Discover how lean funders can nurture the fundamental conditions for any systems-change effort, no matter the specific issue or goal - by helping to build the civic culture of their community. By civic culture, we mean the ability of people in a community to come together, agree on a goal that is important to them, and get things done together. Our guest is Rich Harwood, founder of the Harwood Institute, a 40-year old organization that equips people, organizations, and communities with the tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. By playing roles of listening, coaching, and teambuilding over time, the Harwood Institute, often in partnership with lean foundations, helps people find new ways to talk with each other, create different relationships, different norms, and new ways of working together. 

Rich Harwood will discuss what Reading’s experience can teach other communities about moving beyond dialogue and taking action on issues that affect people’s daily lives. He’ll also talk about his newest book, The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation, and the “Civic Faith” and “Turning Outward” approaches he has developed through decades of work across all 50 states and 40 countries.

Why do good people remain silent when they see problems that need to be addressed? The problem schools face is not always that there is too much conflict. Sometimes the greater problem is too little: people hold back concerns, avoid questioning decisions, remain quiet about problems that everyone can see, or simply disengage.

In a recent Beyond The Blog podcast, Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, speaks with Rich Harwood, President and Founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, a nonprofit advancing positive community action by inspiring people and communities to turn outward. 

What does it take to heal a divided town? Less talking, says Rich Harwood. After almost 40 years running the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, he's watched the poorest community in America and some of the most divided places in the country do what most of us have stopped believing is possible: build something together, across every line that's supposed to keep them apart. The conversation runs from Moses and Lincoln to a synagogue firebombing to the three working men who saved his life as a sick kid, and lands on a deceptively simple idea about what we owe one another.

Rich Harwood shares how his childhood experience with cystic fibrosis and a profound sense of being unseen shaped his life’s work around dignity, compassion, resilience, and strengthening communities. He reflects on the mentors and experiences that taught him the transformative power of truly seeing and hearing others.

In this episode of the Democratic Dilemma, Rich joins Mary Noone and Josh Stanley to break down why the American contract is broken, why throwing money at problems doesn't work, and what actually rebuilds trust and belief in communities. He shares the real story of how Reading, PA, once declared the poorest city in America, came together across dividing lines to transform education, youth programs, and civic culture without spending an extra dime.

Rich appears on the Circulating Ideas podcast to discuss the New Civic Path and the critical role libraries play in our communities.

Rich's appearance on the Derate the Hate podcast.

Rich's interview on the podcast, Uncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us, reflecting on his experience working with Newtown, CT following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Rich Harwood’s interview with Ken Futernick for the Courageous Conversations About Our Schools podcast.

Rich appears on the ThoughtStretchers Education podcast to discuss the findings of A Common Agenda: How Three Communities Overcame Societal Tumult to Create Educational Equity Agendas.

Rich’s appearance on the CivicCast podcast with host Eduardo Lara.

Rich’s appearance on the Collage podcast.

Rich’s appearance on the Future Hindsight podcast

Rich’s appearance on the Impact Boom podcast

Richard Davies (ABC News) and Jim Meigs (Popular Mechanics) interview Rich Harwood on “How Do We Fix It?”