Wall Street merger or acquisition the likes of which create behemoth companies overnight. Instead, many of us grew up with GM as a fixture in our lives -- with their ubiquitous cars, dealerships, and television ads. GM was part of American history, and had come to represent American strength and power. But we all know the story: GM had become complacent, resting on its laurels. I won't repeat here the oft-heard litany of ...continue reading -
Obama's Notre Dame Speech
This past Sunday I flipped on the TV only to hear President Obama’s much awaited Notre Dame commencement speech. I was stopped in my tracks, only to be immensely moved. The president’s message is not new, and that is its very power. Obama’s message is one I encounter daily. It is one of love and grace and holding our hearts and minds open long enough so that we may see and hear others. Only then may we actually learn about others, even ourselves. Only then can we make progress in our communities. Of course, the need to see and hear one another is often trumped by our own reflex to dominate, win at any cost, gain attention, and turn inward. It is not that we want to operate in this way; rather, it is that we get caught up in, sometimes swept away by, forces we believe are beyond our control. But things don’t need to be this way. Take the “controversy” over Obama’s visit to Notre Dame. I had listened to various TV ...continue reading -
Ten Ways to "Live United"
About one year ago the United Way of America unveiled its new brand and tagline, “Live United.” This week United Ways from across the country are reconvening in Detroit, and the question is: What does it mean to Live United in tough times? I remember sitting on stage with four colleagues during the opening session of the United Way of America’s annual conference last year in Baltimore. As moderator of the panel, my job was to shine a light on the challenges inherent in the Live United approach. Brian Gallagher, head of United of Way of America wanted folks to see what it would take to move the needle. I admire his vision and willingness to put tough issues on the table. When I returned from that conference I wrote a piece entitled, “The Top 10 Ways to ‘Live United.’” In the past twelve months times have changed; the challenges we face have become only more difficult to address, with fewer dollars to go around. Nonetheless my counsel for ...continue reading -
The School Bus Incident
This morning I came upon a yellow school bus that had stopped to pick up kids, with its red lights blinking, signaling all cars to stop. And yet one driver insisted on going around the bus. But before he could pass, a woman, with a dog in tow, stepped out in front of his moving car, put her foot on his fender, and proceeded to lecture him. I sat there and wondered what would I have done? A school bus full of kids is a good test for any of us when it comes to standing up for community norms. We all cherish children; they're often innocent bystanders to events around them, and our role as adults is pivotal in protecting them and helping to raise them. This guy who attempted to bypass the bus was in clear violation of a long-standing norm we all know. Indeed, he could have simply looked around to see that other cars had stopped for the bus. But he either didn’t care, or didn't take the time to look. Either way, his judgment was off. Last week I wrote about the first ...continue reading -
Take the Obama 100 Days Citizen Test
As President Obama's first 100 days near completion, the question is: Where do you think we are as a nation? The pundits and pollsters and press will try to steal the limelight by pontificating endlessly and giving us their prognostications. Let them do their thing, and in the meantime let us think for ourselves. Take the First 100 Days Citizen Test below, and let me know where you think we are. For many people Barack Obama's election last November signaled a dramatic change in the direction and tone of American politics. In fact, in the last month or so, I've been with civic leaders from numerous other countries, and many felt compelled to tell me how positive they feel about the U.S. now that Obama is in office. Since before his inauguration, Obama set out to aggressively put forth his agenda. Action has been taken, or initiated, on a whole host of fronts -- including the financial bailout, the stimulus package, auto-company supports, health care, and various ...continue reading -
When inflection points haunt you
We've all come face-to-face with inflection points in our professional lives and our personal relationships too. In these moments it is clear we must address a deep problem or make difficult choices; the current trajectory must change. But the problem is most of us run away from inflection points just when we need to face them. During these topsy-turvy times you've probably encountered some wicked inflection points that are causing sleepless nights and much consternation. How you deal with these moments will determine your effectiveness and success. In just the past few weeks I've seen a number of inflection points: *At a board retreat, participants who had traveled from across the nation, and some from around the globe, became agitated about the direction of an afternoon strategy discussion, and brought it to a head by pointedly saying that much of the meeting was a waste of their time. What to do, and was all lost? *Many organizations, ...continue reading -
Tax Day: What Are You Willing to Pay?
The dreaded April 15th Tax Day is upon us, a day it’s safe to say no one likes. But this year, perhaps more than any other in recent times, a basic question confronts us: What will we pay to help the nation, our communities, families and individuals get through this tough time and create a better future? As you race to meet the April 15th deadline, would you pay more? Make no mistake there is a growing battle within the nation over government spending and taxation. For instance, the “Tea Bag Protest” is urging Americans to mail a tea bag to the White House to protest current tax policies and President Obama’s budget. I’m not sure placing a 42 cent stamp on an envelope demands the same bravery as those involved in the Boston Tea Party, but the protest is noted. Few of us will send a tea bag to the president, but there are plenty of people of all political persuasions concerned about government spending – from the bailouts of financial ...continue reading -
Detroit's Call
Driving through Detroit yesterday it was clear this town is barely hanging on by its fingertips, but that many of the people who will bring it back are already here. The question for me is what will the rest of us do – will we hear Detroit’s call or turn away. I know what I want us to do. The NCAA championship game between North Carolina and Michigan State was played just blocks from my hotel. Outside my hotel window last night I could hear and see droves of people filing down the street making their way to Ford Field. A festive mood had come over this part of town. But I could also see from my hotel window the towering GM building hovering over this city, a constant reminder of looming bankruptcy and failed manufacturing. Indeed, everywhere I looked I could see buildings draped with for-lease signs, begging for occupants. I found myself speechless as I drove through some of Detroit’s neighborhoods. Blocks of boarded up, burned out, stripped ...continue reading -
Dear "Mr. Auto-Community Recovery Czar"
Today, "Mr. Auto-Community Recovery Czar," President Obama will announce your appointment as director for the recovery of auto communities and workers. That's good news. Simply providing yet more financial aid to auto companies alone is not enough. But in the process of taking this new step, I can only hope we keep the ultimate goal in sight. Here's what I hope you consider as you undertake this job. Many communities tied to the auto industry are reeling. Lost employment, plummeting tax revenues, empty storefronts, deteriorating neighborhoods, and other maladies ail these places. I know these hardships first-hand after working in Flint, MI for many years, and with people from Youngstown, OH, St. Louis, MO, and many other auto industry-based locales. This June, we're launching a new initiative in yet two more Michigan communities, Detroit and Battle Creek. According to news reports, the new recovery effort will help communities find ways to create jobs and ...continue reading -
Finding Relevance in Tough Times
The economic downturn has sent a shiver throughout the non-profit and civic community and among funders, too. Money is in short supply, and people are scurrying about to secure their organization's future. But where are we running to, and why? What I hear most often these days is people's belief that they must prove their worth and value to their funders, members, Congress, and others if they are to remain viable. The result is a mad dash to create new, highly targeted initiatives that will appear relevant and significant to our communities and society. But this race to produce short-term benefits will not deepen one's relevance or significance to communities or the people who live there. Indeed, we must know that this approach is organization-centric, with the main goal of improving the organization's status and funding, but not necessarily improving the community or people's lives. Another response to the economic crisis is for organizations to hunker ...continue reading -
A Major Step for Us: Why we're going online
Today, I'm excited to tell you that we're making a major down payment on opening up our ideas, frameworks and tools so that anyone, anywhere, can use them, at anytime. We are launching Harwood Online. This is a pivotal step in the evolution of our work. Especially in these hard times, people want to make their efforts in public life more relevant, effective, and connected to communities and the people who live there. I want to do everything I can to support them. So, here's why and how, we're moving in this direction. A couple of years ago, the Board and Staff at Harwood decided it was time to move from a projects-based organization focused on public innovation, to an organization focused on getting our learnings of twenty years out to Public Innovators everywhere. While the projects we work on are terrific, their benefits often remain with the people we are working with. Even the individuals, organizations and communities using our work have been ...continue reading -
Why I'm Investing in Detroit
Lots of people and jobs are exiting Detroit these days. Some say the final death knell is about to be rung as the life of domestic auto companies hangs in the balance. But now's not the time for any of us to turn away. The city needs our investment and commitment, which is why I've decided to put our Harwood Public Innovators Lab in downtown Detroit, June 2-5. Nothing seems to be going Detroit's way. For decades the city was said to be dying, only to rebound in recent years with pockets of rejuvenation sparked by the rise of new businesses, new construction, and a new attitude. But the emerging signs of progress could not hold off larger economic trends that have engulfed Michigan in an economic tsunami. To make matters worse, the city had to endure the embarrassment of misdeeds and misfortunes by its former mayor, until finally he was pushed from office. And it continues to suffer the notoriety of its much-maligned football team, the Detroit Lions, which went ...continue reading -
Mourning in America
When Ronald Reagan first ran for president, his ads proudly proclaimed it's "morning in America." But 30-second spots and pep rallies won't address our current economic ills. For there is "mourning in America" this time, and if we wish to move forward, we must first understand and engage our sorrow head-on. Just yesterday California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger began the process to lay-off 20,000 state workers. Every day the economic bad news piles up with seemingly no end in sight. Perhaps the end is just around the corner. I know I keep hoping for us to finally bottom out, and then start the process of recovery. But in our eagerness for a quick fix, we may miss a key point. We are experiencing fundamental changes to our economy, and our society, too. Take, for instance, America's auto companies. Their restructuring plans are due out today, and even if they re-emerge as healthy companies, they will have laid-off tens of thousands of American workers and shuttered scores ...continue reading -
Is Bipartisanship Dead Already?
The bipartisan vultures are busy at work, nit-picking to death President Obama’s desire for a more bipartisan approach. Too bad their short-sighted political maneuverings on the economic stimulus package blur them from seeing the emerging picture: a new political environment is just what people want. And make no mistake it will take a certain toughness to bring it about. First, there are legitimate concerns about different facets of the timulus package, and good people on all sides will disagree. But the fact that the president’s economic package received only three Republican votes in the U.S. Senate has led many pundits and naysayers to proclaim that his bipartisan vision for the nation’s capital is dead on arrival. It’s true that he hasn’t received the kind of Republican support in either chamber that he had hoped for. The president went to great lengths to reach out to Republicans since assuming office, hosting a Super Bowl party, traveling to the Hill to ...continue reading -
Do You Believe We Need Change?
Do you believe we need change? I suspect for most of you that's an easy question to answer. After all your work is about creating change. But if we believe we need change, it also follows that we need to think about and examine if we're being effective. How can we be effective and still stay true to our aspirations? -
Obama: "Start by Listening"
President Barack Obama sent his new Middle-East envoy former-Sen. George Mitchell off to the region last night with one clear directive: "Start by listening." It's good advice not only for Mitchell, but all of us. But what does it mean? Obama made his comments in his first formal interview after being sworn in as president. The interview was with Dubai-based Al-Arabiya network, where he said,"What I told (Sen. Mitchell) is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating." We all dictate to others, and too much. Too often our impulse is to get out in front of problems, opportunities, and daily hiccups, by attempting to demonstrate our "strong leadership," our vigorous approach, and our expertise. We may think we're listening, but are we? Sometimes when we're pushed up against the wall, we'll declare, "We need to listen more." But what do we do then? Here are phrases you hear, and what they seem to mean in practice: "Listen up" ...continue reading -
My Prayer for Barack Obama
This time next Tuesday, Barack Obama will be our 44th president. As we approach his inauguration, I offer these simple words as a prayer for our next president. My hope is that you'll add your own words. My Prayer for Barack Obama I pray that you always remember that you are now part of an enduring axis of hope -- tracing from Lincoln to Roosevelt to MLK -- and that we can leave behind the empty rhetoric of recent years. I pray that you are bold enough to scale the mountain of challenges before us, even as you remember that the years of mistrust and blame run deep, and can only be washed away over time with sound deeds. I pray that "We, The People" give you the benefit of the doubt when you err and stumble, because you will and we must. I pray that you remember on your worst day what you said on your best: there is a difference between false hope and authentic hope, and only one is worth fighting for. I pray that you challenge us to become ...continue reading -
Hyundai's New Social Contract
Over the holiday break I saw this incredible -- well, truly unbelievable -- ad for Hyundai cars: If you experience involuntary loss of income, you can return your new car. Hyundai's move, I believe, represents the early signs of emergence of a new social contract in America. That's good news. Now, Detroit, where are you? Hyundai's tagline is, "We're all in this together and we'll get through it together." Your first reaction to this ad might be, "Right, show me the money!" Too many times companies try to snooker people with their slick commercials, and then add the fast-talking voice over at the end who reels off all the product’s restrictions and possible side effects. But Hyundai puts their money where their mouth is. If you experience involuntary job loss, a physical disability, job transfer or other life-changing event within the first year of your purchase, Hyundai will take back your car. You can read the details at Hyundaiusa.com, and even I could understand them. ...continue reading -
Detroit: A Public Rorschach Test
The whole Detroit automaker bailout has my head spinning, and there’s no easy answer in sight. The people I talk with seem as torn about what to do as I am. The current debate raises fundamental questions about how we see critical public issues, what we value most, and the inherent conflicts we’re trying to work out. Detroit, and its ailments, is a public Rorschach test. So, please, pull up a chair, and let’s see what we think. It’s hard to talk about Detroit without mentioning two vital pieces of context. First, the $700 billion bailout of the financial markets, which to date seems to have produced far less benefit than anyone expected. For many of us, this situation undermines our confidence that yet another set of loans will produce any better results. Second, Katrina, where our government’s response only deepened what was an unforgiving disaster. The nasty taste left from government’s ill-conceived and incompetent response still lingers. Even after all this time, ...continue reading -
Decency and the Detroit Automakers
Amid all the bad news nowadays, there is a rising sense of decency trying to break through in our society. This emergence is no accident; nor is it the result of pure altruism. Rather, it is being foisted upon us, like it or not, by the jolting reality of an automaker bailout, persistent financial crisis, and growing unemployment. The question is will we seize this moment to make this new sense of decency real, or will we let it slip in-between our fingers. The poster child for "anti-decency" is none other than the three amigos who run the big automakers. Their sheer stupidity of flying private jets to Capitol Hill in search of federal assistance was absolute hubris. Worse yet was their tone deaf public relations people who concocted the brilliant strategy of having them drive cross country to this week's hearings. I'm not sure which antic is more insulting to the American public's intelligence. What's more, after years of incompetence, indecision, and ineptitude, they showed up ...continue reading -
Your Proverbial Turkey Chase
I've never been on a real turkey chase, and maybe you haven't either, but as we approach Thanksgiving, I suspect we're all in pursuit of something. But where will your own chase lead you, and why are you headed there? Here are some thoughts concerning "the chase" to think about this Thanksgiving. Turkeys hold a special place in American culture -- from defining early historical meals and current Thanksgiving menus, to Wild Turkey whiskey, to calling something we deem unsatisfactory "a turkey!" It was even the bird Benjamin Franklin suggested be our national symbol instead of the bald eagle. And on every Thanksgiving, there are all kinds of "turkey runs," 5K and 10K races sponsored in support of some charitable cause; if you're so inclined, it's probably not too late to find one in your community. And yet, the notion of "a chase" conjures up the pursuit of the unattainable. Think: "chase dreams," where you cannot bring closure or finality to something in your life. Think: ...continue reading -
Making Hope and Empathy Real
In so many ways, the country is unraveling before our eyes. Yet, I have no doubt that in time we will respond effectively. But which paths we take will be crucial, and there are two key ingredients that we must bring to our collective efforts. As I see it, the urgent task is to restore a renewed sense of hope and empathy. Progress depends on it and here's why. The news these days can be dangerous to your mental health. Just yesterday Citigroup slashed 52,000 jobs. General Motors is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Home foreclosures continue to shake the very foundation of people's lives and community life. AIG will receive up to $85 billion in federal help. We continue to fight two wars, and the costs keep spiraling up. The list goes on. My belief is that we must find ways to tap into our history of hope to sustain and fortify ourselves and our efforts; and we must renew our sense of empathy so that we can understand reality for what it is, and shape the future we want. ...continue reading -
Turn Outward in Tough Times
Last week I was in San Diego with public broadcasters who were asked what they would do if they had to cut their budgets by 15-40%. Unfortunately, such a question is no longer academic for many groups and organizations. Hard times are here, and notwithstanding promises of "change," a quick economic rebound isn't likely. But so many times when we face crises and choices, our instinct is to look inward for answers. My advice: turn outward first. There's a great deal of talk among foundations, at national conferences, and in many publications about the tough times we face. For many groups, money is tight. I suspect very few groups will be immune from the current economic downturn. Budgets are being slashed, staffs cut, programs gutted. Experience tells me that when most of us feel under intense pressure, we turn to some trusted tools. Many organizations undertake new strategic planning, rebrand themselves, and figure out ways to generate more membership dues while trimming ...continue reading -
What Obama's Grandmother Tells Us
I've resisted writing this piece today, but as I sat down to type this morning, it has just poured out. Just 24 hours before Election Day, the nation learned that Senator Barack Obama's grandmother passed away, unable to experience the (expected) joy of watching her grandson become the next president of the United States. But her death at this late moment in the campaign introduced something that can easily be lost in campaigns and governing, and which our country so desperately needs: a renewed sense of humanity. My resistance in writing this piece is because I feel that I should be talking about the larger history Obama might make tonight, or the larger trends that are at work in this election cycle, or the larger meaning of this election for people doing public work on the ground. Writing about his grandmother? Yes, I confess I am pulled in that direction this morning. The senator stands at the precipice of monumental achievement in what seems like an unfolding fable. He ...continue reading -
Your Personal Election Assessment
One week out from Election Day, and there's much to consider. You probably already know who you'll vote for, so that's done. But how are you feeling about the state of things these days and about where we're headed as a country? And what about your own efforts to create hope and change -- how might they change given the election? Take the self-assessment and see where you come out. For me, it often feels like the general election never really took off, which is strange given just how many deep challenges the nation confronts. The short list includes an economic collapse, two wars, global climate change, and the housing crisis, not to mention all the issues that exist beyond these immediate headlines. It's enough to make your head spin. So, what's next? No matter what, we'll have a new president in just over a week. Given that, here are some questions to consider: 1. What two or three big priorities should the country tackle, and how optimistic are you that we can make real ...continue reading -
Stand Up on the Table
In this week's video blog Rich explores the difference between data and knowledge, between information and understanding and sets forth a litmus test for each of us to check whether those in our community are likely to see us as holding authority. Learn more about authority and The 3As of public life >> -
When Hate Wins
The people's fury has been unleashed and it isn't pretty. During this past week we've witnessed outbursts of hatred and name-calling at presidential rallies as intense economic pressures mount and when people feel heightened insecurity about their future. We all have a stake in how this plays out. The task is to draw the line on hatred and name-calling -- and this goes for supporters of both candidates. Hatred and name-calling are insidious. They seep into our public discourse, sometimes without us fully realizing it, until they hit us on the head and demand our attention. What occurred this past week at McCain/Palin rallies was deeply troubling. Unseemly supporters called Senator Barack Obama an Arab, accused him of being a terrorist, and shouted "kill him" and "off with his head." In Virginia, the Republican state party chair continually referred to Obama as "Hussein," an obvious ploy to make people fear the candidate. Rhetoric from supporters on both sides can get ...continue reading -
October Surprise
When I opened the newspaper this morning, I had a distinct sinking feeling. The presidential campaign was about to descend into more lies, hypocrisy, and deception even amid the economic tailspin and people's rising anxiety. Is this approach what we need over the next 28 days, and what can we hope for? Every four years during a presidential race, at this very time, we are encouraged to guess what will be the "October Surprise." This year, some onlookers have suggested we already know: the Wall Street crisis. No doubt, the economic crisis took the country by storm and is changing the dynamics of the presidential race. John McCain, who was once even with Obama in national polls, now trails Obama nationally and in major battleground states. But, sadly, the dynamic that is most shaping this race is not the economic crisis, but the increasing intensity of lies, hypocrisy, and deception that rule the day. When this campaign started, many people, including myself, thought it was a ...continue reading -
Dear Sarah
In the time of a few short weeks, your nomination as vice president has imploded, plain and simple. Since your selection, you have been belittled on Saturday Night Live, silenced by your own campaign, and humiliated on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. With Thursday's VP debate fast approaching, you face two fundamental choices, neither of which is easy, but which will define your candidacy. Not long ago, I wrote that people should give you a chance , but now time is running out. What are you to do? Apparently, Sen. John McCain's attempt to shake up the presidential race by selecting you as his running mate has backfired. Sure, his strategy worked for a matter of days. But then he and his handlers decided to marginalize you, sensing that deep trouble was ahead. Even conservative leaders, many of whom once championed your cause, have started to jump ship. You are now widely seen as a liability to your party, perhaps the nation as a whole. All alone, what should ...continue reading -
Wall Street: A Rush to Judgment, Again
Redeeming Hope by Rich Harwood. Wall Street - A Rush to Judgement I can't help but think that the financial fiasco we now face has similar markings to the War in Iraq. This is not something I say lightly, but is something that needs to be said. For why is it that on the most vital issues of the day we so quickly rush to judgment, while trivial matters receive endless attention? When it comes to Wall Street, let's not make the same mistakes we made in Iraq. Last night I finished Bob Woodard's latest book, "The War Within." It's a good read, even though key parts of it seem overwritten, especially where Woodward switches from reporting to outright editorializing. But the facts speak for themselves: time and again the president and this administration put their heads in the sand and refused to acknowledge and adapt to on-the-ground realities. What's more, they failed repeatedly to square up with the American people. Just as troubling were Bush's ...continue reading -
"Next time, knock his teeth out!"
