October 2024 Newsletter: Our Final Civic Rally; A Post-Election Virtual Space; Kentucky Recap
“How we move forward after the election is critical. Americans today want something deeper and more meaningful than just a new president in the Oval Office.” - Rich Harwood in The Fulcrum
Our Final Civic Rally - Nov. 1 at 1 pm
"Civic Rallies are creating a space we don't normally have in society. They offer a calm, collective space for all Americans to jump into and where people who don't know each other well can talk about something really deep. I get to pause, listen, and explore how we are all human and connected."
- Jeremy Goldstein, Vice President of Programs, Trust for the National Mall
All year, our Civic Rallies have flipped the script on what you might expect from a political rally. They’ve offered a regular space for community leaders and active citizens to restore our sense of possibility and hope as we seek to make a difference in our personal and professional lives. Now, the election is upon us. So it’s time for our final Civic Rally on November 1 at 1 pm ET.
This space isn’t meant for making predictions about the election. Or a place to air our grievances. Instead, it is that all-too-rare space in society these days where we can pause, listen, and figure out how we want to be in the world no matter what comes our way.
P.S. While this is our last Civic Rally, we have big plans for what our virtual spaces will look like in 2025 as our campaign pivots to its next phase in the post-election landscape.
Reclaiming a Shared Path After the Election - Nov. 21 at 7 pm
No matter who wins the election on November 5, there’s something we need to get real about. The work we need to do to move our communities and this country forward is just beginning. This election can’t solve the negative conditions in our society—the loneliness, despair, a lack of hope, and growing inequities and disparities. In fact, things may get worse before they get better.
But we believe there is a path forward. So we’re holding a special virtual evening on November 21 at 7 pm, featuring special guests, musical performances, and an intimate discussion of where we go from here. We’ll collectively wrestle with three questions that are at the heart of what happens post-election.
How do we come together as Americans after yet another bruising election cycle?
How do we tap into what makes us uniquely human in our community work?
How do we create what is missing from our shared public lives?
Join us on November 21 at 7 pm ET for this special evening event hosted by Rich Harwood.
Kentucky Campaign Swing Recap
Rich recently took our “Enough. Time to Build.” campaign on a swing through the Commonwealth of Kentucky for a series of events in Frankfort and Clark County. In Frankfort, Rich delivered a keynote address for the Foundation for a Health Kentucky’s annual Bost Forum. Then in Clark County, we joined long-standing partner the Greater Clark Foundation for a campaign rally in a local brewery.
We came back from the trip with two things top of mind. For the first, watch our “From the Campaign Trail in KY” video. For the second, read Rich’s latest article in The Fulcrum titled, “What a Kentucky Construction Worker Taught Me About This Election.”
Hear Rich on the Rethinking Communications Podcast
When Rich joined Michael Ashford’s Rethinking Communications podcast, their wide-ranging discussion kept circling back to an important prerequisite for creating change: finding a way to see more than what you want to see or are willing to see.
As Rich said in the episode, “When you begin to see beyond what you want to see or what you’re willing to see, that’s when you begin to create change. That’s when trust is built. When new relationships are forged. And where possibilities for change become reality.”
As we look to next week’s election and consider how we move forward, we have to decide what we’re going to see in each other. Listen to Rich on episode 139 of the Rethinking Communication podcast to ground yourself with inspiring stories that point to this truth.
Upcoming Events
Harwood Summit | December 12-14, 2024
Three days. 50 civic leaders. One shared purpose: to come together to wrestle with the challenges we face, to think deeply about who we are and how we’re called to step forward, and to renew our commitment to building a new trajectory of hope in our communities. Learn more about this year’s Summit.
Rejuvenating Ourselves & Making a Real Difference: A Safe Haven for Funders | January 16-17, 2025
Many of our communities are simply stuck or not making the progress we need. We hear repeatedly among philanthropic leaders: What’s the path forward? In response, we’re creating a safe haven for catalytic funders seeking to make a difference in tough times. This funders-only event is scheduled for January 16-17 in Sarasota, FL, and is designed to refresh, reground, and re-energize you as you begin the new year. Learn more.
The Harwood Institute in the News
Selma Can Lead Us Across the Bridge Again Today via The Fulcrum
Redding nonprofit works to calm polarized politics in Shasta County via Record Searchlight
Derate the Hate Podcast Episode 229 w/Rich Harwood via Derate the Hate
DeSoto Catalytic Community Guide Spotlight: Clara Alvarez via The Patterson Foundation
Make sure you follow Rich on LinkedIn to be nourished and supported as we go together this election season.
