Reflections from the Studio on Community: Community Change in Action
The Harwood Studio on Community was established in 2017 to create the time and space within the Institute necessary to explore new areas and innovate around complex civic challenges, and to be a space where individuals can spend time at the Institute to develop their own ideas and skills.
The following reflections come from Keegan Todd, a junior at the Ohio State University who joined the Institute as a Studio Associate for summer 2025.
I began my public policy journey at The Ohio State University, with a specialization in civic engagement. As a grader for a class called "Public Service and Civic Engagement," I saw firsthand how these theoretical lessons can help students better understand their community.
As I started in the summer of 2025 at The Harwood Studio, I finally got to see these concepts put into action. I found myself learning about how community initiatives begin - not with big policy changes - but with genuine conversation and identifying shared aspirations, concerns, and values. For example, I got to contribute to the team building exercises of the DeSoto workspace, in which teams centered around Faith, Health, Housing, and Youth all created action steps for bettering their community. Such experiences allow me to go back to Ohio State with a renewed passion for public service.
What struck me most during my time at the Studio was how much progress can be made when communities take ownership of their own change. "Turning Outward" is a huge part of the Harwood Approach, starting not with preconceived solutions or being "told" what to do, but with listening. In the DeSoto workspace, it wasn’t just about identifying problems; it was about aligning on what matters most to people and taking practical steps forward. That process reflected the very lessons I help grade each week at Ohio State. Only now, those concepts had real stories attached. It reminded me that civic engagement is not a checklist. It's a commitment to showing up, listening with care, and taking small actions that build toward something greater.
Returning to Ohio State for my junior year, I carry forward a new confidence. Theory, spoken in classroom language, is the foundation, but I now see that real change happens in living rooms, town halls, and kitchen tables. I’m eager to continue bringing together my experiences as a grader, civic engagement student, and Studio Associate to inspire collective action on campus and beyond.