Redeeming Hope by Rich Harwood. A blog about making good on your urge to do good, and about imagining and acting for the public good. "Next time, knock his teeth out!" This is what a parent told her son to do the next time a kid hits him. At first I thought that she and her three friends were talking about the kids on the lacrosse field, where our sons were playing. But I soon found out this story was more complicated than that. It is a story that reminds us of how out of control things feel nowadays, how angry people are, and how something we cherish can get away from us. It is about the condition of our society and our lives. There were four parents in all, each one more frustrated and agitated than the next. They were standing so close to me that it was impossible not to hear what they were saying. They started out talking about how they had told their sons that the next time they get hit to make sure they hit back so hard that the other kid can't ...continue reading -
Seven Questions for Ugly Times
Redeeming Hope by Rich Harwood. A blog about making good on your urge to do good, and about imagining and acting for the public good. These are ugly times. Nearly 80 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. The economy is going downhill. Two wars remain open-ended. The presidential campaign is in danger of becoming a caricature of itself. In times like these, we want to say, "Enough!" Here's how. I could give you a long treatise on where we are, or a prescription for what to do next, but neither would hit the mark of what I sense is needed right now. At issue is how you and others of goodwill can change the dynamics of how we're living and where we're headed. How can you gain some semblance of control over current affairs? What can you do to feel that your good values and authentic hopes are better reflected in these ugly times? To tackle these challenges, I offer you these 7 Questions for Ugly Times. My goal here is not some ...continue reading -
Do you know Governor Palin?
Redeeming Hope by Rich Harwood. A blog about making good on your urge to do good, and about imagining and acting for the public good. An examination of Sarah Palin, and what our comments about her, really say about us. John McCain's selection of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is raising a helluva lot of questions -- not only about McCain and Palin, but about us. What values and filters do we bring to this scene? What assumptions about other people do we make? How fast are we to judge others? I know there's some risk in what I'm about to say, but here it goes. Over the long Labor Day Weekend, I found myself involved in a number of conversations about Palin. Since last week's announcement we've learned more about Palin and with each passing day comes a new disclosure. At first the focus was on her experience; then it moved to whether a mom of five kids, one a special needs child should even be running for VP; then there was the disclosure of her 17-year ...continue reading -
Dear Barack and Friends
Redeeming Hope by Rich Harwood. A blog about making good on your urge to do good, and about imagining and acting for the public good. This week's article is an examination of the challenges facing Barack Obama. "The Democrats still don't know how to go negative. Until they do, they will lose." That's how a CNN commentator ended Monday night's coverage of the Democratic Convention. Is he right? What does it mean for someone to offer hope -- and strongly defend it -- when public life and politics is marked by acrimony and negativity, and shaped by pundits who unrelentingly dispatch such nonsense? Here's how. Any individual seeking to promote authentic hope and change in today's society must be clear about two things: keep focused on what truly matters and be certain of your desire to win. Your pursuit to make a difference in the world cannot simply be about "fighting the good fight." Those of us who toil in the vineyards of hope and change should want to harvest ...continue reading -
Have you answered Jon Stewart yet?
Redeeming Hope by Rich Harwood. A blog about making good on your urge to do good, and about imagining and acting for the public good. Last night my wife handed me a Sunday New York Times article on Jon Stewart -- Is this the Most Trusted Man in America? -- telling me that I had to read it. She was right. You should, too. During a time of record-breaking Olympics, a decidedly mixed presidential race, and general social anxiety, Jon Stewart's success on "The Daily Show" holds some key insights for those of us who want to make good on our urge to do good. For me, there are at least three components to Stewart's success: 1. He and his staff display an uncanny ability to puncture false realities, a great gift at a time when so many people feel that their realities are being actively distorted in public life and politics. 2. He consistently shines a bright line on a range of issues the mainstream news media often handle with kid gloves or ...continue reading -
Re-awakening
Redeeming Hope by Richard Harwood. A blog about making good on your urge to do good, and about imagining and acting for the public good. This week we're sharing some "Voices from the Summit." Throughout the week participants in the 2008 Summit will be blogging about their experience, their work and their thoughts. This reflection comes from Jean Feraca, Host of "Here on Earth." Ever since I came back from the Summit I've been living in state of grace. It's a little like being born-again. Imagine having forgotten who you are, what your real name is, why you were sent to earth in the first place, and then being re-awakened. That's what it was like for me. Before I left for the Summit , I had no idea how far I had strayed from my original purpose in creating Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders . Simply stated, it was to show who we are at our best, we humans, and how much we have in common. It was to bring the world a little closer together and to ...continue reading -
Space for the quiet
This week we're sharing some "Voices from the Summit." Throughout the week participants in the 2008 Summit will be blogging about their experience, their work and their thoughts. This reflection comes from Wendy Willis of the Policy Consensus Initiative. I've often asked friends and colleagues toiling in the civic engagement trenches if there is such a thing as "social capital poisoning." While many of our fellow citizens are struggling to find meaningful ways to participate in public life, those of us who have turned our passion for engagement into a vocation can find ourselves meeting and talking and collaborating ourselves straight into exhaustion. Sometimes, we just want to be left alone. It was in that state that I showed up at Skamania Lodge two Fridays ago -- depleted and unenthusiastic about more meetings -- even optimistic ones. Everything in me wanted to hide out. But, there I was -- nametag in hand ...continue reading -
No More Hopeless
This week we're sharing some "Voices from the Summit." Throughout the week participants in the 2008 Summit will be blogging about their experience, their work and their thoughts. This post was written by Steven A. Smith for his blog "News is a Conversation. The editor of the Spokesman-Review (Spokane), Steven has worked with the Harwood Institute for more than a decade. What follows is his post reflecting on the experience of attending his first Harwood Public Innovators Summit: I just returned home from the three-day innovators summit in Stevenson, WA. I need some time to synthesize what I learned. Suffice it to say for now the innovations most helpful to newspapers probably won't come from our own industry. This conference was a chance to spend time with innovators in a variety of business and non-profit roles. The ideas I will steal from them will help push our own transformational change, I hope. But today's end-of-conference discussion did have an ...continue reading -
Busy
This week we're sharing some "Voices from the Summit." Throughout the week participants in the 2008 Summit will be blogging about their experience, their work and their thoughts. These days, when I ask a friend or colleague how they're doing, I almost always get the same one-word response: "Busy." I don't just interpret this as a reflection of the pace by which we live our lives; in fact, most of the people I know are busy doing things that either matter deeply to them or to people who depend on them. So it's not necessarily the pace that's the problem; it's the way the word choice reveals what we choose to illuminate and, by extension, value in ourselves and the world around us. It's almost as if the word "busy" has become a short-hand way to describe what it feels like to live in modern society. Is this an accurate description? Is there a difference between feeling busy and feeling highly engaged? If so, what does the predominance of the ...continue reading -
What's our business
This week we're sharing some "Voices from the Summit." Throughout the week participants in the 2008 Summit will be blogging about their experience, their work and their thoughts. This post comes from Farhana Huq, Founder and CEO of C.E.O Women. I started volunteering with citizen sector organizations when I was 14. My sense of the sector was myopic in that I was on the front lines most of the time, focused primarily on direct service. When I founded C.E.O. Women -- an organization dedicated to helping low-income immigrant and refugee women to become entrepreneurs -- I did so with the goal of helping women. However, what has evolved for me, over time, is a commitment to addressing the systemic barriers faced by these women. I've come to believe that this requires a very different mindset and tool set. It also requires dialogue. My thinking is now less about the direct service and more geared towards creating solutions and ...continue reading -
The View from the Summit
This week we're sharing some "Voices from the Summit." Throughout the week participants in the 2008 Summit will be blogging about their experience, their work and their thoughts. Summit has always been one of my favorite words. When I reached the summit of Mount Rainier some years ago, we broke through a thick layer of clouds and the sky above was absolutely clear. From the summit, we could see the horizon but not the land or cities below. The "real world" was obscured. It was a reflective moment of beauty and clarity, a time for looking upward and outward. The Harwood Public Innovators Summit affected me in somewhat the same way. Being there made me look in many different directions and reflect on new possibilities, while leaving the day-to-day world behind for a while. Everyone there seemed to be in that space and share that spirit. All seemed willing to be transparent, open and accountable for their work and themselves. Whatever our ...continue reading -
The Starbucks Trap
The Starbucks juggernaut has flipped its lid in recent months, experiencing a downturn most never expected. Over the years, Starbucks had emerged as a new social icon, a reflection of a brilliant business strategy rooted in a keen knowledge of people's yearnings for connection. But somehow Starbucks got burned when it tried to occupy too much space. Any of us can fall into this trap. The story is a familiar one: a great idea, terrific execution, rising demand, and then expansion, expansion, expansion! Starbucks coffee can now be seen virtually everywhere. Not only did stores pop up on nearly every corner, they embedded their beans and brand in grocery stores, hotels, even in the air. Originally, Starbucks was about intimate coffee houses where people could meet, chat, read ... in essence, be in public. Company leaders often talked about carving out "third spaces" in communities -- neither yours nor mine, but "ours." But things started to unravel, and on ...continue reading -
The Last Lecture
This past week, Randy Pausch , the man who made famous " The Last Lecture " passed away after battling pancreatic cancer. The lecture, intended for his children, moved millions of people -- but why? On the surface, many of his comments were cliche. But he was on to something real, something we all wrestle with, and these are the same reasons why my own work is moving more and more in the direction of answering this question: "How can you make good on your urge to do good?" Upon learning of his cancer, Dr. Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, decided to give what the Pittsburgh-based school calls the "last lecture." The topic: how to live life. Millions of people have now watched the lecture on YouTube , and tens of thousands have bought his book. Most major news outlets covered his death. Pausch offered simple insights into life, including these highlighted in a USA Today article: Never underestimate the importance of having fun. ...continue reading -
Where is the room for individual dignity?
Most of us never intend to turn someone else into the "other," but the exigencies of life have a way of wringing out individual dignity from our work. We can find ourselves running so fast to reach the finish line that we lose sight of why even started to run. We use certain words and phrases as short-hand, only to lose their meaning. We go all out to win vital arguments, only to create needless divisions that fail to reflect people's everyday experiences. How in your own efforts to create change are you making room for individual dignity? In my own memory, it was around the time of Ronald Reagan that our nation took a sharp detour deep into the land of celebrating the power of the individual and shoving individual dignity to the side. Of course, the "individual" has always played a central role in American history and myth, but since Reagan we have increasingly viewed the individual as the almighty consumer, the all-knowing political force, the free-agent ...continue reading -
Great Books: Chasing the Flame
What flame are you chasing, and through the years what have you learned about yourself and what you need to do to make a difference? Maybe this is too simple a question to pose, but more and more I find people wrestling to figure out the right answer. This question is at the heart of the new book, Chasing the Flame: Sergio de Vieira De Mello and the Fight to Save the World , by Samantha Power, which I highly recommend to you. You may be wondering why I am suggesting a book on the United Nations and one of its star officials; what can this story teach us? Bottom line: Sergio Vieira De Mello came face-to-face with many issues that those of us involved in change must ultimately address. Vieira De Mello led critical UN missions at major flashpoints in recent history, including in Iraq, Bosnia, Lebanon, Cambodia, Rwanda, Kosovo, and East Timor -- each with its own thorny set of issues involving peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and human rights. He was tragically ...continue reading -
A Wimbledon Tennis Lesson: The Grace We Need
We often see in sports what we wish could be true in everyday life. This weekend's epic Wimbledon men's final was the best example I've seen in years, when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal exhibited in the heat of battle a sense of grace that each us can only hope to embrace. There are lessons here for each of us and for public life. Much has been written about the superior play in the Wimbledon final, but for me the most magical moment came when play ended. As Federer and Nadal approached the net for the customary handshake and perfunctory passing comments, something remarkable happened. The two men stood there grasping the other, their deep sense of affection for each other on clear display for all to see. In their on-court, post-match interviews, both spoke more about his opponent than about himself; each sung the praise of the other; neither sulked nor gloated. Put yourself in their shoes: is this what we expect of them or ourselves? Their display of grace ...continue reading -
Yet Another Patriotism Hangover
Maybe it's no accident that Senators Obama and McCain are knee-deep in a war of words over the meaning of patriotism as July 4th approaches. But when our two presidential candidates spend their days in a war of words over patriotism, the queasiness from my post 9/11 patriotism hangover comes racing back. Unfortunately, the after-taste is strong and the symptoms are all-too-familiar. The recent war of words began in earnest when retired Army General Wesley K. Clark went after McCain on Sunday's "Face the Nation". "I don't think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president," he said. Of course, the McCain camp fired back and even questioned Obama's rebuke of Clark. Then on Monday Obama gave a defining speech on "patriotism" at the Truman Memorial Building in Independence, MO. The speech had been planned before the war of words, all part of a week-long effort on patriotism to shore up his standing among Americans. The week before TIME ...continue reading -
Mayor Bloomberg and the Jews
On Friday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg stood before some 200 people at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County to set straight a nasty rumor about Senator Barack Obama, intended to strike fear into the hearts of Jews. The rumor holds that Obama is really a Muslim, who will not support Israeli or even American interests. Bloomberg went to South Florida to tell Jews the real story, and his actions lead to this question: Will each of us stand up when our turn comes? Over the years Bloomberg has not made it a habit to talk publicly about his Jewish faith or ties to the Jewish community. Nor is he an Obama supporter. He even tested the waters for his own presidential run this year, and he is known to be close to Senator John McCain. But according to The New York Times , Bloomberg told the Palm Beach crowd that the rumors about Obama represent "wedge politics at its worse, and we have to reject it - loudly, clearly and unequivocally." In Make Hope ...continue reading -
What Al Gore's Really Saying
While channel surfing last night, I stumbled upon Al Gore's endorsement of Barack Obama. At first I wanted to listen to Obama's response to Gore, but then I found myself enveloped by the power of Gore's comments and his stature. Be clear, I'm not writing to underscore Gore's endorsement; rather I want to take notice of Gore himself and to heed what his journey potentially means for each of us. For one of the first times in this campaign season, I heard a public figure stand up before an audience and articulate a clear and compelling view of the challenges we face and the need for a different approach to address them. His comments were not wrapped in poetic words or raw partisan appeals or a litany of policy proposals. Instead, Gore outlined his cogent view of the challenges before us in the 21st century - from climate change to international affairs to energy to the economy. I found myself drawn in by a man who still cannot deliver soaring rhetoric or move ...continue reading -
Who do you want to be by the end of this year?
In December of 2007 I asked: Who do you want to be in a year? Today, six months later, I return today to that question. Who do you want to be? What choices will you have to make to get there? What support do you need to create and accelerate the kind of change you want for your community? Click here and tell us who you want to be ...continue reading -
The Top 10 Ways to "Live United"
Two weeks ago the United Way of America unveiled its new national branding campaign "Live United," along with a bold strategy for making an impact on education, income and family stability, and health care. I like the phrase "Live United." It's forward-looking, energetic, and reflects people's aspirations. But beyond a damn good slogan, what would these two words mean in daily life for those of us seeking to create hope and change? Here are 10 keys to living united in America. 1. We must help people in our communities to see and hear those individuals who are different from themselves, or who live in other parts of the community. At the heart of living united is the ability to see beyond ourselves so that we can begin to understand and work on common challenges, or support others who face challenges different from our own. 2. We must root our work in the public knowledge of our community - for instance, in how people see and define their concerns, ...continue reading -
Activity vs Action
As we work to create change we face any number of difficult choices and barriers. One of the most common is the dilemma of activity vs. action. If you're really honest with yourself is your work generating more activity, more tasks or are you working to take action that creates impact? Learn more about the difference between activity and action -- download a free copy of Rich's essay Make Hope Real ...continue reading -
Will You Risk The Money?
What if the more attention we paid to issues of equity and race, the more supporters and funders of "community causes" dried up? That's the question I posed at two events last week. For me, the issue is whether we are prepared to lose precious support by seeking to see and hear all people in our communities, or will we take the path of least resistance and follow the money? First, some important context: The ease with which we can actively turn away from those we don't wish to see or hear makes it increasingly difficult to address issues of equity and race. For instance, we can pick and choose our own news on the Internet, screening out unwanted or undesirable stories. Meanwhile, many of us have retreated into close-knit circles of families and friends, essentially turning away from public life and those who are not like us. According to The Big Sort , a new book by Bill Bishop and Robert G. Cushing, more of us are moving into increasingly homogeneous areas. And ...continue reading -
What do you want, really?
