About Us
The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation is
a non-profit,
non-partisan organization that seeks nothing
less than to spark
fundamental change and authentic hope in
American public life.
Founded by Richard C. Harwood twenty years ago in reaction to the cynicism and distrust that permeates much of politics and public life, the Harwood Institute is today a leading change organization, recognized nationally for a unique approach to breaking down barriers and empowering people to make progress in improving their communities.
Since its inception in 1989, the Harwood Institute has worked with communities, organizations and individuals across the country – from Flint, Michigan to Las Vegas, Nevada and from Binghamton, New York to San Francisco. Harwood principles have been successfully applied in the public, private, academic, and non-profit sectors, including, public libraries and school systems, newspapers and public broadcasting, United Ways and other community-based organizations. Harwood helps these organizations and individuals turn outward and engage with their communities in new ways.
During years of hands-on innovation in communities across the country, The Harwood Institute created a set of field-tested tools and frameworks that have become the foundation of our approach. These ideas are now available for groups and individuals online on this site.
In addition, the Institute has three signature offerings that comprise what participants dub “The Harwood Experience.” These include:
We are currently focusing on diffusing our work to make it available and affordable to individuals, organizations, or communities with a desire to . . .
Founded by Richard C. Harwood twenty years ago in reaction to the cynicism and distrust that permeates much of politics and public life, the Harwood Institute is today a leading change organization, recognized nationally for a unique approach to breaking down barriers and empowering people to make progress in improving their communities.
Since its inception in 1989, the Harwood Institute has worked with communities, organizations and individuals across the country – from Flint, Michigan to Las Vegas, Nevada and from Binghamton, New York to San Francisco. Harwood principles have been successfully applied in the public, private, academic, and non-profit sectors, including, public libraries and school systems, newspapers and public broadcasting, United Ways and other community-based organizations. Harwood helps these organizations and individuals turn outward and engage with their communities in new ways.
During years of hands-on innovation in communities across the country, The Harwood Institute created a set of field-tested tools and frameworks that have become the foundation of our approach. These ideas are now available for groups and individuals online on this site.
In addition, the Institute has three signature offerings that comprise what participants dub “The Harwood Experience.” These include:
➢ Public Innovators Lab –
A highly focused 3 ½ day learning experience
for cultivating the
sensibilities and practices of public
innovators to create change and
authentic hope through the applications of the
Institute’s ideas,
frameworks, and
tools.
➢ Annual Public Innovators Summit – Our yearly, invitation-only retreat where senior public innovators from across all sectors and all geographies find a safe space to connect with one another, explore underlying issues in public life, and rejuvenate themselves.
➢ The Public Innovators Corps – A network of coaches who are trained and certified to share Harwood content with groups, communities and individuals. The Public Innovators Corps enables communities to quickly and efficiently embed and adopt Harwood ideas, frameworks and tools.
➢ Annual Public Innovators Summit – Our yearly, invitation-only retreat where senior public innovators from across all sectors and all geographies find a safe space to connect with one another, explore underlying issues in public life, and rejuvenate themselves.
➢ The Public Innovators Corps – A network of coaches who are trained and certified to share Harwood content with groups, communities and individuals. The Public Innovators Corps enables communities to quickly and efficiently embed and adopt Harwood ideas, frameworks and tools.
We are currently focusing on diffusing our work to make it available and affordable to individuals, organizations, or communities with a desire to . . .
“make good on your urge to do
good.”