Turn Outward

The Harwood Institute is in a long-tradition of small, catalytic organizations throughout American history that have worked to strengthen and advance our society to create a more hopeful future for all. For over 30 years, we have created breakthroughs on how to address the hardest and most vital societal challenges and strengthen our civic culture.

Our task is to get on a more equitable, fair, just, inclusive, and hopeful path forward.

Where It Started

Rich Harwood. Author, Speaker, Innovator.

What started in 1988 in Rich Harwood’s one-bedroom apartment in Washington, D.C., has grown into a practice and philosophy that is spreading worldwide. Rich has invested his career in revitalizing the nation’s hardest-hit communities, transforming the world’s largest organizations and reconnecting institutions like newsrooms and schools to society.

Rich's Story →     Rich's Blog →

Step Forward and Unleash Change

Many of us are frustrated by the divisive nature of our public discourse, mistrust and broken promises. We lack hope that we can bridge our divides, come together and get things done. Stepping Forward: A Positive, Practical Path to Transform Our Communities and Our Lives shows us how to channel our frustrations, energies, and aspirations to get on a more hopeful path.

Rich Harwood’s newest book, Unleashed: A Proven Way Communities Can Spread Change and Make Hope Real For All, published by Kettering Foundation Press, is available now! This book isn’t theoretical; it’s based on the Institute’s 30-year impact study of our work in 9 communities and reveals how communities can unleash a chain reaction to tackle society’s fault lines and strengthen their civic culture.

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