It's a simple enough question, isn't it? What do you want when it comes to your work in public life? I feel rather stupid asking this question because its answer often seems so damn obvious. All that's required is a basic, straightforward response. And yet, truth be told, I find so many of us struggle with what we want, and even more with whether we are really getting to where we want to be. Something is in our way, but what? Most people I know seeking to bring about change in public life are working mighty hard, for relatively modest pay, and over long hours. Let's face it: there are easier ways to make a living. But you and I and many others do not consider this work simply to be a "career." It is a calling; we have an urge within us to do good, to right wrongs, to repair breaches, to give voice to the weakest among us. But today I am not writing about the reasons that get us out of bed every morning, but rather what stands in the way of our fulfillment. In ...continue reading -
Not All Hope Is Created Equal
My fear all along has been that "hope" would become a casualty of this campaign - that its very meaning and currency would be diminished through overuse and sloganeering. Now, on the day of the Indiana and North Carolina Democratic Primaries, I wanted to return to this topic to make an urgent case for a particular meaning of hope in politics and public life. For not all hope is created equal. Tonight the pundits and spin-meisters will talk about hope as if it is on trial. Some will say that if Hillary Clinton wins it is proof that talking about hope is a reflection of a naive view of politics. If Barack Obama wins, there will be those who will declare that the audacity of hope remains a brilliant strategy. But no matter what results emerge from tonight, I believe we must see hope differently if we wish to make it real. We must distinguish between authentic and false hope. Here are some basic tenets to guide us: Hope is an orientation, not a platform - ...continue reading -
The $100,000 Flop
Ive had this dream for years now: A major funder gives me big money to design an initiative that intentionally fails in full public view. I find myself sharing this dream with people when I visit their communities and talk with them about creating change and authentic hope. While in Binghamton, N.Y last week, I found myself talking about the dream again. For most my dream would be a nightmare; me, I want to make it happen. What I call the $100,000 Flop is based on an actual experience I had years ago working in a community that was down and out. Jobs were scarce, trust was fleeting, and there was lots of finger-pointing and placing of blame. Many people in the community felt so beaten up they were afraid to step forward and take any action. Like many of us, they were afraid they might fail. At the time a major foundation was funding various change efforts in the community, including the Institutes work. But progress was slow. No matter how much ...continue reading -
The Pope and the Pennsylvania Primary
The Popes recent visit to the U.S. offers us a glimpse into what our society so desperately needs at this moment, and which is so glaringly absent from the current Pennsylvania primary campaign. If only the presidential candidates would address the so-called regular people of Pennsylvania with the same forthrightness that Pope Benedict chose to handle the Catholic Churchs child abuse scandal during his recent visit. From the outset of his visit, the Pope answered the call to address the explosive issue of child abuse which came at the hands of Catholic priests. Now, I know many people believe the Popes visit was a triumph of public relations and spin over truth. They argue that the Pope sought to masterfully manipulate public opinion to blot out a stain on the Catholic Church. They rightfully point out that he was merely here for a handful of days, and that many skilled public figures could manage the maladies he had to confront. Time will tell. But I see a leader who never ...continue reading -
What's Missing in Obama and Clinton's Bitterness Battle
In the face of peoples real lives, Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's escalating war of words about bitterness seems to be an utterly silly, even a potentially destructive distraction. As this battle is fought on 24 hour news networks, I cant help but think about my waitress this past weekend at a Dennys Restaurant in rural central Pennsylvania. I walked into Dennys at 6AM last Saturday morning. I was in town taking my daughter to an accepted student's day at a local liberal arts college, while most the other people in the restaurant were readying for a day fishing or hunting. One of only two waitresses on duty, my waitress scrambled between 10 tables and the kitchen, all the while calling me honey each time she stopped by to refill my coffee. As I went to pay my bill, she told me that she had been at the restaurant since 6AM the previous day, and that she was to work until 2PM that afternoon. As I quickly totaled the number of hours she would working ...continue reading -
Standing with Those on the Edge
As a Washington Capitals season ticket holder I've come to cherish the moment at each game when fans are asked to salute guest soldiers, many of whom are being treated at nearby Walter Reed Army Hospital. To a person, everyone rises to their feet and gives our guests an extended standing ovation. It's an amazing feeling to be among 15,000 people expressing such love and respect. But when the applause gives way to life's daily drudgeries, I wonder what happens to those brave soldiers, especially those in need of mental health support? Are we asked to stand up then? This weekend, The New York Times ran two articles on the mental health of our troops serving in Iraq. One, " Army Is Worried by Rising Stress of Return Tours, " detailed how each tour of duty significantly raises the odds that a soldier will return home with "anxiety, depression or acute stress." The second piece, " After War, Love Can Be a Battlefield ," told of 19 couples who attended a weekend retreat called "Strong ...continue reading -
Warning: Beware of Political Giddiness
Like many people, I'm excited to see how people are stepping forward to engage in this year's presidential race. Indeed, as I travel the country there's a growing contagion of giddiness spreading throughout the land. But, lurking beneath the surface of our national "feel-good" is a warning we must heed, or else run the risk of promoting false hope. The challenge before us is to not misread people's shared anger and renewed energy for common ground about how they wish to move ahead. The general urge for change is not at all the same as an endorsement or readiness for particular change. The presidential candidates must know this, and so too must the rest of us who see ourselves as catalysts for change. What we are witnessing in this election cycle is people saying "Enough Is Enough!" over the state of the union and our overly partisan and rancorous politics. They believe that, as a society, we have failed to make real progress on the pressing issues before us, and that matters have ...continue reading -
Why Race Still Matters
It has been nearly a week since Barack Obama gave his speech about race in America, and I can already feel the nation's focus on race starting to slip away. Many have interpreted the speech through the lens of campaign tactics: "Was Obama successful in getting Reverend Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary comments off the front page?" And yet, in our hopes to embrace a post-racial politics, we may miss the very discussion on race that remains essential to our society and politics. Let me start by saying that I do not believe a so-called "national conversation" on race is the way to go, if that means a repeat of former President Clinton's effort on this matter. Remember the national commission he appointed, which soon became embroiled in endless issues about its focus? That initiative had all the negative trappings of a high-falutin' blue-ribbon panel: formal hearings with far more posturing than conversation. After a much ballyhooed launch, the commission landed with a thud. Nor am ...continue reading -
The Meaning of Reverend Wright
(Written for publication on Monday, March 17) The Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's pastor, has caused quite a stir, as various news outlets have aired excerpts from some of his sermons. Now the question is, What should we make of it? This is a dangerous topic, because no matter what one says or writes, there is a very real chance that it'll be twisted and turned to fit another person's narrative. So, I weigh in with these thoughts, knowing full well that I run that risk. Let me say from the outset that I do not endorse - indeed, I flatly reject - much of what I have heard Reverend Wright say that is now being reported in the news, comments like these carried by MSNBC.com: "We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York, and we never batted an eye. We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is brought right back ...continue reading -
The Sad Saga of Eliot Spitzer
I am watching the saga of Governor Eliot Spitzer unfold in disbelief. Spitzer was nabbed in a prostitution ring. His governorship, maybe his family life, hangs in the balance. But beyond any immediate personal or political ramifications, this saga can tell us something about our own views on leadership and imperfection. Spitzer was a rising star. For eight years as New York's attorney general, he won battles against corporate corruption, Wall Street leaders, and organized crime, so many that he took on mythic qualities. TIME magazine once called him a "crusader." 60 Minutes featured him. He won the New York governorship in a landslide. Until yesterday, some people had mentioned him as presidential timber. On one level, Spitzer's story is similar to that of many leaders in our society. We become infatuated with them, even begin to worship them, believe they can do no wrong, assigning them qualities and expectations that too often are not humanly possible to fulfill. Meantime, the ...continue reading -
The Red Phone
It's jolting and ominous. Indeed, the dueling Clinton-Obama "red phone" ads are a throw-back to previous eras, a time of the cold war, a bear in the woods, daisies and detonation. The red phone is an icon of fear, often used when other arguments fail. But that's just it: the red phone is about the past. I want to look to the future, one rooted in our present-day reality. This campaign has given us Senator Obama, who has captured many people's imagination; Senator Clinton, who has demonstrated just how tough she is; and Senator McCain, an American hero. But my concern here is not about media buys, "get out the vote" operations, or how to excite people and motivate them to vote. I have no problem with tough-minded ads. My concern is that I want candidates who call us to look to the future by genuinely reflecting and understanding the present. We're squarely barreling into the 21st Century, whether we like it or not and things have changed dramatically from the 1990s, or even from ...continue reading -
The Tyranny of Techniques and Process
The messages of hope and change that dominate our political discussions these days have made many people giddy about the possibilities for public life and politics. But, if we do not wish to slip back into business as usual, we must beware of our own inclinations and proclivities to rely on techniques and process as a substitute for making hope real. Instead, our task now is to reorient ourselves outward, toward the people and communities we serve, or risk squandering the opportunity before us. In our rush to re-engage people and marshal civic resources, we can fall prey to our own good intentions. Good intentions aren't enough, and alone won't get us where we want to go. In our use of techniques and process, we can crowd out the very judgments we must make to create conditions for hope and change. We can assume a false sense of progress and security, and sidestep the very battles we must fight to produce change. There's so much to say here, but let me offer a handful of ...continue reading -
Dear Hillary
I was asked during the Q&A session following a speech last Thursday what tactics I'd suggest you embrace given Senator Barack Obama's ascendancy. I write this before anyone has cast a vote in Wisconsin, though what I have to say would be the same whether you ultimately win or lose. My chief goal here is not to pretend to be your campaign consultant, because I'm not. Rather, I simply want to let you know what I told the person who asked the question. Attacking hope won't get you where you want to go . The emerging response to Senator Obama by both you and Senator McCain has been to try and undermine notions of "hope" that he has spoken about. But attacking "hope" as a fluffy concept that won't put food on people’s tables or keep jobs in America denies something of critical importance to many Americans. People are in search of something that has been missing in our society for far too long. And, there is, indeed a huge difference between false hope and authentic hope, ...continue reading -
The Joy of Voting
Today is Maryland 's presidential primary day and I'm damn happy about it. Usually I make a point to downplay the importance of voting, because I believe that so much of the change we need in society will only come through our daily efforts. But there's something special about voting which I want to celebrate today. I love the process and ritual of voting. I love driving to my local polling place at the Waldorf School , a former neighborhood elementary school and one of the places where my soccer teams have played over the years. There, each voter is welcomed by the army of campaign workers handing out literature for their candidate or slate. I used to try and avoid these folks, but now I simply smile and say, "No, but thanks!" It's true, I do not want their literature; but I deeply admire their tenacity and enthusiasm, especially as people's engagement in public life has waned. I love standing in line to vote, where I inevitably bump into a neighbor or ...continue reading -
Michelle Obama's Message
Last week, on the night of the Clinton-Obama debate, I found myself racing from a Kellogg Foundation meeting in downtown Washington , D.C. to Bethesda , MD to pick up my son and drive him to basketball practice, hoping to catch the debate on my car radio. No such luck. But what I found was arguably more interesting and compelling: Michelle Obama. In the weeks leading up to the final debate, former President Bill Clinton had become a topic of discussion, as he and Senator Clinton pulled out all stops to win in Nevada and try to forestall Senator Obama's victory in South Carolina. The former president came under intense criticism for what some deemed to be underhanded campaign tactics. And while Bill Clinton soaked up the limelight, I came to find that it was his counterpart, Michelle Obama, who deserved our attention. Last Thursday night, while waiting for my son's practice to end, I heard the most incredible speech by Mrs. Obama. Her ...continue reading -
Where Will You Stand?
Let’s start with Monday’s news. In his endorsement of Barack Obama, Senator Ted Kennedy sought to position the young candidate alongside his brothers, John and Bobby, both of whom sought to usher in a new day in politics, one infused with service and idealism rather than triangulation and fear. Now, once again, there’s something undeniable emerging across the nation: a new breed of leader who sees public life and politics differently. Two basic questions stand before us with concern to this new breed of leader, and only you and I and others like us hold the answers to these questions. Whether Barack Obama is one of these new leaders remains to be seen. But there is a growing cadre of such leaders dotting the American landscape including, for instance, mayors such as Cory Booker (Newark), Adrian Fenty (DC), Jay Williams, (Youngstown) and, yes, Michael Bloomberg (New York City). In my essay Make Hope Real , I write about this new breed of leaders as: ...continue reading -
Five Personal Questions for Public Innovators
This week I am getting ready for our upcoming Public Innovators Lab , which always makes me go back to first principles about what it takes to make hope real in communities. At the Lab, we guide participants through key Harwood Institute ideas, frameworks and tools that we’ve developed over the years, and which people will take back home to accelerate their own efforts to create change and hope. But, no matter the topic, what is always present in the room is a set of personal questions people bring with them to the Lab , questions that sit in the back of their minds waiting to be answered. These are questions that each of us hope to answer. It is only over the last 20 years that these questions have come into sharp focus for me. There are of five of them in all, each one speaking to us as individuals, to our souls and hearts, to our appetites to make the world a better place. Listen to these questions as you read them to yourself, and see how they sit with you, what they summon ...continue reading -
Trumping the "Race Card"
The news cycle the past few days has been dominated by the Clinton and Obama camps arguing over race and its role in this campaign and America ’s history. All of this upheaval and consternation comes as MLK Day comes upon us. What are we to make of this? Where does this growing feud lead us? I have written here before about race, racism, and race relations. I do so today knowing that whatever I say could easily be twisted or misconstrued. That’s the risk we all take when writing about important and deeply emotional issues. But something must be said. Some argue that Senator Clinton has injected race into the campaign solely for political gain. Meanwhile, some writers and pundits have suggested that Barack Obama has studiously avoided talking about race so he might transcend race, or make himself more acceptable to whites. Indeed, in last Sunday's Washington Post article , David Greenberg wrote: “Obama – whose strongest appeal has thus far been ...continue reading -
Candidates: Make the Ask
As the presidential primaries roll on, there is an opening that the candidates must now seize. The candidates have people's attention and have heightened our sense of possibility for changing the tone and direction of politics and public life. But there's a critical step they must take: to ask individuals Americans to step forward and be part of the change in America . We all remember after 9/11 when President Bush had the chance to ask people to engage in new ways, he told Americans to go shopping. Perhaps that plea helped push the economy ahead. But what it didn't do was to galvanize Americans to work together in communities or to consider new policy options such as a bold energy program that might have asked changes of each American. The window of possibility opened, only to slam shut. Now, the presidential candidates have discovered that "hope" is the coin of realm and that "change" is required. Campaigns have a way of dressing up ideas, ...continue reading -
Iowa: A Call for Change
No matter who wins the nominations, the message out of the Iowa Caucuses is clear, strong and unmistakable. It is a call to bring about change and hope in America . The call for change and to make hope real have long been cornerstones of our work at The Harwood Institute. That is why a few months ago I wrote, Make Hope Real .The essay, helps each of us think about how we can do the work that must be done within our communities to create the kind of change we want. It is why we established an alliance with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to help public broadcasters nationwide innovate new ways to strengthen the civic health of communities through their work. It is why we have been developing new boundary spanning organizations to bring people together across dividing lines, incubate new ideas, and hold up a mirror so we can see our shared realities and take common action. It is why we have been working in communities across the ...continue reading -
Who Do You Want to Be in a Year?
Creating change requires that we ask and answer two questions: who are we and who do we want to become. As this year comes to a close, ask yourself: Who do I want to be in a year? -
Now what, Oprah?
The crowds have been incredible and the speeches melodic and beautiful. You can feel movement in the electorate. I admire Oprah's sense of clarity and conviction about the state of politics and the possibility for us to change our nation's course. But the question I am aching to ask is, "Now what, Oprah?" If I could speak to Oprah, here's what I'd say. Oprah: You have stirred the pot in the nation in a really good way. People are talking, and about things that matter in our public lives, not just our individual private lives. Whether or not people follow you in support of Senator Barack Obama is still unknown; but it is clear that you have people's attention about politics and public life. I can remember no other moment like this in my lifetime. I urge you to seize this moment. I wish for you to announce that you will dedicate the next handful of days and the months to follow focusing attention on how we, as Americans, can change the ...continue reading -
How Public Broadcasting can better serve the public good - and you too
I want to give you an update on our collaboration with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is producing some really promising results for public broadcasters seeking to improve their community’s civic health through their work and deepen their own local significance. The good news: this work holds important insights for any potential boundary spanning organization in any community. Here’s why. Last week my colleagues and I met in Las Vegas with the 12 public television and radio stations we’ve been innovating with since the beginning of the year. It was our third workspace with these stations, and our work will extend through 2008. We’ve been working with CEOs, station managers, producers, community engagement directors, and others to apply Harwood ideas, frameworks, and tools to their own context. As you know, no one size fits all! One of the most exciting parts of the Vegas session was when each station took time to draw a picture of ...continue reading -
Can you hear the bells?
While in upstate New York last weekend, I saw a news article that said the Salvation Army was in need of more people to ring bells at their ubiquitous Red Kettle holiday fund drives. For me, when I see those Red Kettles and hear the bells, I feel a strong calling to step forward. Even more, I am absolutely smitten by the Salvation Army's tagline: "Do the Most Good." But what exactly are each of us called to do? During the holiday season, some see a need in the community – such as those without winter coats or heating or holiday meals – and feel compelled to help out. And so we give to a variety of charities. Our donations are vital to help ease the immediate pain of others . Still, I’ve said many times that while charity is necessary, we ought not to be lulled into thinking that it is sufficient. So much of what we need to do in society demands "change," not simply charity. Change, so that hunger is defeated and not simply placated with stop gap ...continue reading -
Where are you headed?
Over the years I have come to love Thanksgiving as a time to be with family, watch some football and, this year, enjoy my mom’s incredible home cooking again! But it is also a time that causes me to pause and think about where I am headed and why, and if that’s where I want to go. How about you, where are you headed on this Thanksgiving? I know many of us are racing to finish up our work and get ready for the holiday. But will this Thanksgiving be as meaningful as we want it to be? Here’s an easy way to get centered this year: find a pen, take a few minutes, and answer the following questions: What three things are you most thankful for on this Thanksgiving and why? If you could give thanks to just three people, who would be they and what would you say? If there is a central insight or message for you from your first two answers - something you could use in your daily life - what would it be? I ask these ...continue reading -
Regarding the Pain of Others
Maybe this topic will be a bit off-putting, maybe at first it will seem irrelevant to you and your work, but I urge you to read on. Please, read on. My concern here is that in communities large and small people have slowly disconnected themselves from the pain of others. Such pain is easy to ignore, to skate over, to disregard. It is too easy to say that we know about it by pointing to the onslaught of daily news and claiming, "See, we do know!" But what do we really see, and hear, and feel, especially when so many of us are hunkered down and have separated ourselves from one another and from public life? In some ways we have learned to manage the pain in society much like a doctor allows a patient to self-medicate with morphine. We see disasters like Hurricane Katrina, and we reach for our wallets and pocketbooks to write a quick check, much like we would reach for more morphine to deaden pain. Once we write the check, we are allowed to believe that the pain ...continue reading -
Is This You?
I keep hearing from people that they can feel overtaken by too much “busyness” in their work and lives. We’re all stretched and tired. Many of us feel like we can never get enough done. Recently, after speaking at a Corporation for Public Broadcasting board meeting, I was in a hurry myself, rushing off to my next appointment. I went to get my car from the parking garage, but when I drove up to the ticket booth I couldn’t find my wallet. I was out of luck. Then a woman I had never met before changed the course of my day. Cars lined up behind me as I frantically searched for my wallet. Unable to find it, I started to gather the few loose dollar bills and coins littered across my car. Pushing the small piles of money to the woman in the ticket booth, it was clear that I was short. I started to mumble something when she stopped me, saying, “No problem, I’ll pay the rest.” I looked up at her and said, “What… are you sure?” Smiling, she ...continue reading -
Do You Have a "Deserving" Family?
This was my reaction when listening to an ad on WFLR 96.7 FM—a Christian-contemporary station—while driving from Detroit to Battle Creek . The ad began simply enough, asking listeners to help support families unable to meet their winter heating bills. It was actually heart-warming. But then the ad abruptly changed. It went on to tell listeners about WFLR’s holiday-season partnership with Aspen Heating and Cooling, and that each listener was now invited to visit the station’s web site (myflr.org) to nominate “one deserving family” who would become eligible to win a new furnace from the good folks at Aspen. The web site says, “Nominations are being accepted until November 7, with the winning family announced on November 14.” Twice more I heard this ad while in Michigan . And with each subsequent airing, my disbelief grew. Since when do we anonymously “nominate” poor neighbors to receive such care? Is this some ...continue reading -
Dear Barack:
(Photo: David McNew/Getty Images) Last week the Washington Post ran a front page story that Americans may be too angry to embrace your message of hope, and instead are aching for a heated partisan campaign of division and resentment. I think they’re wrong. But I also believe that you and other leaders who care about hope must be vigilant in how you engage Americans on hope. It is too easy to misstep here and for politics as usual to triumph. Thus I’ve listed below five key points for winning the public fight on hope. Know that my concern here is not your election, though I wish you luck; instead it is the task of rebuilding hope in our land. One of the most searing insights I have gained from my 20 years of work across the country is the centrality of hope in people’s lives – and also its fragility. I say this after tirelessly seeking new ways for individuals, organizations, and communities to address social ills and act on their ...continue reading -
Why Do We Need Public Innovators?
Many people have written about the talent deficit in the non-profit and civic sector. Today, I want to focus on one big part of it. While the talent deficit is very real, maybe the most pressing facet of it is our lack of public innovators . These civic change agents are essential to helping organizations and communities create change and authentic hope. But we need many more public innovators if we are to make the progress we seek. Consider the following challenges and think about the kind of person it will take to create meaningful progress: Recently, my colleague John Creighton and I completed a report for the Kettering Foundation which found that many organizations believe they cannot undertake civic engagement and deliberation efforts because they lack the staff capacity and know-how to design, implement and follow-up such efforts. The work is hard to do and do well. In their new book, Come ...continue reading -
What Would Lincoln Say Tonight?
Today’s Republican debate is a vital test to see whether any candidate is willing to authentically engage voters – to step forward and speak to us honestly. Just over a week ago the top-tier Republican candidates skipped the Morgan State/PBS debate focused on African American and Latino concerns. I have returned to issues surrounding the Morgan State debate because I believe it offers a crucial lens through which to view the candidates early in this campaign. Weary of the acrimonious and divisive nature of politics and the lack of adequate progress on a host of issues, people yearn for leaders who can pull us together, get things moving in a positive direction, and engage with the realities of our lives—we are searching for a “new breed of leader.” I wrote about a “new breed of leader” in my essay, Make Hope Real . Unlike many of the “outsider” leaders who emerged in the 1990s and spoke about a hostile takeover of government, disparaged ...continue reading -
Would Lincoln Have Gone?
Last week a stunning event occurred: Republican presidential candidates were invited to Morgan State University , a historically black university, by Tavis Smiley and PBS for a live debate, where the Party of Lincoln could muster only the bottom tier candidates to show. Missing in action were Mitt Romney, John McCain, Fred Thompson, and Rudy Giuliani. You can bet that if Abraham Lincoln were alive, he would have made it. I write to neither support Democrats nor undercut Republicans, but to shine a bright light on the need for authenticity and hope in public life and politics. People have had enough of acrimonious and divisive politics and now yearn to find ways back into the public square. Authenticity and hope are essential for any candidate who seeks to reconnect and re-engage with Americans and cut through prevailing conditions in society to foster a new can-do spirit. To engender authenticity and hope requires candidates to step forward and show their face. ...continue reading -
Planned Serendipity
The emergence of change is truly inspiring to watch. It takes the right conditions and the right people to ignite and sustain something real and in Central Texas signs of change are emerging. I went to Austin , last week to give a keynote speech at a luncheon put on by the United Way and St. David's Community Health Foundation that attracted nearly 600 people from the 10 counties of Central Texas . Unbeknownst to me the event was named the “Harwood Summit” and served to kick off their Community Engagement Initiative. What’s so compelling to me about this is that neither I nor my staff had anything to do with it– at least not directly. Debbie Bresette serves as Executive Vice President of United Way and attended the 2006 Public Innovators Lab. After returning to Austin she took it upon herself to become the pied piper of our ideas, frameworks and tools, seeking out and engaging fellow staff and community members in a meaningful ...continue reading -
9/11 and A Way Forward
Last year on 9/11 I wrote about my good friend and college roommate Frank, who died in the World Trade Center , where he worked for Canter, Fitzgerald, some one-hundred stories up. I said then that I didn't want to talk about the condition of public life and politics; I had simply wanted to wonder aloud about him. Today, one year later, I can't stop thinking about where we have come. Another year has not taken away the sting of Frank's death. Maybe part of that reality for me is that we find ourselves increasingly mired in a war in Iraq . With each passing day, I understand this war less. As I travel across the country, especially when I am in airports, I find myself staring at soldiers in their green fatigues and heavy boots. I wonder where they are going; what will meet them wherever they arrive. I cannot help but cringe when I consider their fate; that one day their parents or some other loved one may receive a visit at the front door ...continue reading -
The Day after Labor Day Plea
On the heels of this Labor Day, I have a plea: as leaders and public innovators I wish for each of us to consider the meaning of our own humanity in our work. I’m not talking about how to create more connections or connectivity in society; nor is this about how to build more social capital or get more people together in your community. Instead, I am appealing directly to you and others we work with. I know that making this plea may sound silly or vacuous or simply obvious. Well actually it is obvious and that’s all the more reason to talk about it. A little more than a week ago we held our second Annual Public Innovators Summit. About fifty public innovators and leaders spent three days talking about issues that often are in the back of our minds but which require our full attention. Much like things you’ve probably been involved in this conversation was amazing to watch unfold. People moved from being professionals in the grip of their work to telling stories about their ...continue reading -
Michael Vick's Dog Days
Maybe the Michael Vick story is striking such a rich vein in American life because it holds up a mirror of reality to us and we're not sure what we see or feel. For many of us, the first response to hearing about Vick's involvement in dog fighting and his sundry repulsive acts was outrage. How could anyone commit such heinous acts? One can only hope I am asking a mere rhetorical question here, but we all know I'm not. Just take the three young people recently gunned down execution style in Newark, NJ. Such matters reflect a side to our society that many of us feel unable to change. So, many of us retreat from public life and turn inward where we try to gain some semblance of control over our lives. There's the issue of Vick's contract as well. Tell me how anyone could be worth a $137 million to play professional football? It makes me think about what Tom Cruise gets paid per movie or to try and understand Paris Hilton's notoriety. The extent to which sports figures and ...continue reading -
Independent Minds
Just this week we witnessed the phenomenal product launch of the new iPhone. Americans of all ages waited in long lines to claim the first offering of these hot consumer products. These gadgets will purportedly produce a transformative leap in people’s ability to connect with one another. At first glance one might view these purchases as just another example of consumerism run amuck. Meanwhile, the daily calls continue from all corners for an end to the American occupation of Iraq. President Bush views such calls as a “Cut and Run” mentality. His opponents say it’s time for our troops to come home. And yet, no matter the bumper sticker slogan one chooses to sum up their own heart-felt point-of-view, the reality of war and terrorism and global mistrust was front page news yet again this week when terrorists in London sought to destroy innocent lives. News from Scotland the following day only reinforced all our fears. This past Sunday the top story in ...continue reading -
Readers Respond: Authenticity and Presidential Candidates
I want to respond to a number of interesting comments from readers about my last blog on authenticity and presidential candidates. It hit a nerve and for good reason: the rash of challenges we face today – from the war in Iraq to the Katrina aftermath to immigration – call for leaders people trust. Authenticity sits at the heart of this challenge. One reader wrote me: This is one of the very few times when I’m not certain you’re on target. Krugman, if I understood him, was talking mostly about the news media and about the phony, superficial way that ‘authenticity’ is determined by the columnists, commentators, and talking heads of our time. And how they get bamboozled by image makers or fall into group think about the most nonsensical things while missing the big picture. Yes, I agree, Krugman is upset about how political reporting is done and the extent to which reporters, as you say, get bamboozled and fail to see candidates for who they are as opposed to who they ...continue reading -
Authenticity and Our Presidential Candidates
What does “authenticity” mean in the current presidential race and for that matter in public life in general? Not much, according to Paul Krugman in his scathing op-ed column, Authentic? Never Mind , in yesterday’s New York Times . Too bad he’s wrong. Krugman rips those who would argue that authenticity has a place in today’s public discourse. People, he says, should instead use as a gauge the policy proposals a leader puts forth and the motives behind those offerings. It’s the only real way to judge a candidate. But authenticity is central to how we see and judge presidential candidates, presidents themselves, public innovators, and how others in public life conduct themselves. Authenticity goes hand in hand with two other “A’s” I often write and speak about – namely, authority and accountability. I’m especially interested in how the 3A’s can inform and guide our own words and deeds, rather than to use them in judging others. Far too much time is ...continue reading -
The Skidmore Challenge
This past week I spent an amazing three days at my 25th college reunion. (I know I’m getting old.) At the same time I have been reading David Halberstam’s bestseller, The Best and the Brightest. What do these two things have to do with each other? Everything! While at Skidmore College I gave a talk about the conditions of public life and politics. During the Q&A, my fellow graduates focused a great deal on how so many of us are now overwhelmed by the avalanche of unfiltered news, a lack of trust in political leaders and the belief that few good ones are on the horizon, and a nagging worry about how change can be created when so many of us are focused inwardly on our own needs. Meanwhile, The Best and the Brightest is a story of a group of people who believed that they knew answers to the tough questions of their day. But the tale reminds us that no one individual, or group of self-selected individuals, has a lock on the vision or the knowledge necessary ...continue reading -
The Flag - A Memorial Day Message
On this Memorial Day, the assembly of little flags in the photo below reminds me of fallen American men and women who have given their life in the name of our country. Each flag could be a person, limp and alone; and yet, the stars and stripes remain strong and bold, reminding us of an enduring journey. photo by Ernest Morin (click on the photo for additional photos) On this Memorial Day, what comes to your mind when you see our flag, the American flag? During this extended weekend, each of us will encounter the Red, White & Blue. When we see it, what will we make of it? Remember the old game some of us once played as kids, “Capture the flag”? Since September 11, it can seem that the flag has been captured by those who believe they hold the truth about patriotism; many may even believe they have received Devine inspiration about this truth. But look up patriotism in the dictionary ...continue reading -
What space should Public Broadcasting occupy in the community?
