March Newsletter: Harwood Partners With William & Mary; Book Circles Building Momentum
“People all across America are making progress by placing community over politics and getting on a new civic path. They offer a roadmap for the country.” - Rich Harwood
HARWOOD PARTNERS WITH A MAJOR UNIVERSITY
This is a crucial year. None of us can afford to sit on the sidelines. Indeed, America’s 250th anniversary invites us to consider how we move forward together as a people and as a nation. Toward that end, our Campaign for the New Civic Path is partnering with William & Mary as part of its Year of Civic Leadership. Founded in 1693, William & Mary is the country’s second-oldest institution of higher learning. This partnership is the next step in their storied history of preparing generations of civic leaders to serve our nation and world with distinction.
The partnership kicks off with a special event on April 7—The New American Dream: 250 Years Later—for William & Mary staff, students, alumni, and community members to come together and wrestle with the question: “Where are we as a country and how can we move forward together?” William & Mary will also launch a series of New Civic Path Book Circles starting this month.
This new partnership is just the latest in a series of exciting announcements from the campaign in 2026. We’re just getting started. And we want you to come with us.
NEW CIVIC PATH BOOK CIRCLES BUILDING MOMENTUM
On June 2 at 12:30 pm ET, we’re hosting a National New Civic Path Book Circle. We’ll discuss The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation. But it’s not just about discussing a book. It’s about reframing the challenge before us, connecting to like-minded community leaders from around the country, and charting a more hopeful path forward together.
In addition, we’ve designed a low-lift, simple way for you to host your own book circle: a Book Circle Kit that includes everything you need. Last week, we ran a giveaway to send a handful of kits to communities nationwide—winners to be announced soon. The response was overwhelming! People everywhere from Great Barrington, MA, to Sturgeon Bay, WI, to Onancock, VA, and beyond are stepping forward to hold local book circles.
They’re joining the hundreds of Americans who are already participating in Book Circles in places like Washington, DC, Williamsburg, VA, and communities all across the heart of Florida. Momentum continues to build as people latch onto these Book Circles as an easy way to get in motion, build allies, and spark something hopeful in their communities amid a tumultuous year.
Join them. Join us. Let’s go together.
A NOTE FROM THE ROAD IN RURAL AMERICA
Rich recently took our Campaign for the New Civic Path back on the road. But we didn’t start in Washington, DC. We started in Washington, NC. Because this campaign is committed to going where traditional political campaigns don’t. After the event, Rich penned this “note from the road”:
While in North Carolina, it again became clear to me that, as I said in my announcement to extend this campaign, “politics won’t save us.” People in rural North Carolina wanted to talk about youth violence, affordable housing, retaining young people in the community, and getting past divisive public discourse. All these things require us to work together differently.
Just days later I was in fast growing, rural Alamance County, NC, discussing our upcoming report on the work we’ve done there with local leaders and residents, and where people are choosing hope over division. The progress is truly amazing—and inspiring.
Indeed, we’ve been working with rural communities all across the country proving that Americans can come together and shape their own future. You can read our two other recent reports from Logan County and Union County, both of which are in Jim Jordan’s congressional district in Ohio. People all across America are making progress by placing community over politics and getting on a new civic path. They offer a roadmap for the country.
CELEBRATING HARWOOD’S PUBLIC INNOVATORS
When we announced the extension of the Campaign for the New Civic Path through 2026, we made an entreaty to you and our fellow Americans to join us on this new civic path. Here’s the thing. You won’t be walking this path alone. Indeed, thousands upon thousands of Public Innovators—developed and equipped through The Harwood School—are already forging a new civic path in their communities and working to create a society that works for all of, not just some of us.
To celebrate our Public Innovators across the nation and the world, we created a Public Innovators Badge. This badge is our way to recognize the dedication these Public Innovators bring to their work across every sector of society in all 50 states.
If you’re already a trained Harwood Public Innovator, you’ll receive an email from our team shortly with instructions to claim your badge. If you display it proudly on LinkedIn or other social platforms, we’ll be sure to give you a shout out.
RICHMOND, VA, GETTING ON A NEW CIVIC PATH
Across the country, people are concerned about children and youth. Indeed, it’s an issue that we believe has the power to galvanize Americans to come together amid our differences. Last week, we launched a new initiative in Richmond, VA, around that very issue. Sixty-five local leaders and residents stepped forward to create a different kind of community together. One that builds on the good work people have already done in the community. One that finds new ways to work together. One that is dedicated to producing better outcomes for children and youth.
Richmond is eager to get on a new civic path as evidenced by the Lab being one of the biggest in-person Getting Started Labs we’ve ever held. At a time when so many communities are struggling to move forward together and create brighter futures for our youth, Richmond is poised to lead the way and be an example to the rest of the country. More to come from this exciting new initiative in Richmond.
THE ANTIDOTE TO OUR GROWING CRISES
Each day, the challenges in our nation pile up. In just recent weeks, there has been the ongoing war in Iran and the Middle East, and ongoing debates about the growing negative impact of the Internet, looming AI challenges, and the Epstein files. The anticipation of divisive, even ugly, midterm elections only adds more angst to our woes. It can feel like we have lost control over our present and our future.
Is there an antidote? Yes. But as Rich writes in his latest for The Fulcrum, we must seize it together.
THE 250TH PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAITH LEADERS
Rich recently spoke to a gathering of nationwide faith leaders convened by our partners at faith250. During the faith250 discussion, the host asked how often Rich sees faith leaders coming together across congregational lines to take shared action in their communities. Rich’s response? Not often enough. But America’s 250th anniversary offers faith leaders a unique opportunity to step forward in a new way. He describes what that might look like in his latest for the Christian Citizen.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Turning Outward in Difficult Times—And Immediate Steps You Can Take | April 22 @ 12:30 PM EST
Funders and philanthropic leaders are under immense pressure and stress these days. It can feel like you are asked to be all things to all people. It’s easy, natural even, to turn inward—at the very moment we can be most impactful by turning outward. That’s why, on April 22 at 12:30 pm ET, our next virtual conversation just for funders will focus on what it means to be Turned Outward during difficult times and equip you with immediate steps you can take to be a catalytic force in your community. Register now.
The New Civic Path National Book Circle | June 2 @ 12:30 PM EST
America needs more agents of hope. America needs you. We’re holding a New Civic Path National Book Circle on June 2 at 12:30 pm ET to help you step forward and be an agent of hope in these divided times. Through small and large group discussion, we will explore how you can put the book’s principles into action to address our country’s deep challenges, reclaim our shared agency, and take real action together. Register now.
The Harwood Institute in the News
The Antidote to Our Growing Crises Must Transcend Politics via The Fulcrum
America’s 250th Presents a Unique Opportunity to Faith Leaders via The Christian Citizen
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