A Rapidly Growing Community Leaving No One Behind
The residents of Clarksville-Montgomery County, TN, love their community, and with rapid growth, they want to make sure it works for everyone. Over the past year, through the support of the Walton Family Foundation, The Harwood Institute team held in-depth conversations with community leaders and residents to research inequities in education and in the community. Sharing the stories and experiences of the people of Clarksville-MoCo, the Harwood team published a community-driven report highlighting Clarksville’s strengths and revealing shared challenges with a clear seven-point agenda to address them. With palpable energy and an eye toward the future, this community is moving forward.
Voices Heard in Clarksville-MoCo
Rich Holladay, Chris Buerck, Rich Harwood, Yolonda Williams, and Monique Mosley.
Harwood Institute President and Founder Rich Harwood and Director of Community Initiatives Monique Mosley recently visited Clarksville to help the community lay the groundwork to make good on the agenda. Over two days, they held conversations with residents, the media, community leaders, and the MoCo Non-Profit Alliance to explore the report and critical next steps.
Women Veterans of America National Commander Yolonda Williams, Leadership Clarksville Executive Director Rich Holladay, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarksville Executive Director Chris Buerck were instrumental in supporting the research process and facilitating these community gatherings.
When community members saw their own voices and stories reflected in the report, many were eager to ask, “What’s next?”
“There are so many silos of very productive activity in Clarksville. I want us to learn how to cross-pollinate and cross boundaries without mistrust. And to make sure that whatever service we provide touches all corners of our community.”
Skepticism Is a Good Thing
During these conversations, some expressed skepticism that the research was truly representative of all parts of the Clarksville-MoCo community. After working with Harwood for many months, Rich, Yolonda, and Chris welcomed this counterpoint as a way to continue to acknowledge and value the perspectives of everyone in Clarksville.
“It started a lot of good conversation. There was some doubt, some debate, but I think that’s okay because it led people to talk more about it. Most folks appreciated that Harwood was looking for as close to the truth of our community as possible.”
A Future Where Every Child Can Reach Their Potential
The report is a galvanizing force to spark change; its catalyzing power stems from the shared aspirations of the community members. During one of his many conversations with Clarksville-MoCo residents from all walks of life, Rich asked one mother, “What is your aspiration and hope for your son?” She replied, “I want him to grow up to be a good person.”
That’s why this work is so important to the Clarksville-MoCo community and to all communities across our nation. The work we do to address inequities in education and in our communities today creates a foundation so that every child—and every person—can reach their God-given potential.
What’s next for Clarksville-MoCo? A group of 25 residents will attend a Harwood Public Innovators Lab and learn how to use the knowledge gained through this research to get in motion on the education and community agenda. With the continued support of this energetic group and a community that clearly cares for its residents, the future of Clarksville-MoCo is bright.
“Maintaining our community identity as one of the best places to live means ensuring our residents have knowledge and awareness of—and access to—the things that make this town great. This report can help us make it better still.”
About Our Work
Over the past year, the Harwood team has worked with three very different communities who share remarkably similar concerns for their children and aspirations for their communities: Lexington, KY, Clarksville, TN, and Reading, PA. This education work is part of the Institute’s overall strategy to go deep in a collection of communities—which also includes Jackson, MS and Alamance County, NC—to show that we have the public will and capabilities to address major fault lines in society and strengthen our civic culture. As false rhetoric around polarization continues in politics and the media, this progress shows that under the right conditions, communities can and are moving forward.