Guest Blogger, Brenda Barnes, President, KUSC, Los Angeles, CA There are foundational documents which include statements of aspiration for public broadcasting (the first Carnegie Commission report for example) that are still relevant today, but which we do not yet meet because the initial aspirations were so high. The large, decentralized network of radio and television stations we have created is much better positioned now than in the 1960s to meet the aspirations of our founding mothers and fathers. Therefore, I think we need to review those aspirations and evaluate our own communities and stations and determine how best to chart a course for the present and future. We also need to be mindful that part of our agenda is local and distinct and part is common and national. We will work most efficiently and effectively if we know the difference between the local and the universal parts of the agenda and operate accordingly. ...continue reading -
The spreading of Wall-Mart
In many communities a heated debate rages about whether to welcome a new Wal-Mart to town. But there’s another Wall -Mart we should be debating. It’s the marketing of Walls to keep people different from ourselves out. These Walls can be seen from Israel to the US-Mexican border to your nearest gated community to now Iraq. What is it about Walls? People have used them throughout history to keep others out. They can make us feel safe; they can even produce safety. Look at Israel’s Wall in the West Bank. Suicide bombings and other forms of attacks are reportedly way down since its construction. Just this morning I heard on National Public Radio that American soldiers have started building a Wall late at night in a besieged Sunni neighborhood. The Prime Minister of Iraq now says he wants the Americans to stop. According to NPR, people in the neighborhood don’t want to be “caged in.” During a recent speech a gentleman asked me whether the ...continue reading -
The antidote to today's news
The last seven days have made a week to remember. We started off with Imus in the Morning, abruptly returned to the Duke rape case, and now find ourselves facing the unimaginable tragedy at Virginia Tech. Meanwhile, troubling scenes from Iraq and Afghanistan of U.S. soldiers (and locals) being maimed and killed, only escalate. All this activity makes one wonder if we have momentarily lost our senses. • Could it be true, for instance, that a relatively silent but corrosive racism lingers just beneath the surface of society – and that it exists to a much greater extent than we are willing to admit or deal with? • How was it that a popularly-elected district attorney could hijack a case that put three college-aged kids through hell, while much of society stood by and cheered him on, reflexively assuming the students were guilty? • How many U.S. soldiers must die – and how many Iraqi and Afghan people must perish – before there is an open and ...continue reading -
The painted desk and our charity
I have a visceral negative reaction when I hear about “charity” these days. I’m not sure my reaction is either healthy or wise, but then again it keeps coming up. I can’t seem to escape it as I travel the country. Maybe someone can set me straight. Think about the following: • When I brought my daughter to visit colleges this past week, all the schools talked about “service.” Indeed, at one university, the tour guide proudly proclaimed that a few “needy students” are brought to the campus green every year to paint their desks with the help of college students. She beamed when telling us how great her fellow co-eds feel about the experience. • I am running into more and more people who have taken or plan to send their kids to Costa Rica (or some other destination) to build housing for the poor. • During my recent visit to New Orleans, I was taken aback by the sheer size of that community’s challenge and yet how long it takes ...continue reading -
Innate goodness of people
Among the key ideas I find myself emphasizing as I travel the country is the following: I believe people are born with innate goodness and they are in search of ways to express it – especially nowadays. This may seem like either pure pablum to some people or obvious to others. But in my travels, neither is true. Indeed, when I remind people of this notion – when I voice it publicly – their faces quickly show a sign of relief and possibility. What I am not suggesting is that evil or bad things don’t exist; we all know they do. But so too does our innate goodness. Of course, this goodness is seen clearly and convincingly from time-to- time when we are called to respond to a major crisis like Hurricane Katrina, or when we witness it in our individual private lives. But in public life the notion of innate goodness is too often missing or even belittled. It has been crowded out by the acrimony and divisiveness thrust upon us; by a politics which ...continue reading -
The Edwards Situation
John and Elizabeth Edwards have tapped into and stirred up an important conversation. It’s about politics, but much more, too. We Americans are thirsty for authentic leaders. So many of us are tired of the false hope and silly bravado of many national figures. Our presidential candidates are packaged through and through, so much to the point that they endlessly try to find ways to make their campaigns more human and believable. But these efforts can further distance the candidates from us when they seem manipulative, which many do. So, last week, the Edwards announced the recurrence of cancer in Elizabeth. There they stood at the Carolina Inn, a place I visited just a couple of months ago, taking questions from a large news media contingent. I suspect many people may have asked, Is this simply a made-up media event? Are they gently trying to manipulate their personal story to win votes? Such questions may make us uncomfortable. ...continue reading -
Thoughts from New Orleans
How is it, I wondered, that we could leave a city in such utter despair and destruction – and for so long? This past week, I traveled to New Orleans for a Hands On Network conference and took two hours to quietly ride through the city. Not too long ago the phrase “shock and awe” was used so cavalierly to describe our military prowess in Iraq; in New Orleans (and perhaps other parts of the Gulf Coast) that phrase applies, too, but only to describe what remains. What I came to know through news accounts failed to prepare me for what I encountered in person. In some areas, the destruction goes on for block after block. Many homes are about to literally fall down. Boards have been ripped off their frames; windows and doors are gone. Parts of New Orleans are unfathomable ghost towns. Many owners have put their homes up for sale; but who among us would buy these homes? On occasion you will find a rebuilt house amid the rubble. From time to time, I could ...continue reading -
"The Relevancy Challenge"
I spent almost all of last week talking about what it meant for organizations to be “relevant” in today’s changing society. On one day alone I met with five different national organizations on this very challenge. On the face of it, the relevancy challenge sounds like it should be an easy one to meet. But it’s not. And yet, it doesn’t have to be this way. Why does the relevancy question even come up? Here’s some of what I hear: • Some organizations know they’re losing or have lost their standing in communities; they are in search of what it means to be “essential”; •Others have burst onto the civic scene, having gained local or national attention, and now wonder how to fulfill rising expectations and still maintain their relevance; •Still other organizations find themselves somewhat outdated and even calcified; they want to respond to changing conditions around ...continue reading -
Finding the 'Sweet Spot'
Increasingly, as I travel the country, I find myself talking about the “sweet spot of public life” – how we can take action on specific issues and build community at the same time. This past week was no different. I spent two days with 40 leaders of local collaboratives in Newark, NJ, good people who are urgently focused on strengthening families and children. The challenges in Newark (and Essex County) are tough, long-standing, often depressing – but doable. In these communities, people often feel that no one speaks for or listens to them. Finding sustainable pathways for improving their local conditions can be hard. People worry that they are being left behind. Truth be told, many people are falling through the cracks. The collaboratives sit at two critical nexus points in relationship to these challenges. They work among people in neighborhoods trying to create change; and they sit in-between “official” city structures and the local ...continue reading -
On this President's Day
On this President’s Day, who is your favorite president? Take a moment to think about that and then write back so we can all see. For me, it’s Abraham Lincoln – hands down. Of course, there have been many U.S. presidents I admire. And there have been some I could do without. How about you? Lincoln , for me, was the most special. Yes, one can cite chapter and verse his leadership during the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address not to mention other achievements. But what emerges most for me is his personal strength in the face of enormous adversity – and I don’t just mean the Civil War. Indeed, his story, as we all know, was not one of an easy journey. History books tell us that he suffered some kind of melancholy; he had to weather the storm of his child’s death while in The White House; he lost multiple elections before getting to The White House; he barely ...continue reading -
Time for self-reflection
The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation is a 4 day journey of personal discovery, new organizational structure for engagement and aspirations for community involvement and hope. The workshop was inspirational and had concrete tools to help us move our communities to a much better place. One of the many kernals of thought that has taken root during this time is the challenge for those of us working in larger organizations to identify key "boundary" spanning groups who can share a vision of community and work together with others for common goals. The ideas, tools, aspirations, and group commitment will help me help others reach our goals. Debbie Bresette, Guest Blogger -
Lab thoughts
I have often wondered what it would be like if we were all moving in one direction, now I know. Brenda Dizon, Guest Blogger -
How does one convey to a broader audience the potential that exists in the public library to transform community?
How does one convey to a broader audience the potential that exists in the public library to transform community? This probably sounds at first like a pretty big assumption for what many people still see as a rather passive institution. But stop to consider the library's assets. Public libraries tend to be institutions that are trusted. This is huge in today's world where there is a tendency to question the motives and intent of private and public institutions. The library has been able to retain this trust in part because it has been able to preserve its heritage of providing service that is very individualized. At the same time it has adopted technologies that enable it to reach a wider mass audience. It's not uncommon for libraries to boast of the fact that more people pass through their doors than many of the most high profile events in their community combined. Libraries tend to be places that all aspects of the community visit on a ...continue reading -
How will online and other electronic commuications impact the capacity of civic life?
In thinking about electronic forms of communication and the implications for civic life, it is important to think about the socialization patterns of today's youth, human development, and the function of community. First of all, today's youth is very different from times past. Where back yard games were once played out with the negotiation of rules and the determination of who was safe and who was out decided by one's peers, we now have organized leagues controlled by some form of adult authority. In truth, children are rarely unsupervised these days. They need day timers to keep track of their schedules and no schedule is made without parental involvement and the guarantee of adult supervision. Whether it is soccer moms or football dads, parents are out there or at least making sure that someone is out there providing "proper" supervision. This means that the determination of who's out and the rules of play are no longer negotiated between peers. ...continue reading -
Prisoner of Hope: Notes from a Would-be Library Innovator
Since my childhood there has always been an impalpable but very real tether binding me to libraries. Though I read often and widely as a child, it was not so much the books, but the physical space that libraries offered—a Bermuda Triangle for the mind of sorts, where readers could unapologetically get swept up in stories and daydreams—that compelled me. I remember my grandmother and I making weekly pilgrimages to the public library. The rows and rows of volumes seemed infinite and in my frustration with the improbability of ever being able to read them all, I would sometimes walk along the shelves lightly toughing the spine of each book as if comprehension could occur simply through osmosis. Every week I read a book that made me want to be something different when I grew up, one week a detective, the next week a fashion designer. In the library I could read about and try on so many lives. The library offered a space for dreaming and for learning how to make those dreams come ...continue reading -
10 questions for public innovators
Are you a public innovator? If you’re reading this, I suspect you are. And I want to engage you on 10 questions I hear from public innovators repeatedly. I’m sending these questions to you just one week before the next Harwood Public Innovators Lab, which we sold out! See what these questions spur in you and write back. 1. How can I position my organization so that it not only provides worthy services or programs, but is catalytic and creates systemic change in the community? 2. How can I genuinely engage other people to see why I’m pursing the path that I am in my work – and when do I decide to keep moving forward despite their resistance? 3. How do I move my organization or group to focus on the tough, underlying questions at hand rather than to reach for the easy answers? And how do I avoid watering down our mission? 4. How do I keep our efforts aligned with the reality of our capacity, so that we have a chance to achieve results, and avoid doing things ...continue reading -
What we owe our people in uniform
I can’t get the pictures from Iraq out of my mind – soldiers who will never come home, others with multiple missing limbs and ingrained psychological trauma. Now, amid the rising hot air of the 2008 presidential campaign, a moment of sanity last week when U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) implored his Senate colleagues to “step up” and confront the Iraq issue squarely. “We owe it to those men and women that we send into that grinder,” he said. Hagel asks nothing short of accounting for our own views, to me the most basic of public acts we must do in public life. In an impassioned two-minute plea, he asked his colleagues: “What do you believe?” “What are you willing to support?” “What do you think?” I do not know questions any more fundamental than these. After all, it is the answers to such questions that reflect our deepest values and expectations; such questions prompt and prod us to reveal our own logic and take stock of our own heart. We can ...continue reading -
Your State of the Union speech
Tomorrow night the president will stride into the House chamber to deliver a challenging State of the Union speech, which could easily be dead on arrival or so soft-peddled it goes flat. But what if you were to deliver the speech – what would be your main talking points? Let’s create the citizen state of the union speech! I ask this because I’m wondering what people really want to hear – that is, how people want to be engaged? It’s clear that people want less rancor and partisanship in public life and politics; it’s also quite clear that there are tough issues before us. Honest to God, the recent rhetoric around “let’s all get along” turns my stomach. It’s the polar opposite of the silly bravado and testosterone-driven shenanigans we’ve seen for all-too-long. Now, instead, we run the risk of false passivity, a kind of wolf in lamb’s clothing that will rise up to bite us all in the rear just when we’ve been told change was in the offing. I’ve ...continue reading -
The Drum Major Instinct
"The Drum Major Instinct" is one of my favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. sermons. It asks, “What does it mean to step forward to lead and serve?” This is especially important for any of us with a burning desire to create change in our society. So, what is the nature of your own path? It's no accident that I waited until the day after official events ended to write about MLK. I often worry about national celebrations like MLK Day – the hoopla, the commentary, the speechifying, the parades. I suppose that's how things in mass culture unfold. But amid all the activity I was reminded of The Drum Major Instinct, the beloved sermon about our own desire to be in front of the parade, to lead, to be recognized. I found myself gravitating toward it all weekend. So, I reached for the sermon and re-read it, yet again, much like I would read a familiar prayer, once more, able to find new meaning as I recited the words, as if for the first time. I have selected a few lines ...continue reading -
In Memoriam: Cole Campbell
This weekend I heard the news that Cole Campbell, dean of the school of journalism at University of Nevada, Reno, was killed Friday when his car overturned on an icy road. Every once in a while you realize we’ve lost someone special who made a true impression on the world, someone who will be remembered for years to come. Cole was such an individual. He was a good friend. During the 1990s when the newspaper industry heard the call to change its ways, Cole was at the forefront of change. I worked with him during his leadership at the Virginian Pilot and St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Some people are smart; he was brilliant. He always ran to embrace the toughest issues – such as the nexus between the role of newspapers and civic health; between the noble traditions of journalism and their applications to Web 2.0; between ethics and winning. Recently I was on a panel at the National Archives which Cole moderated. No one I know could cut through the maze of chatter and ...continue reading -
The best damn advertisement
On Sunday, The Washington Post highlighted a great public school superintendent, someone I want everyone to know. I can’t take credit for anything Jack Dale of Fairfax County, VA has done, but I’m sure glad he’s a Harwood Public Innovators Lab Alum. Here’s what I mean. Fairfax County is one of the biggest school districts in all of America – with 164,000 students, 187 schools, and a $2.1 billion annual budget, according to The Post . It’s a humdinger of a district: it’s huge, very diverse, with lots of vocal parents and competing interest groups. No move by the superintendent goes unnoticed. So, consider those daunting numbers and politics for just a moment. Then consider the picture The Post ran with the article about Jack. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then all you need to see is this one. Upon first glancing at the picture, which is of people in a classroom, I couldn’t really tell who the article was about. First my eye wandered ...continue reading -
MyCivicSpace – please no!
“MyCivicSpace”…you have to admit there’s a nice ring to it. It gives rise to the potential that you, me, and anyone else can create a civic space and own it; we can even customize it to reflect our own personal whims. Makes sense given the times we live in. We have been conditioned to believe that each of us should get what we want, when we want it. But is the idea of MyCivicSpace what we really want – or need? When I talk with people in communities across the country they express a deep urge to create more connectedness and sense of community in our society. Too many of us are fragmented and isolated from one another. So much of what needs to be done to improve our individual and common lives, requires a collective response (e.g., strengthening public schools or improving safety). But for every time someone raises this point, notions of MySpace, FaceBook, and made-to-order Starbucks drinks are invoked. The underlying belief: our response to current conditions must be ...continue reading -
Listen to the voice from Iowa
This past weekend, as I drove up to my house, there on the radio was Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack being interviewed on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. I put the car into park and didn’t move for the next five minutes. Vilsack is the first Democrat to announce his candidacy for U.S. president. His voice is refreshing – and needed. Listen to him and you hear someone who is not so polished and practiced that you’re wondering what he just told you or whether he believes it. Nor does he pretend to be the “anti-politician” from outside Washington, D.C. – with all the usual blustery rhetoric, finger-pointing, and tough talk. Instead, look at his announcement speech and you will find phrases and words such as “let us face the facts” and “let us speak truth” and “that is why I am here today.” He is plainspoken, but not offering up simple solutions. Nor is he simply interested in tilting at windmills. Acknowledging his standing in what will be a crowded ...continue reading -
An oxymoron
The Catholic Worker Movement and the World Bank, now there’s a combination; no, really, I mean it! In fact, I just finished two books about them and they prompt me to share some reflections about change. See what you think. The World’s Banker: A Story of Failed States, Financial Crises, and the Wealth and Poverty of Nations , by Sebastian Mallaby, explores the rise of the larger-than-life bank president Jim Wolfensohn and the bank’s evolving approaches to development. Oh boy, this book is a good read and his presidency (which began in 1995 and ended recently) was quite a ride! Wolfensohn sought to turn the bank’s operations on its head – placing much greater emphasis on poverty reduction, routing out corruption, environmental concerns, and having more “country ownership” over development. But his efforts were often hamstrung, sometimes by resistance within the bank itself, other times by topsy-turvy external conditions, and still other times by plans that were too ...continue reading -
The sneak preview of the American mood
It’s been nearly a week since the mid-term elections. What can we now say about the public mood and the opportunities that lie ahead for forging a different path in public life and politics? Later today, I will participate in a roundtable at the National Archives sponsored by the Kettering Foundation and the presidential libraries on “Democracy’s Challenge: Reclaiming the Public’s Role”; then, this Wednesday, I will host a teleconference on the meaning of the election for public innovators. What shall I say at these events? For starters, we must know that this election was a long time coming; it didn’t just happen and we shouldn’t be surprised. People have held deep and profound anger about the state of American public life and politics for years; and that anger has been coupled with a sense of resignation – that people could not affect change. This was, in part, the topic of my recent book, Hope Unraveled: The People’s Retreat and Our Way Back . Then a series of ...continue reading -
Election day hubris?
