September Newsletter: Selma, Beacon of Hope Creates Ripples; Harwood’s Response to Charlie Kirk Shooting

Sep 30

“Harwood’s book and his ideas are wonderfully revolutionary and have given me another giant serving of hope.” - New Civic Path Book Circle Participant

SELMA, BEACON OF HOPE CREATES RIPPLES

Selma, Beacon of Hope is creating ripples nationwide. Nearly 70,000 people have viewed the film and groups across the country are using it to spark meaningful conversations about how we can get on a new civic path.

The Outrage Overload podcast hosted a livestream episode to screen the film and discuss its implications; it drew an international audience
United Ways of California used the film at an all-staff lunch-and-learn to catalyze discussion about how they can do their statewide work in a way that restores our belief in one another
The Alabama NAACP showed the film at their statewide conference in Tuscaloosa, AL
One Laurel, a local civic group in Laurel, DE, showed it during their monthly convening to instill a sense of hope about their ongoing efforts to build a stronger community

These examples speak to why we created the film in the first place. To show us a way forward amid the chaos and confusion. To restore our belief in one another and our nation. To remind us the change we need today is going to start in our local communities and spread like a positive contagion. Just like it did in Selma in 1965.

You can host a Selma, Beacon of Hope Film Circle too! Gather your family, friends, or colleagues to watch the film and discuss with our brief guide. You’ll feel inspired, energized, and hopeful.

Watch Selma, Beacon of Hope

RICH HARWOOD’S RESPONSE TO THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING AND MEMORIAL

The day after the horrific murder of Charlie Kirk, Rich put out a response in The Fulcrum. He wrote: “The cold-blooded murder of the young, conservative activist Charlie Kirk yesterday is a tragic reminder of the state of our nation. We must awake ourselves to the hard truth that confronts us: while our politics are broken, there is something much deeper and more profound happening in America. We face a cultural and human dilemma.” The piece struck a chord, and was reprinted in 90 different news outlets from coast to coast.

Then, following the nationally-televised memorial service, Rich issued another response. This time, he wrote: “This weekend I watched Charlie Kirk’s memorial service alongside millions of other Americans. In the aftermath, President Trump’s remarks have dominated many of the headlines. But there is another story from this weekend we should pay attention to: the revival people clearly are seeking. The yearning was palpable.”

The dilemma we face and the yearning Americans have for a new way forward are why we are so adamant about the need for a new civic path today. Every day, in communities all across this country, people of different beliefs, political leanings, and backgrounds are getting on this new civic path and building together.

Join us. Let’s face our challenges head on. Let’s create a new American revival together.

Join Our Campaign for the New Civic Path

RICH “OFFERS A WAY TO BEGIN” ON THE MISSION FORWARD PODCAST

Rich recorded an episode of the renowned Mission Forward podcast the day after Charlie Kirk’s shooting. Host Carrie Fox described the importance of the conversation by noting, “Harwood offers a rare kind of clarity. Not a feel-good story, but a practical invitation to shift how we work, lead, and rebuild. For anyone seeking a way forward in a time of fracture, this episode offers something even more vital than answers: it offers a way to begin.”

Listen to Rich on the Mission Forward podcast

REINTRODUCING THE HARWOOD SCHOOL

“The Harwood School changed my entire perspective on the work that I do, my commitment to my profession, and how I engage with our communities every day.” - Harwood School Alumni

The Harwood School has a different view about what it takes to create change. It wasn’t founded on an untested theory or some utopian vision. Our approach is rooted in how change actually happens. It’s practical. It calls us to be part of something larger than ourselves. And it flies in the face of conventional wisdom. But that’s why our School stands apart.

We’ve trained and equipped thousands of change agents in all 50 states and 40 countries worldwide—more than any other organization of our kind. These leaders have used the principles we teach in the School to both strengthen their community’s civic culture and catalyze real change on everything from education to homelessness to the environment to the arts to bridging divides.

You want to make community work for all of us. The Harwood School teaches you how. Explore our new School catalogue to:

Learn more about our core offerings: Public Innovators Labs, the Catalytic Guide Program, and the CIRCLE of Catalytic Funders
Read stories of impact from organizations and communities who went through the Harwood School
Discover how you can leverage our School offerings to customize an initiative to catalyze community-led change.

Explore the Harwood School Catalogue

UPCOMING EVENTS

Annual Harwood Summit | October 23-25, 2025
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.

Finding a New Civic Path in Challenging Times: A Safe Haven for Funders | January 22-23, 2026
The Second Annual Safe Haven for Funders will gather a select number of philanthropic leaders working in complex spaces and seeking to make a real difference in their communities and society for a unique event designed to leave you feeling refreshed, regrounded, and reenergized. Learn more about the Safe Haven.