Today, news of the impending “Democratic wave” – a big nationwide electoral sweep – surrounds us. But if this victory comes, what will it mean? My biggest fear, and greatest hope, is that Election Day hubris isn’t the ultimate victor. Remember the 1994 mid-term elections when Newt Gingrich swept into office with his Contract with America? I wrote at the time (I believe for MSNBC.com) that Gingrich had sorely misread the American electorate. While people didn’t like how President Clinton was governing the country, they didn’t intend for Gingrich to grab control of the steering wheel, change the direction of the country 180 degrees, and floor the accelerator. Soon enough, Gingrich would learn this ugly lesson. I remember 2004 as well. The day after the election I sat in a small conference room in Madison, WI waiting to go on Wisconsin Public Radio for post-election analysis; there I watched President Bush give his post-Election Day victory speech and claim a broad and ...continue reading -
Man of the Year
The question was, “Should I laugh or be bitter?” while I watched this past Saturday Robin Williams new movie, Man of the Year , in which he plays a Jon Stewart-type character who runs for president. During one telling scene, two of Williams’ aides are found talking about why he’s done so well with the electorate. One aide responds by saying that candidates usually can’t be heard during campaigns because they all sound the same; Williams, he said was heard by people because he genuinely sounded different. But what did he say? Williams’ character spoke the truth about big money, special interests, silly ideas, and misleading rhetoric. He came clean with himself about his own motivations to run and ran because he was willing to lose. Compare this to our current election cycle. Oh yes, I know, many of you are delighted the Democrats might win big on Election Day, while others are concerned about just what that victory might bring. But Williams’ movie is clear and ...continue reading -
Thoughts on Our Way Back – Dateline Binghamton
When do you or I have a voice? Usually this question comes up in relationship to public officials – do they hear us? I’ve spent much of my professional life addressing this challenge. But today my hope is to address you personally – can you hear your own voice? Wherever I go, this powerful and deeply personal question emerges. Just last week when I was visiting Binghamton, N.Y. a young student at Broome Community College said that it wasn’t until she took a recent debate class that she ever truly felt she had a voice. She was trying to tell those of us in the room something basic and important. It is the same point I hear from older people who are high-paid lawyers, stay-at-home moms and dads, non-profit chiefs, and many others. They each say something similar – something very personal. What does it mean to have a voice – at work, in the public realm, with others? Is this challenge we each face simply about gaining power; for instance, is it something you can secure by ...continue reading -
The Mark Foley affair
I came to work today not wanting to write about the Rep. Mark Foley scandal on Capitol Hill. I didn’t want to simply vent over yet another congressional brouhaha. But I find I must turn my attention there. At the very time I am watching the Foley affair unfold, I am reading a book on the meaning of “beauty” – On Beauty and Being Just , by Elaine Scarry. Wow! What a contrast, or is it? The basic point of the book is how something beautiful can help to engage us in thinking about justice; in short, when we come into contact with beauty, we are prompted not only to enjoy that which is beautiful, but also to recognize that which is not present or remains to be done. But how about when we see ugliness? When we peer into ugliness, when we come face-to-face with it, what do we do then? As I watch politicians and pundits respond to the Foley affair, I keep wondering, “How hard is it to respond to this scandal?” Does every issue demand a calculated political response? Watch ...continue reading -
A good voice
Hands-down this is my favorite time of year, when the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur come around. The long services are filled with moving melodies and highly repetitive prayers that penetrate my every being. It is a time for renewal, remembrance, and atonement. Growing up in a small town in upstate New York, there were very few Jews. One of my fondest memories is of my dad serving as our temple’s cantor when he wasn’t working his day job. Each High Holy Day he would stand before the congregation and his lovely heart-felt voice would quietly emerge. Even after all these years, even as I attend my own temple’s services here in Washington, D.C., I can still hear his deeply moving voice. I can still see his gentle leaning into each note, seeking to locate just the right intonation and feeling. He never seemed to try and suggest a sense of sacredness; rather, in those moments, he was sacred. I remember him giving of himself in such a way that made me so ...continue reading -
A deeply personal note
Frank, one of my best friends, worked for Canter, Fitzgerald and was lost in the World Trade Center Towers on 9/11. On this fifth anniversary of that dreadful day, I wonder where we are in our fight against terrorism and in our aspirations to be a better people. But most of all on this day, I keep wondering about him. I met Frank during the first week of my freshman year at Skidmore College. We were eventual roommates, drinking buddies, tennis partners, and political opponents during heated arguments in Case Center over Leonard Silk’s columns in The New York Times business section. He introduced me to the music of the inimitable Billie Holiday and others, too. Just under five years ago I was to speak at my 20th college reunion as my classmates and I were set to dedicate a room in Palamountain Hall to Frank. The day came and I just couldn’t bring myself to go. I stayed home. Like all of us, I remember vividly where I was when I learned of 9/11. I was at home that day too, this ...continue reading -
What Andre Agassi found
I don’t usually write about sports here, but what the heck, I’m a crazy sports fan and I simply can’t pass up shining a bright light on Andre Agassi’s last moments at the U.S. Open this weekend. He lost his match, but in the end he won – big time. He found something we all need. If you haven’t been following the U.S. Open, this was to be Agassi’s last. Throughout weekend TV coverage of the tournament, which by the way takes place in Queens, N.Y. just across from Shea Stadium (the home of my red hot N.Y. Mets!), it was “All Agassi All-the-Time.” Then, after he lost to Benjamin Becker, he took to center court to say these few words to those in Arthur Ashe Stadium and viewers at home: “The scorecard said I lost today, but what it doesn’t say is what it is I have found. And over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I’ve found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed sometimes even in my lowest moments. ...continue reading -
The empty Katrina moment
The face of the young child from the Gulf Coast on the cover of this Sunday’s The New York Times Magazine is haunting. The eight year-old boy looks traumatized, alone, bereft. Inside the A-section of the paper another picture, this one of an animated marching band in New Orleans, along with the caption, “Spirit has returned to much of the city.” As I read the massive number of articles this weekend on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I was left with a decidedly mixed feeling – perhaps more aptly said a decidedly empty one. Americans response to Hurricane Katrina broke all records for charitable giving. That’s simply amazing – more money than in response to the Asian Tsunami; more even than in response to 9/11. In the meantime, our political leaders declared that we would make the Gulf Coast our new battleground to fight poverty, racism, inadequate schools, and other social and political ills. Indeed, post-Katrina, it seemed that we had made an implicit deal with ...continue reading -
Lieberman shockwaves
Shockwaves from the Lieberman fallout continue. Public officials, pundits, and pollsters keep trying to predict the political meaning of the public’s mood. We’ve been here before, they got it wrong then, and I’m afraid they will again. Political observers and handicappers can’t control themselves in analyzing the Lamont-Lieberman results. They tell us that the Iraq war will be the defining issue in the 2006 mid-term elections; that an air of anti-incumbency is sweeping across the nation; and that politicians must now choose between a politics of civility and a politics of hard-edged partisanship if they are to win. What utter nonsense. Where have they been? Indeed, on Friday, Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne on National Public Radio said that the only real reason political shockwaves are moving through America nowadays is because of people’s increasing disgust with the Iraq war. No war, he said, no discussion of citizen unrest! And yet, there have been a series of ...continue reading -
Harnessing mass culture and civic life
If people often feel helpless to change mass culture, can they change public life? I believe they can. But we must first recognize that such change will require that we take a decidedly civic approach, and not merely mimic mass culture, in order to gain people’s attention and engagement. Last week in his blog, Peter Levine, a truly gifted thinker, talked about the link between what he called civic engagement and culture . He surmised, based on Tocqueville, that a heterogeneous mass culture produces a healthy democracy. As he put it, “truly engaged citizens produce diverse cultural products.” Peter went on to say, “But it seems clear that people feel powerless to change mass culture; that feeling demonstrates the tension between mass culture and democracy.” Indeed, as I noted in Open for public business, too, so much of mass culture today has actually become a hyper-individualized culture. Throughout society, we have created mechanisms and opportunities for each of us to ...continue reading -
Who can hear us?
Who can hear us? Here’s my new proposal: anyone who holds a leadership position of any kind should have to speak (let’s say, no less than three times a year) before audiences they know disagree with them, or are even hostile to their views. I’ve been thinking about this idea for awhile; but I was reminded of it again as I watched President Bush speak before the annual NAACP convention last week. For six long years the president refused to make the trek to the NAACP podium. Indeed, NAACP and White House officials have been squabbling since day one of the administration. Who knows exactly who or what started the descent into disrespect? But the political calculations worked out this year and the two groups finally got together. Let’s face it many leaders do everything they can to avoid audiences that hold opposing views. Such venues can be uncomfortable. It’s not unusual to hear leaders offer up contorted and silly explanations for why they can’t make an event. But ...continue reading -
Open for public business, too
What if more and more of us went our own way in public life to pursue our own personal agenda? What if each of us was to find our own news, only to forgo that which doesn’t resonate with us? What if you and I began to see ourselves primarily as individual consumers, with little connection to one another? Crying wolf about such trends won’t cause any of us to take notice or do anything. But something is happening in our society that we must know. In so many ways – some big, others quite small and almost imperceptible – we are moving to a new individualized society. Think back just five years or so ago; our society is a much different place. It is not merely that our society has tended to commoditize everything, from charitable giving to volunteer service to even selling naming rights to public school buildings. It’s that the very notion of aggregated consumers is becoming a misnomer as well; we now live in a “micro world” in which each of us acts as a sovereign ...continue reading -
The consciousness to innovate
“We as a community like to believe that we are catalytic, but truth be told we are sustaining the old (tried & true), therefore impeding real change.” This comment was sent to me by an individual at the Dade Community Foundation (greater Miami area) during a Web cast I led last week for community foundations in the Knight Foundation communities. It’s not often that someone is so direct and honest, let alone in a public setting. But it does happen – and when it does, it’s worth noting. It also reminds me of the recent four-day Harwood Public Innovators Lab in Baltimore. There, an individual turned to the group and said, “I am not ruthlessly strategic in my work.” He really wanted to be, but he realized he wasn’t. Both of these comments deal with our own consciousness about what we see and do. When I hear people make statements like the one on the Web cast or in Baltimore – or when I hear myself make such statements – they aren’t necessarily offered up sheepishly ...continue reading -
31 billion reminders
I don’t know Warren Buffett, but his words and actions this week are worth remembering, and not merely because of his $31 billion gift to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It’s true that $31 billion is a lot of money, no matter how you cut it. And what’s more Buffett didn’t give the money to a foundation that bares his name (he did make much smaller gifts to various family foundations). His sheer generosity is breathtaking. But I am also struck by Buffett’s comments in news accounts. Here are just some of his quotes from a Washington Post story on Tuesday : On a sense of obligation: “We (those who have made money) really owe it to society to give back.” On turning to someone else to manage his funds: “If you’re accumulating wealth, it’s very natural to go to someone you know can handle it better than you can.” On other wealthy people following in his footsteps: “I would hope they act now” and that they “might pick up on this model.” For me, ...continue reading -
A charitable message
Wow! The news today is that we Americans broke yet another record last year in charitable giving to disaster relief. I believe that such giving demonstrates that we are a compassionate and generous people. But charity alone will not enable us to reach our aspirations or achieve the society we all seek. And yet I fear that we are coming to believe that charity is enough. My goal today is not to deride charity. So much good comes of it. But I do believe we can be lulled to sleep by our charitable giving and the messages that the come from charities. We can believe that our charitable efforts get us off the hook for further engagement in the world around us; for applying ourselves to situations that are hard to resolve; for giving of ourselves beyond our checkbook. It is “change” – and not charity – which is fundamentally required in our communities and nation if we are to ensure, for instance, that all kids can get a good education or that people live in healthy ...continue reading -
Finding leaders we respect
I’m often asked by people to name leaders I respect. What follows is my short list. What’s surprising is who is on it – and why. I wonder who makes your list. I offer these names by way of saying that I believe most people who go into leadership do so for good and noble reasons. That’s been my experience. But what happens to these individuals along the way is another story. People get caught up in their power; they lose sight of their roots and connections; they find themselves overwhelmed by forces acting upon them. They can seem more interested in pursuing their own personal interests, vendettas, and agendas than they are in acting for the public good. But it doesn’t have to be this way. I hold a deepening respect for a growing collection of individuals who are blazing an alternate path – and who might be viewed as strange bedfellows: Lindsey Graham, the conservative Republican U.S. senator from South Carolina, who routinely speaks out on tough issues, even when he ...continue reading -
The Al Gore fable
Al Gore is in the news again. But this time he’s not being roundly criticized for donning earth tone clothes or for his wooden speechmaking. Rather, we’re witnessing his civic redemption, and it’s worth noting for the insights each of us can gain. After Gore lost the 2000 presidential election, he reappeared on the public scene masked in a heavy beard and some additional weight. Many pundits found much to mock in him – from his comments about “inventing the Internet,” to his poor campaigning style, to his new look. But to his credit, Gore went off and found inspiration in a collection of activities that called him to step forward anew. He launched a TV initiative as well as joined the boards of intriguing companies. He put together a series of hard-hitting speeches on critical issues of our time. He responded to the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Most recently, he is gaining attention for his new documentary, An Inconvenient Truth , about the perils of global warming, ...continue reading -
A day at the Lab - Taylor Willingham
Taylor Willingham, a participant in the Spring 2006 Public Innovators Lab that The Harwood Institute hosted last week, has written a blog entry on her experiences. It's a great piece that gives you a good idea of what a day in the Lab is like. If you're interested, I encourage you to check it out . -
Some thoughts on the 3 A's - Gail Hayes
As a funder involved in neighborhood transformation and family strengthening, Rich’s concept of 3 A’s for public innovators – authority, authenticity, and accountability – is invaluable. To be both authentic and accountable while at the same time speaking with authority that comes only from a deep understanding of the neighborhood is the gold standard that neighborhood-based funders should seek to uphold. Communities deserve no less from us. The accountability covenant requires us to make promises that we can keep, to make claims of success that we back up, to celebrate the milestones along the journey, and to put our contribution in perspective The authenticity covenant requires us to keep the work deeply rooted in the desires and experiences of the people – not linked to the cause of the week. Community residents have a keen sense of what rings true and false – we need to seek out and trust their instincts The authority covenant is two-fold – we should seek a deep ...continue reading -
10 questions for public innovators
I’ll be leading our Public Innovators Lab this week in Baltimore, Md., which always brings to a head some fundamental questions about people’s efforts to create change in communities. Here are some questions I hear over and over again from public innovators. See what they spur in you. How can I get other people to see why I’m pursing the path that I am in my work? How can I position, or reposition, my organization so that it’s not only providing worthy services or programs but is in the business of being catalytic and creating deep change? How do I move my organization or group beyond simply embracing the easy answers through the programs we pursue, the uses of technology we adopt, the events we stage, and get us focused on the hard work that is required to bring about change? How do we avoid watering down our mission? How do I keep our efforts aligned with the reality of our capacity, so that we have a real chance to achieve results, instead of frittering away time and ...continue reading -
Thoughts on Our Way Back - Dateline Youngstown
Last week I saw the face of America’s future, and it was a good one. Most of us know Youngstown, Ohio, for everything it has lost over the years; now, we can take a cue from something it has gained. Get to know the new mayor, Jay Williams. In 1999, my colleagues and I wrote a report with the support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation about Youngstown, entitled Waiting for the Future . Back then Youngstown was a community stuck in place, mired by parochialism and mistrust. One man there told me, “I don’t see much hope here.” Others said they were waiting for a knight in shining armor to ride into town and save them. Not exactly a recipe for progress. Today, much work remains to be done. Just drive around town – as I did with my host Margaret Murphy, the courageous executive director of Wick Neighbors, Inc, a community development corporation – and you’ll still see a town in trouble. When I recently returned to speak in Youngstown to give an update on the ...continue reading -
Connecting to Jane Jacobs
The headline on the front page of this Sunday’s New York Times Week in Review section roared “Outgrowing Jane Jacobs.” The piece suggests that Jacobs’ view of community life is outdated, even quaint, and not so relevant anymore. While part of this argument may be right, the heart of it is wrong. I still remember when I read Jane Jacobs’ classic, The Death and Life of Great American Cities . I was an undergraduate at Skidmore College; I read it again in graduate school. Now, every so often, I take my weathered copy off the bookshelf to re-learn another point. Jane Jacobs, who recently passed away, detailed the vibrant and interconnected lives of people in neighborhoods, and helped a generation or more of people interested in community to think hard about what brings about and sustains community life. So here comes Nicolai Ouroussoff, who suggests, rightly so I believe, that “the threats facing the contemporary city are not what they were when [Jacobs] first formed her ...continue reading -
Inherent struggles
It’s no secret that measuring progress presents fundamental questions about what we value. The problem for me is that too often we rush through these questions because they raise imbedded conflicts, make us incredibly uncomfortable, reveal different world views – or because we miss them. David Hooker, the vice president for community building at the Center for Working Families in Atlanta, raised one such dilemma in his comments. He asked, “What if the measures we can make and the measures that are acceptable to funding sources either don’t inform our work or, worse yet, are fundamentally incompatible with the long-term success of the community?” I suspect that his simply asking this question has many of you jumping up and down, exclaiming, “Yes, what if…!” Part of the issue here is how different people define progress. Indeed, can we articulate what is most important to each of us in making progress? More to the point is the matter of how we even conceive of ...continue reading -
Legitimate engagement - Reggie Lewis
My recent participation in a two-day discussion in Nevada on a unique opportunity to convene a community to deliberate on the use of charitable dollars led to some unexpected soul-searching. Just how does one have authentic conversations in a given community? How do you invite a representative group to a table with the premise that all will have equal say and enjoy the ability to act as equals? The Community Conference, co-sponsored by The Harwood Institute and the Nevada Community Foundation, in March provides a useful framework to consider for any community faced with similar questions. In responding to these questions, I offer my insights gained from the experience. First, one must be prepared to have a real conversation in a community, particularly with those most affected by challenges and issues of concern. A conversation is “real” or authentic when the sponsors of the discussion want to listen and hear the views represented in a community, even if such thinking does ...continue reading -
The prime goal - Nancy Wilson
My father has spent a career exploring what makes managers effective. The quote of his that rings in my ears is, “Without a goal, you can’t plan. Without a plan, you can’t manage.” And, in my 20 years of for-profit and non-profit work experience, management and measurement go hand in hand. The question for me from the Las Vegas Community Conference isn’t “to measure or not to measure?” The question is, “What to measure?” By all means they need to measure, and the starting point is their goals. After informing themselves on the many challenges faced by their rapidly growing city, Community Conference members seemed to identify one goal as the first among many priorities, and that is to build the sense of community that will allow the community to understand itself, to care for itself, to make tradeoffs for itself. The assumption underlying their goal setting is that shared values and commitment to sense of community is the sine qua non without which all of ...continue reading -
Expanding on metrics - David Hooker
Rich, I fundamentally agree with everything you have said and the concerns you have raised. I actually want to expand on those concerns. During my 20+ year career as a conflict transformation specialist and community convener, I have often argued that there must be some (I would suggest high) value placed on process measures — transparency, efforts at collaboration, values driven processes. And yet, good process is never a substitute for process. What impressed me at the Nevada Community Foundation’s Authentically Community Advised Funds Conference was the constant struggle with the questions concerning what to measure and how to measure it. But there was another question that has concerned me even more since I left the conference: What if the measures we can make and the measures that are acceptable to funding sources either don’t inform our work or, worse yet, are fundamentally incompatible with the long-term success of the community? This is an example of what I ...continue reading -
Metrics "R" Us
Here’s the conundrum for us. Suppose someone were to give you a pot of money to work on a key challenge in your community. How would you know you’ve made a difference? How much change would you be willing to bet could be created in maybe two to three years? Every day we are told to be successful. We hear this relentless mantra in TV ads, magazine stories, even from Donald Trump and Martha Stewart. Indeed, we’re expected to create change seemingly overnight, and all with aplomb. In the world of civic change, the notion of metrics – of being able to measure success – is everywhere. The guardians of money want to know they’re getting a big bang for their buck. I’ve long condemned the metrics mongers who oftentimes demand unrealistic results from change efforts. But I have been equally critical of those who say that outputs from civic work cannot be measured because somehow we’re engaged in “God’s work” – endeavors too important to be put to the measurement test. ...continue reading -
Which leaders do you stand beside?
Wherever I go on my book tour, one of the most pressing questions I get is this one: How can we find the leaders we seek? People’s disgust with the quality of leadership in the country, and in their local communities, is palpable and deep. What can we do? First off, I am always quick to say that our leaders in Washington, D.C., will not the lead the way forward. In fact, I believe they will be the last ones to join in building improved conditions in public life and politics. They are too mired in their acrimonious and divisive ways; and they are too concerned with pursuing their own personal agendas, personal interests, and personal vendettas. I believe they can hardly see their way clearly to alternate paths in public life and politics. But I am equally quick to ask the following question of the rest of us: How well do we support the good leaders in our communities? For instance, how often, when a leader comes under fire, do we: Step forward to literally stand beside the ...continue reading -
A good man
A good man, Gil Thelen, the publisher of the Tampa Tribune , retired last week, and it’s worth pausing today to think about his work and our own work. In my travels, I have known few people like Thelen who have been able to so authentically combine a sense of integrity, grittiness, innovation, and commitment to his profession and public life. Some of you know that Thelen serves on The Harwood Institute board. I tell you that not because I feel compelled to heap praise on one of my board members; rather, you should know that he is a board member because of his life-time worth of experience and the virtues he spreads daily. In a statement he sent around to colleagues and friends last week, Thelen used the word “joy” to describe his work. He said, “There must be joy in making the paper if customers are going to find joy in reading it.” He then called his colleagues “joy makers.” Thelen is 67 years old. I don’t know very many people – of any age – who think of their ...continue reading -
Civic spirituality
When I was speaking at the LBJ Presidential Library last week, a woman rose from her chair to ask me if I had links on our Web site to various spiritual and religious thinkers. I had mentioned earlier in my talk that I believe America is in desperate need of a new kind of “civic spirituality.” I responded by saying that we didn’t have links to such thinkers – and I didn’t think we would. I noted that such thinkers are important and that many Americans look to them for guidance. ( See “Can religion bring us together?” ) My belief is that we need a civic spirituality in America. The two words placed together – almost an oxymoron these days – is the power and currency I’m looking for. Civic spirituality calls us to belong to the civic realm; it asks us to see ourselves as belonging to something larger than ourselves; it would have us hold a belief in the innate goodness of people – even, maybe especially, as we see and experience evil and unfettered materialism ...continue reading -
Some responses on public innovation
Last week, I wrote about my sense of urgency for there to be more public innovation in society if we are to improve public life and politics. Today, I want respond to three comments from people who wrote me. David Marsters from Vermont wrote in response to one of my blogs, that too many of us “worship relentlessly at the altar of efficiency.” I agree David. Our desire to prove just how efficient we are oftentimes distorts our very efforts at innovating. Take, for instance, how much time is required to generate real, meaningful change. The push for efficiency can lead us to set timetables and benchmarks that defy any notion of reality. When we’re not careful, our drive for results can produce nothing better than the peddling of more false hope in public life. Still, those of us who seek to innovate must be prepared to talk about how we can make our efforts more effective and efficient. For me, at issue is how we envision change and whether we will have the gumption to step ...continue reading -
Public innovators: Drivers of change
What’s going to drive public innovation in public life and politics? People will. In the final analysis, we need public innovators to imagine a different path, to build different kinds of mechanisms, to create organizations that are catalytic, to create the conditions for a more robust public life and politics. Recently, my colleagues and I looked back over nearly 20 years of Harwood Institute work, and one of the key insights we gained was that all of our successful work was fueled by a very particular kind of person. These individuals combined, in different ways, a collection of characteristics. I’ll summarize these characteristics in three ways: They are driven by their ideals and aspirations – these were not magically implanted in them or simply gleaned from a book. These individuals came to us already jazzed. They are pragmatic in their approach to public life and politics. They do not allow their ideals and aspirations to make them mushy or overly sentimental. They ...continue reading -
Creating organizations that innovate
Imagine you’re trying to create change in a community, and you need a civic-minded organization or group ready to innovate. Imagine, too, that each of the organizations you have in mind has a strategic plan; is guided by sophisticated benchmarks to measure impact; and their staffs have attended conferences on some of the latest management theories. Unfortunately, too often the gap between good management and public innovation is far too wide. This week I’ve been writing about the need for public innovation in public life and politics. It’s needed so that people and communities can create more pathways to tap their own potential and join together to make a difference. But not just any organization is ready to innovate. We need more of them ready to go. Most organizations are guided by good intentions. But too many of our civic-minded organizations – whether they be community foundations, United Ways, newspapers and public broadcasting, art-based groups, local education ...continue reading -
Mechanisms in public life
I want to start today in a place you might think I would not begin: our need to create good mechanisms in public life and politics. The urgency for public innovation in this particular area is great; we need more mechanisms within society to help us produce real change and foster hope within people. My fear is that too often we fail to meet both these tests. Every day people are creating what I am referring to as mechanisms. Civic organizations and news media create public forums, processes, and other initiatives through which people can speak out; new online platforms offer ways for people to talk together, volunteer, offer their views, and meet up with like-minded folks; foundations create new benchmarks to drive progress and shape the daily work of organizations and individuals. Time and again people and organizations are developing mechanisms to give people voice, harness capacities, and direct energies. The problem is that there is an important distinction to be made between ...continue reading -
Why we need public innovation
Folks, we need a new kind of public innovation in our communities if we are to make the progress in public life and politics we all seek. Just last week, a person from California who is working to create change in that state made the following observation: people will decide to join with him almost as a matter of faith, or they will retreat because their rational mind tells them that everything in public life is too overwhelming to effect. What’s our response to be? Experience tells me that many, many Americans know they want change in public life and politics. But I also find people believe that their current path of engagement is not the right one; and yet, they cannot always see an alternative that makes sense to them. Indeed, people often find themselves stymied, frustrated, sometimes even stuck in place. The result: people either retreat or keep doing what they already know. This is a dilemma for many community foundation staff, United Way leaders, school ...continue reading -
Can religion bring us together?
This past week in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, I was asked the same question three different times, in three different places, in a matter of hours: “Can religion bring us together in public life and politics?” My response: Yes, but many on the right, and now on the left, must change. The questions came amid the recent turmoil here and overseas over the cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. Surely, none of us need to be reminded that religion has been a focal point for social upheaval, war and division from generation to generation. This much we know. So, what about today – as so many people have retreated from public life and politics – can religion help to bring us together in the U.S.? Not if so many people insist on using religion as a political weapon. Indeed, for decades now, some people and groups on the religious right have sought to frame public debate in highly divisive, acrimonious ways. They have manufactured “wedge” issues to win political battles at any ...continue reading -
Newspapers: Innovate or die
At an Alabama event last week for journalists, I was promoted as the “conscience of community.” But my own conscience told me I had missed the mark in my talk. If I could do it all over again, here’s what I’d say about the future of newspapers in America, plain and simple. I want to be clear; I offer these 10 steps because I care deeply about newspapers. I’ve been working with major metro and small town newsrooms, the national Journalism Values Institute, and other efforts since the mid-1980s. Even with the advent of the Internet, cable TV, and other news sources – no, especially because of their rise – I believe society needs newspapers to help people and communities make their way in the world. So, here are my 10 steps newspapers must take to survive and flourish. First, newspapers have lost their readers and are losing their soul. They must regain their relevance in people’s lives and reinvigorate their bottom line. Both steps are imperative. But this will ...continue reading -
The big Super Bowl winner: Detroit!
Take a poll this morning, and most of us will know the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl last night. But they’re not the only big winner today; no, the host city of Detroit is perhaps the biggest winner of all. I can’t recall a city that has gained so much from hosting a big event. Detroit – the U.S.’s poorest big city – was in the news almost every day leading up to the Super Bowl. Millions of dollars were spent to get the city ready, and there was much talk about the city’s recent progress. Many people who heard these positive messages may have said to themselves, “Is this the Detroit I know?” I was in Detroit a number of weeks ago, and I could see both the decay that has set in over many years and the pockets of renewal that have taken shape. At each TV commercial break last night, ABC showed Detroit aglow – not with riots or acrimonious political debates that have been big storylines for the city, but with the lights of its skyline all lit up. The ...continue reading -
The State of Our Union - Listening to Nobody
I watched President Bush and Governor Kaine last night in total shock and awe. Surely, they can’t believe the American people buy what they’re peddling. And members of Congress who keep howling and standing and clapping, surely they must know their posturing is silly. What about the real America? There were three phrases that framed last night’s speeches: “There is no honor in retreat;” America is a “hopeful society;” and there is “no higher calling than serving others.” Wow! Too bad each of these phrases was maligned, abused, mangled, and appropriated. The problem is this: I’ve crisscrossed the nation now six times in the last 15 years, and these three phrases, as they were used, simply distort people’s reality. Let’s take each phrase one at a time: “There is no honor in retreat” – true enough. This phrase framed a huge portion of the president’s message. Unfortunately, much of America is in retreat. As I’ve outlined in Hope Unraveled , Americans ...continue reading -
The State of Our Union - Questions to Consider
Tonight the president and a Democratic counterpart, Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, will offer a State of the Union Address. At issue: simply more politics, or a message that engages the American people? Here are four questions for you to use in watching tonight. They come from my travels across the country. I urge you to watch, think about these questions, and log back on to share your thoughts. Do you believe the president and the Democratic leader are in pursuit of truth? Do you feel the leaders tonight are genuinely seeking to be forthright, to reflect people’s reality and what we must do to move ahead and the potential costs? Or, are they somehow distorting, or playing with the truth for their own gain? (Read "In Search of Truth" ) Do you believe the president and the Democratic leader ask us to see one another? In what ways do the leaders ask us to see the concerns and aspirations of others in our society, especially those different from ourselves? Specifically, what do they ...continue reading -
The State of Our Union – The Pursuit of Happiness
The notion of personal sovereignty is an enormously powerful idea – and a potentially dangerous one. It signals to us that we as individuals can go our own way, do our own thing, and be our own person. Or, as the U.S. Army used to say, “Be all you can be!” The idea is deeply embedded in the current definition of consumerism that has grabbed hold of the American imagination. Nowadays we consumers expect to get what we want, when we want it, at the highest quality and the lowest cost – and if we don’t like something, we can return it without any questions asked. Self-fulfillment has been part of the American landscape since our nation’s founding. But I often wonder if Jefferson had the same notion of the “pursuit of happiness” when he wrote that phrase into the Declaration of Independence as we do today. As we all know, Jefferson had a strong belief in the role of “informed citizens” in society. Take apart that phrase and you end up with two key ideas: individuals ...continue reading -
The State of Our Union - Who among us do we see?
As our society fragments and people retreat into close-knit circles of family and friends, we must wrestle with a fundamental question. The question is where do we fit, and thus who among us do we see? Right now, many of us believe we fit into close-knit circles, along with others who are similar to us. When people come together, it is often for the purpose of pursuing their pre-set agenda, without even considering at times the views or needs or aspirations of others. We can go about our lives and almost be able to shut everything and everyone out that we do not want to see. Who among us do we see? This is, at its essence, a Biblical question from the prophets, and it still calls us today. I have been thinking about this question more and more as I travel the country and listen to people’s stories and try to find meaningful approaches for creating an alternate path for our public life and politics. We are up against some powerful forces. Our economy has gone global and so too ...continue reading -
The State of Our Union – Do Political Leaders Care?
Today, to what extent do we believe our political leaders care about the state of our union? And how would we ever know given their hyperbolic rhetoric and constant need to draw attention to themselves? In the past few weeks alone we have witnessed a collection of political gyrations that makes one head spin with dismay and turn our stomachs sick. The examples come from both political parties – there is no red/blue divide on this matter! Take, for instance, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s remarks at an MLK Day service at Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in Harlem at which she used the word “plantation” to describe how the House of Representatives is run. Or, how about Mayor C. Ray Nagin’s remarks about the plight and future of New Orleans, saying that God wants New Orleans to be a “chocolate city” and that the recent hurricanes are because “God is mad at America.” Then there is the constant drumbeat of incredulous responses to the Jack Abramoff scandal. Now ...continue reading -
The State of Our Union – In Search of Truth
To what extent do we as a society value truth today – and when is escapism okay, and when does it undermine our need to square with reality? What is the state of our union when it comes to truth? In recent days, we have heard much hoopla about James Frey’s best-selling memoir A Little Million Pieces , in which he fabricated part of his personal story. Beyond the outcry, some people, like his publisher and Oprah Winfrey, have stood by the work. Or, take the incredible proliferation of television realty shows, which now dominate air waves. Shows like “Extreme Makeover” suggest to us that anything goes – you can change your clothes, your hair, even your God-given features, all in an attempt to be someone you’re not. It’s hard to even know nowadays what’s news and what’s opinion, with so-called “journalists” becoming more and more willing to mix their own views into broadcasts, hype stories for ratings, and preferring to talk about issues with a panel of fellow ...continue reading -
Building Community Spirit
What makes a community worth belonging to? In this day-and-age is it mostly bricks and mortar, or is there something greater, more substantial? New Orleans is reminding us of the answer. Ever since Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast, various discussions have occurred about how to revive areas like New Orleans. We’ve seen a steady stream of forums, white papers, lengthy reports, and statements. Last week we learned that plans are being put in place to rebuild the entire city, including the heavily damaged ninth ward. The focus of these efforts has often been on the concrete – literally, bricks and mortar. But just yesterday came a new report on rebuilding New Orleans, one that went beyond bricks and mortar and highlighted the need to tend to the community’s spirit. As reported in the New York Times , the plan lays out how New Orleans can restore its pool of creative talent and regenerate its arts and cultural traditions – all in an effort to resuscitate its heart. ...continue reading -
Thoughts on Our Way Back – Dateline Atlanta
Earlier this week I had the good fortune of meeting an angel. Her name no less was Katrina. She brought a message about the poverty in our midst. Katrina – or Miss Trina as local folks like to call her – is a slim African American woman who works in the tucked away, poverty-ridden Atlanta neighborhood of Pittsburgh. She makes her home just one neighborhood over. After my talk on Tuesday night, Katrina showed me and two of my colleagues around Pittsburgh. As you travel the streets you see abandoned homes are everywhere. Trash and wrecked cars dot the landscape. Street corners are filled with young men with no place to go. Amid this despair, there are signs of rebuilding. In fact, as we drove around and talked, Katrina’s voice grew with anticipation as she led us, ultimately, to a house on a dark corner. It was the house that she had built, as a single mother, with her own sweat equity. She told us that when she lived in the house she couldn’t sleep most nights due to ...continue reading -
Thoughts on Our Way Back – Dateline Newark
Yesterday, the headline of USA Today’s top story read, “Katrina inspires record charity.” That’s great – but as I sit in Newark, NJ, I know it’s not enough. We are a society that is awfully good at charity, but not nearly good enough at change. I have long believed that Americans are a generous and compassionate lot. Our response to 9/11 was heart-warming. Now, after the Asian Tsunami and then Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, as well as other tragedies, we have demonstrated that we will step forward and provide relief to people in acute need. Indeed, Americans are apt to respond when they see a concrete problem, when there is something they can do, and when they believe the problem is relevant to their lives. But I have a concern – a burning one. Just last night I did an event here in Newark, and just last week I was in the Twin Cities. No matter where I go, I hear people lament that we cannot generate meaningful change in our communities. Too many substandard ...continue reading -
The Enemy of the Public Good
At a recent Independent Sector conference, Sterling Speirn, the new president of the Kellogg Foundation, asked: “Who is the enemy of civic engagement?” I have an answer. The enemy is the various mechanisms for manipulation in public life that we have turned into a perverse science. Everyday we employ panoply of marketing and market-segmentation techniques that pin-point messages to different audiences and manipulate people’s fears. We use the techniques because we believe it is the way to WIN. But I believe these techniques are the enemy of the public good. They make our public discourse devoid of meaning and give rise to meaningless sound bites; they separate us into warring camps, rather than seek ways to build a common future. The enemy is the way in which we seek to monetize the public good at every turn in our society. Here’s one example: at a recent conference on aging, someone asked me and the other speakers if the government should provide tax credits or incentives ...continue reading -
Finding Authentic Hope in a Miserable Mess
Today, Scooter Libby, Vice President Cheney’s chief of staff, was indicted. Those on the political left are calling for heads to roll. Yesterday, those on the political right made their claim to the Supreme Court by undermining the nomination of Harriet Miers, who finally withdrew. Meanwhile, the national debate over “poverty” in the weeks after Hurricane Katrina is now nowhere to be heard; finger-pointing and blame-placing are the new order of business. And while we can’t seem to rebuild the Gulf Coast, more and more people are wondering how we can continue efforts to rebuild Iraq. All of this tumult led a reporter on National Public Radio yesterday to say that President Bush is close to being a lame-duck president, if he isn’t already, only some 300 days into his second term. The Democrats, the so-called opposition party, seem only to know what they are against: They are anti-Republican. It is less clear what, if anything, they stand for. Why am I going through this ...continue reading -
Thoughts on Our Way Back – Dateline Pittsburgh /Portland
I want to return to a topic I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, and which keeps coming up in my travels across the country: the trap of becoming mechanistic in our public work . Last week, I was in Pittsburgh to talk with state directors and senior staff of the national organization Communities in Schools; this is an incredibly dedicated group of people working to make sure that all kids are prepared for their futures. For the last two days I have been in Portland. CIS, like so many groups, is wrestling with how to scale up their ideas (thought not necessarily their organization) in order to expand and deepen their positive impact in the lives of children. And the pursuit of their dreams requires them to make a host of very difficult decisions and trade-offs. In the past two weeks I have found myself talking about the need for those of us working in public life to understand just how mechanistic we have become in our efforts. Part of this dilemma is that the more we undertake, for ...continue reading -
Thoughts on Our Way Back - Dateline Las Vegas
During one of my book events this week in Las Vegas, a person asked me about how I see race playing into the issues surrounding the people’s retreat from public life and politics. I believe it plays a big role, and it is an issue we must squarely address in our society. The person asking the question meant race in terms of blacks and whites. I recognize that there are larger issues at work in terms of race and ethnicity other than the separation of blacks and whites, but today I want to limit my response to this framing because it was the context of the initial question. The very fact that so many Americans have retreated from public life and politics makes dealing with race more difficult in our current times. We are cloistered in our close-knit circles of families and friends, among people who look and sound and think much like ourselves. Whites and blacks may be more separated today than at any point in time I have been doing this work. Then there is the issue of how one ...continue reading -
Thoughts on Our Way Back - Dateline Las Vegas
As I travel the country talking about Hope Unraveled and the conditions of American public life and politics, inevitably someone asks, “It’s all so overwhelming, what could I ever do to make a difference?” The negative conditions we face, and the sheer magnitude of the challenge, can be overwhelming. I remember a woman from Richmond, VA., one of the people I interviewed for the book in 1998, turning to me and saying, “If you look at the whole picture of everything that is wrong, it is so overwhelming you just retreat back.” Many people share her feelings and sense of frustration. But my response to the question about what each of us can do is this: none of us alone can “solve” the negative conditions in public life and politics; there is too much work to be done. But each us can do our part. And it is only through our collective actions that change will emerge. For different people, such actions will take different forms. For instance: Foundation officers and ...continue reading -
Thoughts on Our Way Back - Dateline Seattle
I’m writing from Seattle where I released my new book, Hope Unraveled: The People’s Retreat and Our Way Back . What strikes me most in my conversations with people is the extent to which we have become mechanistic in our response to a fundamentally human condition. Here’s what I mean. Over the last four days, I have been attending the national Conference on Foundations Community Foundation annual conference. I have spent 15-hour days talking with community foundation executives about the condition of the country, what we need to do to pursue an alternate path in public life and politics, and the role community foundations can play. There are incredible people here, individuals who care deeply about their communities and the effectiveness of their programs. But as I talked with folks here, and think about some of my conversations with people before arriving here, I am struck by how mechanistic we have become in response to trying to engage people in public life and politics ...continue reading -
Pledges We Must Keep
This Sunday we will mark the fourth anniversary of 9/11. I hold vivid memories of seeing in response to that tragedy Republican and Democratic members of Congress join hands on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and sing God Bless America. What came of our response, and what can we learn in the wake of Hurricane Katrina? You’ll recall that after 9/11 numerous pledges were made. You could hear people say that our politics would become more productive; news media coverage would become more serious and accurate; and more citizens would become more engaged in community and public affairs. I’m sure you remember the U.S. flag decals on cars, the blood donations, the singing of patriotic hymns at ballgames and other public events, and the flag pins in newscasters’ lapels. These were indeed potent signs of people’s concern and their desire to act. But now we know that we did not fulfill all the pledges we made – at least not over time. In fact, next week I will release my new book, ...continue reading -
Faces of Tragedy, Faces of Grace
Just a couple of weeks ago I was in New Orleans sitting at the counter of the tiny Clover Grill with my family. Earl, our waiter, told me his place had never closed during a hurricane. Today, I hope that he and his lovely place were able to make it through this latest nightmare. I vividly remember Earl and his funny, spirited stories about New Orleans and its people. Earl was black; and so too were many of the people who could not or did not get out of New Orleans in time. Many of their faces we now see plastered on the front pages of newspapers and across our television screens looting stores and bitterly complaining about their plight. One response from “officials” is that they will deal “ruthlessly” with lawlessness and looting. On one level, that makes sense. Such behavior cannot be condoned. But there is something else at work in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast of America. There are people – poor people, often African Americans – who are now stranded in a ...continue reading -
Still Sticking Around?
Have you noticed that a lot of people still have their bumper stickers on their cars from the ’04 election? What’s that about? An article about the bumper stickers in Sunday’s Washington Post includes an argument from Marshall Blonsky, a professor of semiotics at New York’s Parson School of Design, about why the stickers remain. According to the article: Personal identity is growing increasingly weak, Blonsky argues, and a political label "turbocharges" a weak identity -- as with any team membership (and endless rivalries). With our stickers still up, our war paint is still on -- and, truth be told, the war's not over because the war's not over. It’s funny, I’ve been wondering about the ’04 bumper stickers for some time now. I see them everywhere – both Bush and Kerry - even some for Nader. After most elections it seems that people rip them off after the requisite period of mourning or celebration; but not after this last one. Of course, there are some ...continue reading -
Follow the Bouncing Ball
Yesterday, Bob Huggins, University of Cincinnati men’s basketball coach, was canned by Nancy Zimpher, UC president. Good for her. Now the real test begins. Huggins’ teams over the years consistently had repulsively low graduation rates. His players constantly got into trouble. None of this was ever a secret. The real problem is why did it take UC so long to act? Indeed, why do so many colleges and universities view their athletes simply as commodities to use, exploit, spit out, and leave behind? Lots of people will argue over whether Huggins’ departure was fair. Sports commentator extraordinaire Dick Vitale, whom I enjoy, was hammering all day yesterday that Huggins was being treated unfairly. But here’s how this situation connects to my work here at the Institute and what I what to know: Will UC president Nancy Zimpher truly follow through? For instance, will she: Ensure that ballplayers recruited for UC sports are qualified students? Provide the kind of real ...continue reading -
Finding Ourselves In Cultural Geography
I’m heading off for vacation tomorrow wondering just how different we all are from each other. David Brooks, the New York Times columnist, whom I love to read, did another piece yesterday on cultural geography, or what might be called, the “divided America.” Brooks wrote: Forty-million Americans move every year, and they generally move in with people like themselves, so as the late James Chapin used to say, every place becomes more like itself. Crunchy places like Boulder attract crunchy types and become crunchier. Conservative places like suburban Georgia attract conservatives and become more so. Not long ago, many people worked on farms or in factories, so they had similar lifestyles. But now the economy rewards specialization, so workplaces and lifestyles diverge. The military and civilian cultures diverge. In the political world, Democrats and Republicans seem to live on different planets. It’s true that we all tend to move near people who are like us. But does ...continue reading -
Tavis Talks, We Should Listen
Tavis Smiley hit the nail on the head in his recent take on the current public broadcasting brouhaha. The debate is about bias, but not the kind that is often talked about. In his Sunday Washington Post piece, entitled Left? Right? Wrong! The Misguided CPB Debate , Smiley wrote: While Washington talks about ideological balance, Americans hunger to see programming that reflects their experience and inspires their lives. Finally, we’re getting some place! For years my own studies of various news media, and my work with journalists in scores of newsrooms, has led me to believe that much of the debate over journalists’ bias has been misguided. For sure, in recent years, some news outlets, such as FOX, have a particular political bent. But there is a more insidious bias in the new media, one that comes through clearly, for instance, in my upcoming book, Hope Unraveled, to be released this September. What I have consistently heard Americans upset about when they talk about ...continue reading -
Red/Blue Reality?
What happens when you cross “Fear Factor” and American politics? You get the new reality TV show “Red/Blue.” Are you ready? I really wonder what you think about this one. Some political consultants, supported by the TV production firm whose parent company has brought us “Fear Factor” and “Big Brother,” hope to put a dozen or so budding political consultants in a Georgetown townhouse. Much like MTV’s “Real World,” the place will be wired with cameras to catch the contestants’ every move. And I’m sure there will be lots of “moves,” with the various consultants each trying to out maneuver the others; each one attempting to demonstrate their skills; each one seeking to out muscle the other. What they’ll do is to emulate the real thing – that is, the real world of political consultants. Will “Red/Blue” offer us any hope? Will it generate any sense of possibility? No, it is likely to make a mockery of people’s deep concerns about politics and ...continue reading -
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What's The Story In Flint?
Ever hear someone talk about Flint, Michigan? Usually they’ll mention Michael Moore and then focus on how down and out the city is. But there’s more to the story of Flint. Last week, I went to Flint to wrap up over seven years of work with people in the community I have come to deeply admire. During these years, we have seen countless changes, including the following: When we started, people in the community said that they trusted few leaders; now there is a cadre of recognized leaders, many of whom went through our public leadership school. The leadership school now has a faculty made up of Flint leaders and is now housed at the local United Way, so that others in Flint can learn and benefit from it. There were few organizations in the community people trusted when we began; now, there are dozens of organizations that people say are working in the interest of the community, not just pursuing their own agenda. Indeed, today, there are also eight organizations – from ...continue reading -
The Voices of Red and Blue
When discussing my work over the years, I have often told people, “When I’m talking with a group of citizens, if I close my eyes and listen, I often find it impossible to tell whether the person speaking is a Republican or a Democrat, the region of the country they’re from, or their income or education.” I’m sure you’ve read those very words in this space before. Often this comment is met with polite skepticism. At a time when we are constantly reminded of the divisions facing our society, it’s understandable that people wonder, “How can this be?” Last month, I conducted two focus groups on similar topics in two very different areas of the country – one suburban and strongly Republican, the other an urban Democratic stronghold. As I listened, I again found it difficult to tell people apart across the divides. But, to steal a phrase from Reading Rainbow, you don’t have to take my word for it. I’ve put together some sample quotes, one from each group, on ...continue reading -
Making the "Right" Connections
Last Thursday, June 2nd, USA Today ran an intriguing article: Beyond Kiwanis: Internet Builds New Communities. The piece focused on how technology, specifically the internet and cell phones, helps to build new communities and strengthen engagement around the country. There’s some inspiring news in the piece; but there are also some potential dangers that we must address. On the upside, the piece suggests that people are more “connected” with each other through their use of technology. One man is quoted as saying, “I wouldn’t have been able to be Cubmaster of Pack 152 without email. I don’t have time to do traditional phone trees and calendars by hand.” I’m a youth soccer coach, and I know exactly how he feels. For years, I made individual phone calls to contact my team about changes to practice times, game venues, uniforms, and countless other things. Now, I can contact my entire team with just the click of a button; and, as long as I have my laptop, I can stay in ...continue reading -
Security and Sacrifice
Holy smoke! No sooner than President Bush makes a proposal on Social Security, the daggers come out. Here’s what to look for in the coming debate. There is little doubt in my mind that this debate will degenerate into the typical acrimony and divisiveness we all so used to on tough political issues. The politicos and organized interest groups will stake out their positions, use the Social Security to rally their troops and raise dollars from their faithful, and make sure little progress is made. But, this issue, if engaged, could help the nation sort out some important concerns that have been just beneath the political surface for some time, such as: What is the social covenant today? Americans are deeply torn and concerned over what the social covenant is between and among them. This issue, clearly, raises such concerns and the opportunity to debate them. What is my own obligation? In a society that is so consumer driven, where we expect to get what we want when we want it, ...continue reading -
Mirroring Reality
This candidate for mayor of San Antonio may have failed the test of where to draw the line. How far will voters go? Last week I told a story (see below) about where to draw lines on matters of convenience and ease. Well, last Friday, I read an article about Julian Castro, a candidate for major of San Antonio who couldn’t make it to the annual River Parade through downtown. So what did he do? He sent his brother to fill in – only it was his TWIN! Unbeknownst to anyone but those on the parade barge with him, the twin was taken as Julian himself, the candidate. In fact, a television anchorman hosting the parade identified him as the candidate. Now, this could be an innocent mistake. But, to me, it crosses the line. Here is a candidate running for mayor who sends his brother, a twin, to fill in for him at a parade. What are we to think? I can come up with all kinds of excuses and explanations, but each one begs the fundamental truth. At a minimum, one would expect the ...continue reading -
Choosing Our Field
What would be your first response? Would it be, “Screw ‘em”? This past Saturday I showed up at 7:30 A.M. to make sure the field for my girls soccer team was all set. When I arrived, one field was lined; another was not. So, I called one of the league commissioners and asked which field I was to use. The schedule indicated that it was the field with no lines; but I wanted to make sure, because the league had been wrong in the past. When I talked to the commissioner, I couldn’t believe my ears: take the lined field, she declared, before anyone else shows up! Plant my flag, was the decree. Just tell the other team that they have to deal with the lousy field. I said, “We can’t do that!” And she replied, “Sure you can. Just do it!” Is this how I would have wanted any of the girls I coach to respond? How about my own high school-aged daughter? Is this what I would have wanted another coach to do, if he or she had arrived before me? My league commissioner ...continue reading -
Stand Up and Cheer
Last Friday, I found the nation’s future leaders and I was awestruck. I had the good fortune to spend the entire day on a selection panel for Truman Scholars, which provides financial support for graduate studies to promising young individuals who wish to pursue public service. In the morning, before the interviews began, I told the candidates that I had found my eyes tearing up as I read their applications; in fact, one time this occurred to me on a plane ride across the nation, making me wonder if my seatmates thought I was having some kind of meltdown! But here is what struck me most about these candidates: their passion – their zeal to engage with public life; their smart desire to make a difference; their ability at such a young age to have already done so much. They exuded a sense of idealism – the kind that makes you want to stand up and cheer. Yes cheer… in this the age of retreat and skepticism in public life. If anyone questions where our nation’s future ...continue reading -
Cultural Differences
What is the difference between a culture of opposition and a culture of governance? This is the question my friend Randa Slim, vice president of the International Institute for Sustained Dialogue, asked during a luncheon at The Harwood Institute a week or so ago. All of her work is done overseas, in such places Tajikistan, Russia, and the Middle East. But her question is relevant here at home. In the countries where Randa works, people are seeking to cultivate new cultural norms of public engagement. This is no easy feat. People, once wedded to opposition, must now find ways to engage one another in give and take, problem solving, and the building of public life. People must combat their impulses to oppose one another – even physically battle one another. Her work is slow; small victories come hard; social transformation can take a generation or more. Here in our country, I have come to believe that many of us must more actively cultivate a culture of governance, too. So much of ...continue reading -
Rather Authentic
The curtain is coming down this week on Dan Rather as anchor of the CBS Evening News, and he’d like you to remember him as being authentic. Good luck to him – and many others. In a recent Ken Auletta article in The New Yorker, Rather said, “The one thing I hope and I believe, is that even my enemies think I’m authentic.” In America today, too much time is expended on wishing for authenticity; or, better put, working to manufacture authenticity. Leaders and organizations that are purportedly civic-minded engage in endless posturing in order to suggest to people that they “care” about you and understand your reality. As Frank Rich pointed out in Sunday’s New York Times , Rather’s competitor, Brian Williams, the newly-installed anchor at NBC News, has adopted the slogan “Reporting on America’s Story.” It is NBC’s way of signaling that they understand us – they’re on our side. No more of that silly news. But why can’t people simply let their true ...continue reading -
Finding Leadership
President’s Day, for me, is not only a celebration of the presidents who served our nation in the past, but a reminder about the kind of leadership we aspire to create in our land. But where will that leadership emerge from today? In a book I am completing on conversations that I held with Americans over the past 15 years on their views toward politics and hope, the answer is clear - people don’t necessarily expect this new leadership to come from the likely cast of characters: political leaders, the news media and corporate America. Instead, people have told me that individual Americans must now step forward if we are to redeem hope in politics and public life. Indeed, they are looking to “everyday heroes” from all sectors to reshape the public landscape. Such individuals do not undertake superhuman tasks, but rather find ways to help others, persevere in their endeavors, and act with integrity – even though conditions often mitigate taking such a path. Just last week ...continue reading -
Will & Grace
Yesterday, Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich, in his State of the State address, chastised state legislators to be more respectful of the office of governor. Too bad there’s too little will and grace in Maryland right now – and in the rest of country – for such respect in politics to prevail. Ehrlich has been engaged in hand-to-hand combat with members of the state legislature for months. Some people blame his efforts to ram through his agenda of slot machines and malpractice reform; others, including the governor, believe that state legislators are to blame. In his address, Ehrlich accused unnamed leaders of “playing the Capitol Hill game of demagoguing on personal ethics.” My own reading of the situation is that there’s probably some truth on both sides. But the real problem is that neither side wants to exercise the will to show more grace in their political dealings. The Harwood Institute has long worked on political conduct concerns in the nation; in fact, in the ...continue reading -
A Common Task
Listen to the voices of people who wrote this past week in this space, and those who responded with their comments and an unmistakable message about society can be heard: we must step forward and focus on our values. People are telling us something important: we have lost sight of the values that bind us together. Sure, there are differences among us; but those differences, as one writer said, mustn’t lead to disintegration. Nor must they lead us to believe that we do not hold in common certain fundamental values from which we can build a common future. I am now completing my upcoming book on Americans’ views on politics and public life, and it is clear from my travels across this nation that it is our common values that people want to talk about. They want to rediscover such values; what they mean; and how we can act together on them People want greater truth and forthrightness in our society, loyalty and trust; they want more emphasis placed on values of social fairness and ...continue reading -
The Next Chapter
This entry is the introduction to the inauguration week discussion, and will remain the first post throughout the week, please scroll down for the newest posts Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation The inauguration is an opportunity for the President to declare a path for the nation for the next four years. At its best, the rhetoric of the inauguration calls us to action – from President Kennedy imploring citizens to “ask what you can do for your country” to President Bush asking us in 2000 to be “citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character.” The theme of this year’s inauguration is, “Celebrating Freedom, Honoring Service”. As we honor the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the armed forces, it is important to remember the words of Lincoln at Gettysburg – that we all must be “dedicated to the great task remaining before ...continue reading -
The Crossroads
Guest: Veronica De La Garza, Executive Director, Youth Vote Coalition In the introduction to the inauguration week discussion, Richard presents one of the challenges facing us is where to begin. The bigger challenge is how do we continue? The first line in the next chapter of America's story lies in our hands, what did the public leadership of this country do with the unprecedented number of American's that voted in November 2004? No one could have predicted four years ago the events that have transpired in our country. With one single event, 9-11, America united and received the World's condolences and love. Our response to the attacks of 9-11 not only created ill will and hate towards the U.S.A. but it also divided the short unity that existed among its' citizens. Election 2004 brought out many emotions but the most amazing result was the high turnout of voters. Old and young, new voters and frequent voters, Democrats, Independents and Republicans stood in line and ...continue reading -
Put Every Child Ahead
Guest: Karen Pittman, Executive Director, Forum for Youth Investment As President Bush begins his second term today, he has an opportunity to set this country on a course of self-healing by starting this next chapter of America’s story, as Pamela Loving suggests, with a question: “What about the Children?” Native American elders check their decisions by reflecting on the impact they will have nine generations out. The rest of us, unfortunately, have difficulty focusing on the children currently in our midst. What about the children? Is it enough to ask that no child is left behind? As powerful as this mantra has become, especially with the addition of high school tests, it is, on close inspection, a rather passively phrased challenge made even more passive in its transformation from the directive – Leave No Child Behind® – put forth by the Children’s Defense Fund almost a decade ago. But, syntax aside, I would ask whether this challenge is enough to unify the ...continue reading -
Healing the Effects
Guest: Audrey Alvarado, Executive Director, National Council of Nonprofit Associations It is apropos during this presidential inauguration week we are at the same time reflecting on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. His vision and his impact on the psyche of American society cannot be overstated. Our remembrance of his life’s work forces us to assess how far we have come (or not come) to realize the dream he laid out for us and our country. In many of Dr. King’s messages he spoke of the inherent contradictions that permeate our society. America’s history has been filled with greed and hollow promises and at the same time filled with unbelievable generosity and commitment. The outpouring of generosity and concern, some may even call love, during times of crises reveal the connections we have regardless of those differences that keep us apart during our daily routines. In Dr. King’s book, Stride Toward Freedom, he stated “There must be a rhythmic alternation between ...continue reading -
Finding Greatness
Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation I was moved when reading the comments of my colleagues. And they reminded me of an important theme for our country now: the need to reclaim a sense of greatness. I do not mean, here, a kind of testosterone-driven, myopic, inward-looking agenda. We have enough of that already. Indeed, I intend quite the opposite One of the biggest challenges facing the nation today is whether we, as a people, can move beyond ourselves, to engage in public work and relationships that ask us to look beyond our close-knit circles of family and friends. For instance, when J.D. Hoye and Pam Loving talk about focusing on children, they are asking, I believe, whether we can give of ourselves to others we do not know. They are wondering whether we will invest in something from which we may not directly benefit. They are seeing whether we, as a society, can muster the wherewithal to care about one another. Yes, I agree with ...continue reading -
Waltz of the Flowers
Guest: Bill Bishop, Reporter, Austin American-Statesman I read on humanflowerproject.com that the flower decorations at the inauguration’s “Democracy Ball” will be only shades of red. Perfect. That’s the meaning of democracy these days: we keep all the red flowers over here, all the blue flowers over there and all the gold flowers in another spot. For the past seven presidential elections, Americans have been sorting themselves into monochromatic communities. By the end of the 2004 election, Americans were more politically segregated than at any time since the end of World War II. Half of U.S. voters (well, really 48.3%) live in counties where either George Bush or John Kerry won by 20 percentage points or more. In 1976, only a quarter of the population lived in one of these landslide counties. This is no statistical anomaly. Whether you look at the members of Congress or the members of your church, most of society is curling up in the comfort of like-minded company. ...continue reading -
Setting Out Together
Guest: Diana Aviv, President/CEO, Independent Sector This week marks the 55th Presidential Inauguration. For some, it is a time of celebration, for others, apprehension. For all of us, it is an opportunity to refine priorities, voice concerns, and begin the important work of shaping our collective future. If you want to be part of history, you cannot watch from the sidelines. You have to make history happen. And how do we do that? By learning about the issues that affect our lives and impact our democracy, by getting involved, by helping set our national course, and by writing the next chapter in America’s history through our words and deeds. There are some very big challenges on America's communal table: a massive federal deficit in the face of undiminished domestic needs; deep concerns about the casualties caused by our continued engagement in Iraq; and an ever-widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. At the core of resolving these issues is our collective ...continue reading -
A New Greatest Generation
Guest: Michael Weiksner, Chairman, e-thepeople A version of the "call to service" section of the President's inaugural speech: "We live in an era of unprecedented change. We face great challenges. After September 11, we all awakened to the new threats to our very security here at home. Yet, we have awesome opportunities too. In our lifetime, we have the potential to end global poverty and cure AIDS. How can we rise up to these great challenges and realize the awesome opportunities before us? We need a new greatest generation. Like the great generations before it, we must draw on the courage and leadership that has characterized the American people since the Revolution. We must continue to be the most innovative nation in history, to create the new technologies required to meet the needs of our complex world. And like the great World War II generation, we may be called to defend freedom against tyranny on the battlefield. But courage, leadership, innovation and even ...continue reading -
Finding What Matters
Guest: J.D. Hoye, President, Keep The Change, Inc. Reflecting on the 2000 inauguration when President Bush asked us to be “citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building communities of service and a nation of character,” one might see the irony in our current situation in Iraq and our desire to be seen as citizens of the world. Over the last four years I have seen an ever-increasing desire from community-based leaders to improve their communities. This is most often expressed by describing how they wish that the lives of their children could improve, and that their futures have greater promise. Perhaps the disappointment, and thus the apathy, is simply tied to hearing what our leaders say versus seeing their actions. This lack of alignment causes us to lose inspiration to make positive community changes ourselves. Our citizens must have faith that what is asked of them matters; that there is a place to participate in helping improve our ...continue reading -
The Next Generation
Guest: Pamela Loving, President/CEO, Michigan Works, Career Alliance, Inc. The first line must be: What about the Children? Pamela Loving is an alumna of The Harwood Public Leadership School. She lives and works in Flint, MI, where the Career Alliance seeks to foster systematic reform in workforce development that ensures continuous economic growth for all employers and residents. -
Healing the Breach
Guest: Peter Levine, Deputy Director, CIRCLE , University of Maryland As President Bush begins his second term, there is a poisonous atmosphere of distrust and division in America. I am not sure that we are divided into two countries, one “red” and one “blue,” whose values fundamentally and enduringly conflict. In One Nation, After All , Alan Wolfe reveals a strong moral center and a great deal of agreement about goals and values. At the Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama also emphasized public consensus, but he suggested that reporters and political operatives sometimes promote the appearance of angry disagreement for reasons of their own: Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America — there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and ...continue reading -
The Courage to Speak Up
Watching the football play-off game this weekend between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, Randy Moss, the star wide receiver for the Vikings, caught a touchdown pass and then mimicked “shooting the moon” to the stadium crowd and national TV audience. Just last week, again on national TV, Moss walked off the field early to go to the locker room while his teammates continued to play. No one said very much last weekend, and when Joe Buck the TV announcer wanted to talk about Moss’s classless act this weekend, his fellow announcers did do all they could to change the subject – and they did. I suspect the producers from FOX whispered into their ears that they shouldn't alienate the TV audience. Then just a few minutes later in the game, the broadcasters celebrated Moss’s new game hairdo, as if they were trying to get themselves back into his good graces; as if, they were afraid they had maybe insulted him by momentarily begrudging his earlier behavior. Now, ...continue reading -
In the Crossfire
God only knows what’s in the Kool-Aid over at CNN these days. The network announced today the end of CNN”S “Crossfire” and it came not a day too soon. I congratulate them. I only wish I was afforded the opportunity to do so long ago! “Crossfire” has been a crabby, cranky program filled with unnecessary hype in an age when people’s reality is regularly distorted. I know few people outside of Washington, D.C. who could watch that program and say it had anything to do with their daily lives, other than perhaps to provide some cheap entertainment, a verbal version of the hyperbolic World Wrestling Federation. So, I applaud – and loudly – the decision by new CNN/US president Jonathan Klein who canned the misfire of a program. He was quoted in today’s Washington Post as saying viewers need “useful information in a dangerous world and a bunch of guys screaming at each other simply doesn’t accomplish that.” He’s got that right – and apparently much more. ...continue reading -
In Search of Heroes
Notre Dame fired its head football coach Ty Willingham yesterday, and in doing so failed us all. University Athletic Director Kevin White said at yesterday afternoon’s news conference, “From Sunday through Friday our football program has exceeded all expectations in every way. The academic performance is at fever pitch; it has never been better.” Indeed, Willingham is nationally known as a fine nurturer of his players’ character and a standard bearer of integrity as coach. His firing comes on the heels of Ron Artest and his Indiana Pacer teammates running headlong into the stands to punch out unruly fans during a game with the Detroit Pistons. It comes after a hideous political season in which the two presidential candidates ruthlessly beat each other up, this time with words and ads and surrogates, and then had the audacity to call for unity, as if we were to believe them. It comes after Martha Stewart, the sage of home etiquette, was led off to jail; Jim McGreevey, the ...continue reading -
Rethinking Our Expectations
I have been wondering why I haven’t written anything since the presidential election. Each time I have sat down to write, I have felt compelled to turn away – actually, the feeling is closer to being repulsed. The campaign left me feeling angry and disgusted. The candidates actively destroyed each other over the course of many months, and then had the audacity to call for unity the day after the election. How could they seriously utter such words? Did they really mean them? If so, how would they characterize what they had been doing up till then – simply playing a game at the expense of the American people? What about all the accusations, name-calling and questioning of each other’s personal motivations? Negative campaigning is one thing; but what we witnessed was a total disregard for people’s hopes and aspirations. The call for unity was disingenuous; it was insulting to people’s intelligence. Are we expected to buy this silliness? Still, many people have told me ...continue reading -
Not Just Unity or Victory
The talk about unity keeps unfolding across our land, but is it worth anything? What do we seek in the name of unity? I have long argued that the political pundits and pollsters and professionals made more of people’s differences in this past election cycle than actually exist. As David Brooks said in a recent column: The red and blue maps that have been popping up in the papers again this week are certainly striking, but they conceal as much as they reveal…In the first place, there is an immense diversity of opinion within regions, towns and families. Second, the values divide is a complex layering of conflicting views about faith, leadership, individualism, American exceptionalism, suburbia, Wal-Mart, decorum, economic opportunity, natural law, manliness, bourgeois virtues and a zillion other issues. Strategies that play on people’s existing divisions too often dangerously pull apart the fabric of the nation and diminish our sense of social cohesion. At issue is whether ...continue reading -
Starting an Uphill Battle
Last night and still this morning I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. This campaign has left me feeling enormously empty and frustrated and wondering why we insist on going down the path we do. Seeing the vast swath of red states sandwiched in-between the smaller blue areas took my breath away. It’s not that I didn’t see it coming; for God’s sake, this red-blue division has been the easy narrative of the campaign. But when I saw that it was actually here, a done deal, well, then, I was overcome by a terrible sinking feeling. It was final: the idea of red and blue states will rule for the days to come. In response, all the false, silly and mind-numbing rhetoric of “civility” and “bringing the country together” has started, well, in earnest. I heard some commentators and politicos say last night that what the “next president” must do to repair the breach in the nation is to reach across the aisle to work in a bipartisan fashion and maybe even appoint a ...continue reading -
Restoring Our Faith
On this election eve, the nation is bracing itself: What will happen? Who will win? Will we even know the victor when we finally rest our weary heads on our pillows? But I have a different thought in mind: Who will we become in the months ahead? As I have crisscrossed the nation in recent weeks, it is this thought to which I continually find myself returning. Everyday we hear that this is a divided and polarized nation. Yes, there are ardent Bush and Kerry supporters on both sides. But the pundits and pollsters and prognosticators are missing the real story when they remain so ardently focused on the narrative of a divided nation. The people I have talked with across the nation are in search of ways to come together, not to divide themselves. What’s more, the central challenges we face will not be eased or erased by this election. Not even a potential record voter turnout on Tuesday – maybe upwards of 120 million voters – will signal redemption for our political process. ...continue reading -
Boo
Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation What an abhorrent, insulting, incoherent and, most of all, disingenuous performance last night by the two presidential candidates. I literally wanted to stand up in my family room and boo so loudly they could hear me in Tempe. Did you notice how when the two candidates gave their closing statements, all of a sudden their language, physical demeanor, and tone became “presidential”? And yet all we got during the debate were half-truths, unanswered questions, and even canned laugh lines. It made me want to turn off the TV. On Tuesday of this week, I spent an hour on Wisconsin Public Radio doing a call-in program with voters in that swing state. Their frustrations about this campaign, their desire for real answers, their hope for genuine leadership was palpable. Then on Wednesday morning I wrote a report about how Las Vegas citizens and leaders view the challenges of their community; people there need ...continue reading -
Redemption or Renaissance?
Guest: Cole Campbell, Dean of the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada - Reno In between the second and third presidential debates, there was a flurry of blogosphere-driven chatter about a suspicious bulge in President Bush's suit coat during the second debate. A photo showing telltale shadows on the president's back was blown up, analyzed, explained away by the White House tailor, speculated about by everyone else drawn to the idea of conspiracy. Was this some device by which the president's handlers -- presumably people smarter than him, or at least with better syntax -- could coach the president to a more palatable performance in the debate? Was this whole contretemps a clever ruse by White House insiders to divert public discussion from substantive matters of war, jobs, the environment and schooling? What gives speculation over a shadow on a jacket such resonance -- besides our national appetite for conspiracy theories -- is that it fits with ...continue reading -
Falling Apart
Guest Matthew Yglesias, Blogger and Staff Writer, The American Propsect To semi-defend our candidates, I think the focus on domestic policy wound up showing us more about the limitations of the debate format than of the two men on the stage. As long as the moderator kept the focus on social issues -- abortion, homosexuality, etc. -- and the fuzzy stuff at the end, both were relatively appealing. I don't find Bush's evangelical worldview appealing, but I'm coming to understand it, and I think he explained it well. Kerry's harder task of explaining the role of the faithful leader with a vision of secular political was also well done. It was when you got down to the nitty-gritty of economic policy that things fell apart, but how could they not fall apart? Two minutes -- or 90 seconds for a reply -- isn't anywhere close to enough time to lay out a theory of international trade economics and a reasonable policy response to it. The difficulty is only heightened because, in the ...continue reading -
The Right Man, Right Time, Right Place
Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation For me, the second presidential debate sounded almost like a real debate, until I awoke from my slumber and realized what was happening. The two candidates spun their talking points bravely but the campaign – despite people’s interest and engagement across the nation – remains stuck in place for now. But there is an alternate path. Here’s what I mean. The candidates have successfully gotten people’s attention in recent weeks. For instance, millions of us have been glued to our television sets watching the three debates. But now that we’re watching, all we got on Friday night were two men strutting across a stage imploring us to believe their exhortations, auctioning off tax cuts and new programs to satisfy us, and dutifully attacking one another to prove their mettle. None of these debating points helped tell us anything more than we already had come to know, which hasn’t been enough ...continue reading -
Asking How
Guest: Jehmu Greene, President, Rock The Vote I thought one of the most interesting aspects of the debate was the way its as-yet-undecided audience of voters made themselves, and their issues, heard. They weren’t timid, apathetic, or wishy-washy. They were concerned, committed, and intelligent. I think the debate served to remind us that the undecided populace in this election aren’t necessarily “few,” and that their interests and their votes certainly can’t be discounted. Rich has a strong point in calling for the candidates’ heartfelt visions instead of the well-worn talking points at which we’re starting to roll our eyes. But they must be careful to be specific as well. If both candidates spent the debates proclaiming their hearts’ desires, we’d probably end up hearing the same speech twice: a stronger, more free America, both at home and internationally, an efficient and reasonable withdrawal of troops from a stabilized Iraq, clean air, affordable ...continue reading -
Surviving the Game
Guest: Rita Kirk, Chair of the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Program, Southern Methodist University I had an interesting opportunity last Friday night. Rather than watching the debate on television, I listened on XM Radio as I traveled. My sixteen year old son and I had a great opportunity to listen, free from visual distractions and to interpret meaning based solely on verbal expression. In many ways, I felt like a part of that mythic event during the Kennedy-Nixon debates of 1960 where the winner and loser were viewed differently depending on the medium used. This debate was certainly hard-hitting. As my son remarked, it was as entertaining as watching a football game. That is true if you had a candidate in the "game" that you were rooting for (or against). Yet what I found disturbing about the event was that there seemed to be little connection on the part of either candidate to the listeners or an effort to elevate the debate. Debaters are taught to ...continue reading -
Water, Water Everywhere
Guest: Cole Campbell, Dean of the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada - Reno There are others beyond themselves that the candidates probably would need to trust in order for them to follow the admirable path that Rich suggests. Take my professional domain: the news media. Journalist Matt Bai discusses John Kerry’s reluctance to spell out his nuanced approach to foreign policy in the post-9/11 world in Bai’s cover story in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine, “Kerry’s Undeclared War.” This simple exchange, and how Bai interprets it, is telling: ''What kind of water do you drink?'' I asked, trying to make conversation. ''Plain old American water,'' he said. ''You mean tap water?'' ''No,'' Kerry replied deliberately. He seemed now to sense some kind of trap. I was left to imagine what was going through his head. If I admit that I drink bottled water, then he might say I'm out of touch with ordinary voters. But doesn't demanding my own ...continue reading -
Truth, Ambiguity & the Pursuit of Leadership
Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation As I watched last night’s vice-presidential debate it was enormously revealing about the fundamental challenge Americans confront in this election: which truth to believe. Both candidates, both campaigns, and voters on all sides have talked passionately about the “distortions” in this campaign. There are too many to count. But the argument over these distortions fails to pinpoint our real dilemma. After the first presidential debate I wrote about the clash between competence and certitude. Beneath this clash rests competing narratives about the state of the nation and our work abroad. We could see these competing narratives at work last night. How well is the war in Iraq going? How much progress have we made in ensuring that no child is left behind in our public schools? To what extent have we provided health care to all Americans? How well are American communities protected from future ...continue reading -
Of Truth and Fiction
Guest: Jehmu Greene, President, Rock The Vote These days, it’s a given that there are elements of truth and fiction on both sides of any issue. Campaigns often exploit these ambiguities both to idealize their candidates and lampoon their opponents. But this is not the kind of debate the people of America, and especially the young people of America, need or want. Young voters (18-30 years old) aren’t as set in their ways politically as older voters. They are not committing to political parties the way they are committing to the issues at stake in this election. Young voters are far more likely than other demographics to change sides based on the ideals and visions that the candidates present. They want the candidates to show them the big picture and how it affects them, not isolated statistics and sound bytes. And they know the difference. Young voters want and deserve to hear the good, bad, and the ugly; after all, they will have to live and work with the repercussions ...continue reading -
Hunched Shoulders, Fluttering Eyelids
Guest: Cole Campbell, Dean of the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada - Reno Rich's notion that we have to sort through competing sets of facts, or facts that don't quite add up to a coherent whole, is an important insight into political life. In the case of the vice presidential debate, it's also a bit of making lemonade out of lemons. In strong constrast to the first presidential debate, which was largely about substantive policy disagreements and the underlying narrative of certainty v. competence, the vice presidential debate was waged as a series of attempts to puncture and bleed the other side. All debates have strategic objectives: To win the debate, if there is a mechanism for declaring a winner; to resolve a policy dispute in a formal policy-making process, or, in the case of electoral debates, to persuade voters that one side is superior to the other. Since the vice presidential debate is the undercard in this forensic tournament, the ...continue reading -
The Real Debate
Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation The pundits were proven wrong, the candidates did engage, and the people won. Now we have a genuine race and a clear choice. What was so evident to me last night was a clash in narratives between certitude and competence. President Bush offered the candidacy of certitude. Throughout the debate, he consistently used words and phrases such as: “liberty, tyranny, freedom, precious, change the world, duty, keep our word, stand with you, injustice, resolve, steadfast, going to win.” It was a language of a Bush religion of public affairs, as if he was reading from its very prayer book. Senator Kerry, on the other hand, presented the vision of competence. He infused his answers with such words and terms as: “getting the job done, my plan, get it right, diplomacy, alliances, realities, change the dynamics, reaching out, make sense, look you in the eye.” This is a language of someone who derives hope ...continue reading -
Young and Strong - But Ignored
Guest: Jehmu Greene, President, Rock The Vote The candidates were clear and forthright on many fronts, and their differing policies with regard to the arenas of homeland security and foreign policy have been highlighted well enough, except for one area: the impact of war on the young people of America. President Bush promised an “all-volunteer army,” while Senator Kerry briefly mentioned a “backdoor draft taking place in America today.” They told anecdotes about devastated parents and widows and poorly equipped soldiers. While they sounded sympathetic and troubled by the situation at hand, neither of them spoke directly to young people’s concerns or specifically addressed the prospect of a draft. What will happen when we run out of volunteers? The candidates need to start acknowledging the new generation of voters as the political and voting force that they are. Young people are showing an unprecedented level of engagement in this election cycle: 74% of them think ...continue reading -
A Sigh of Relief
Guest: Veronica De La Garza, Executive Director, Youth Vote Coalition I was hoping for the best but expected the worst. It started on Wednesday night. A friend called me to say that he had just seen WWE’s Smackdown Your Vote wrestlers on Hardball and they were amazing. He could not believe how articulate and passionate they were when discussing politics and debating on issues of concern to young people. Hmmm…..I started flipping through CNN and MSNBC and my heartbeat was up! Behind all the anchors, on location at the University of Miami, are young people. A lot of them! They are excited, jumping up and down, holding Bush, Kerry and Nader signs, and we still had 22 hours to go. I was excited, but scared. I stayed up watching the pre-debate coverage. I couldn’t help it. Behind every anchor were tons of young people and only young people. Young people excited about the candidates, about the debate. The group that has been labeled as apathetic for years is on my ...continue reading -
Beyond the Soundbite
Guest: Rita Kirk, Chair of the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Program, Southern Methodist University The first presidential debate is always the most important one. After that, viewership typically falls off by about ten million viewers. After watching last night’s debate, I wonder if that data will hold true. At long last, a presidential debate was not so much about a winner and a loser as it was about differing choices – although the pollsters will try to lead us to believe differently. Richard is correct in his assessment that this debate meant something. Perhaps it will mean that voters will tune in to the upcoming debates after all. Last night was a break-through in debates of this sort since one-liners neither dominated the candidate’s responses nor the following news coverage. As a life-long student of political rhetoric, and co-editor of a book entitled Soundbite Culture: The Death of Discourse in a Wired World , I am heartened to see that the ...continue reading -
A Clash of Messages
Guest: Cole Campbell, Dean of the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada - Reno Nowadays, "staying on message" is the touchstone of political discourse for presidential candidates. Both George Bush and John Kerry excelled at staying planted on their messages in the first presidential debate Thursday night. I agree with Rich that, in this case, staying on message helped crystallize the choice offered by the two candidates. Neither candidate assailed the other on the overworked and underdeveloped grounds of "character," even when moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS's "Newshour" threw out a baited question. The candidates were mostly gracious and civil toward each other, and their respective families. But they didn't shy away from contrasting themselves. Even as George Bush intoned a message of certainty in describing himself, he also worked to frame his opponent as the embodiment of uncertainty and bearer of "mixed messages." And just as John Kerry made the case ...continue reading -
Debate DOA?
Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation Many commentators have been saying that tonight’s debate won’t matter. They’ve pronounced the debate dead on arrival, especially due to its format, the post-debate spin they anticipate, and the candidates’ unwillingness to be forthright. While there may be some truth to these critiques, they create a deeper problem for America. Their dismissive tone spreads a narrative that we ought not to take these debates seriously. In turn, many people may not watch tonight or will reflexively discount the results. Americans are anxious about the direction of the nation. They want a leader who can provide a vision for the future, outline the necessary steps to achieve it, and provide a sense of personal and common security. I agree that tonight’s debate format is unconscionable – a result of politics as usual and meek candidates. But spinning a narrative of futility only breeds further disengagement. ...continue reading -
Holding Ourselves Accountable
Wherever we turn - to politics, to philanthropy, or the private sector, we find a discussion of accountability. Too often, however, accountability means what others expect from us rather than what we expect from ourselves. I explain the difference in the most recent edition of Philanthropy News Digest , a publication of The Foundation Center . Click here to read the article. -
Eye On America
The Dan Rather fiasco over President Bush’s military service record is rapidly deteriorating into a free-fall for CBS News and a round-the-clock free-for-all for pundits and analysts . The problem is that we will miss the real issue in all this brouhaha. CBS News rushed to use documents in a news story that were poorly checked out. They decided to stretch the truth as far as they could take it, hoping, despite warning signs, that everything would work out. It didn’t . It seldom does when we play with reality. Jay Rosen , NYU journalism professor, wrote yesterday about the CBS News situation: "Today's announcement is just one part of a massive institutional failure at CBS, much of it still to be uncovered. When the case study is done, the part that will seem extraordinary, and most inexplicable, is the ignorant and high-handed reaction from word one in the game of doubt that began on the Internet shortly after the broadcast aired." The real issue here is not merely ...continue reading -
The Passing of 9/11
9/11 came and went this weekend. As it did, I wondered about its meaning. Is the date anything more than something we have come to pretend holds significance for us? Our politicians now invoke it in speeches, as if it is a requisite touchstone that must be given its due. The news media do stories on cue – almost as if they must fill their pages or broadcast minutes to meet the test of propriety. But are these stories anything more than empty filler – here today, forgotten tomorrow? What does 9/11 mean anymore, just three short years after the tragic event? Have we become numb to the scenes of people falling, or jumping, to their death from one-hundred stories up? Do pictures of the smoldering rubble look like anything more than any other demolition site? Have the gut-wrenching tales of New York City emergency workers been equated to the self-indulgent woes told routinely on daytime talk shows? Can we decipher 9/11 anymore? I believe that in our society, nowadays, we talk ...continue reading -
What a Week
That was a lot of fun. I want to take a moment to thank my guests last week for their great thoughts. They really added a great dimension to this site. Thanks also to all the readers who took time to share their comments on the posts, through email, and in phone calls! A few people asked why I didn’t have a similar discussion about the Democratic Convention. This site is still fairly new and, frankly, we just thought of the idea as the Republican Convention approached. The timing gave me the opportunity to try something new, and I think it turned out very well in the end. I plan to have similar forums around any number of events in the future, including the upcoming presidential debates. Thanks again to everyone who contributed. Check back as the campaign heats up and we all engage in working for the public good. There’s sure to be lots to talk about – and lots to do. -
Rebuilding on What Foundation?
Guest: Bill Bishop, Reporter, Austin American-Statesman This country’s dead-set certainty that it can “rebuild” a nation tells all about why we so often fail at doing just that. The formula was simple, the President told us last night. We take out the bad leadership in Iraq and then we rebuild the country, using some version of the Marshall Plan. Easy as pie. President Bush explained the formula late in his speech. Yeah, people crab about what’s happening in the Middle East, Bush said. Well, they crabbed about the desolation of Germany after World War II. “Fortunately, we had a resolute president named Truman, who with the American people persevered, knowing that a new democracy at the center of Europe would lead to stability and peace,” he continued. We “held firm” and because we did “we live in a better and safer world today.” And maybe the Germans had something to do with it, too. I don’t know. Bush never mentioned ‘em. Democracy and economic ...continue reading -
The Ownership Society
Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation President Bush threw the gears into reverse last night at the Republican Convention by offering a hopeful, often visionary speech to the American people. What a difference a day makes! Hang onto your seats. The differences in this campaign are now crystal clear. We'd all benefit if only the candidates would now engage rather than trashtalk each other. There is one theme from the President's speech I want to raise specifically this morning: "the ownership society." The president continually returned to the ideas of liberty, freedom, individual control, ownership -- each and all emphasizing the individual in society, and maximizing their independence. But independence from what and whom? I and others in this space have discussed the extent to which people have been separating from one another in this country. We move to places with like-minded folks. Many Americans have retreated from public life into ...continue reading -
Tuning Out
Guest: Meredith McGehee, Executive Director, Alliance for Better Campaigns Wow, Zell Miller is one angry man! And Dick Cheney doesn’t get mad. He gets even. So with all these emotions and accusations flying around, you’d think this would be compelling television. Not! Or at least that's what the ratings seem to reflect. And if my mother is any measure, these conventions are as irrelevant to her life as are the reality television shows she doesn’t watch. “These conventions are just infomercials,” she said when I asked if she was watching the convention. “I don’t want to waste my time on them.” That’s a difficult message for someone like me who has been calling on the networks to air the convention more than 1 hour a night. The networks respond that doing so is a ratings loser. We in turn say that if their news departments had real journalists, they could look behind the infomercial and provide more background, more context, more investigation. So I ...continue reading -
Our Just Desserts
Guest: Carol Darr, Director, Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet at The George Washington University So, RH, how would you brand Zell Miller? He's been called Zig Zag Miller in the past, and not without reason. It's interesting that a party that is attacking its opponent so vociferously for flip flopping proffers as its keynote speaker someone who started out as an aide to segregationist Georgia Governor Lester Maddox then led the fight when he himself was governor to remove the Confederate emblem from the Georgia state flag. Such political growth and maturity over time is to be applauded, it seems to me, not derided. Yet all politicians today fear -- and with good reason -- the consequences of changing their minds or misspeaking. After Mitt Romney's speech last night, Mark Shields reminisced about what a fine public servant his father, George Romney, was. Yet as Shields pointed out, George Romney's lifetime of public service was forgotten in an instant when ...continue reading -
A Tale of Two Parties
Guest: Bill Bishop, Reporter, Austin American-Statesman Well, after last night, at least now we know how this campaign is going to play out. The Republicans figure this is a turnout election. It’s not about persuasion or argument or anything but juicing up people so that by election day all they can think to do is vote. That much the commentators seemed to know last night on FoxCNNMSNBCPBS. But there is a peculiar political geography driving all this that is NOT a part of the national political discussion. Republicans need to work on turnout because their strongest blocks of support are EXTREMELY dispersed. They are hard to get to. They also live in such strongly Republican regions that turnout might be depressed because of a lack of competitiveness. We’ll have the full story in a week or two in the Austin American-Statesman, but here is a preview. We are conditioned to believe that Democrats were always the party of the big city and Republicans were always the party of ...continue reading -
The Ink Blot Campaign
Richard C. Harwood , President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation Wow, last night was some show of force. What's left to say. Is anyone still alive? President Bush's speech is almost anti-climatic, which may be by design. Which leads me to this thought. Have you noticed the big blue "W" signs everywhere at the convention? In fact, before the convention, USA Today had a front page photo of the president with a big "W" sign right off to his side. Every time I see this "W" I feel as though we have reached a new level of "branding" candidates. It's like when the musician Prince changed his name to a symbol. No need for names anymore! I think of "W" as a strong letter. Maybe it stands for "warrior" or "wisdom" -- certainly not wimp, that's what the Bush folks have dubbed their opponent. I suspect the Bush people would also like it to stand for "women"; that way they can address any gender gap. Next, one can only expect Kerry to develop his own moniker, one to which he has ...continue reading -
Of Grace and Arrogance
Guest: Carol Darr, Director, Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet at The George Washington University Rich Harwood's two commentaries on the Republican convention focus on the theme of grace and humility vs. certainty and partisanship. Each party, he comments, spend too much time demonizing the other, and too little addressing the larger and more important issues the beset the country. Rich's call for grace and humility in the face of the widespread and mutual contempt that both parties exhibit toward their political opponents calls to mind Niccolo Machiavelli's comments about arrogant and insulting behavior. Machiavelli said that arrogance springs from two impulses, an overestimation of one's own abilities, and an underestimation of the power of one's opponent. Insults, he said in the Discourses, are "usually caused by victory or the false hope of victory" and "inflame your enemy and egg him on to revenge." This arrogant behavior does not take "any strength from ...continue reading -
The Shadow of Celebrity
Guest: Meredith McGehee, Executive Director, Alliance for Better Campaigns As I watched the convention last night, what struck me is how the culture of celebrity has overtaken every aspect of modern American life. And this culture of celebrity is now mutually reinforced by television and the political parties. Television types like to air celebrities because it makes for better ratings – their holy grail. Knowing that television exposure is the key way to communicate our 21st Century America, party leaders are eager to offer celebrities so they can get on television and in turn get their “message” out. Thus, we are see the two biggest Republican celebrities lead off the first two days convention -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McCain. And for those of us who are actually watching the conventions on the non-broadcast channels (Public Television, CNN, MSNBC, C-Span, etc.), we are also treated other celebrities – football player Jason Seahorn with his actress ...continue reading -
Politics of the Like-Minded