Stepping Forward is a book by Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and nationally recognized advocate for Turning Outward. Included here is a brief synopsis of Stepping Forward. 

Many of us are looking for an alternative to the divisive nature of our public discourse, mistrust and broken promises. Where we can find hope to bridge our divides, come together and get things done.

Rich Harwood offers a new path forward. Stepping Forward makes the case that we don’t have to accept the divisions, gridlock, and negativity happening in our communities and country. He knows, from working in communities for more than 30 years, that we can rediscover what we share in common and actively build upon it.

Stepping Forward shows us how to channel our frustrations, energies, and aspirations to get on a more hopeful path. This book shows us how we can step forward to —

• Turn Outward to see and hear each other and afford every person human dignity
• Rediscover what we share in common by focusing on our shared aspirations, even amid our real differences
• Recognize we must tap into our innate capabilities to produce meaningful change
• Forge a new shared responsibility to marshal community resources to solve problems and harness people’s yearning for genuine engagement
• Create a new can-do narrative by focusing on civic parables that remind us that we can be actors, shapers, and builders of our shared lives

To get the country moving in a better direction, these efforts must start in our local communities. Then we can restore our can-do spirit and faith in ourselves.

Stepping Forward Book Circles were opportunities for individuals to gather to discuss and build on the themes of the book. Ideally, those meetings built and strengthened relationships and afforded opportunities for diving deep into shared aspirations.

The Patterson Foundation looks for opportunities to strengthen people, organizations, and communities and learned there are always new opportunities to create connective tissue...that is, to build relationships.

Anyone! We are all members of at least one community, but most of us are members of many. People who were interested in making new connections and coming together with neighbors, coworkers, peers, family, friends, congregation, students, or fellow humans, were invited to create or join a book circle. Stepping Forward Book Circles happened all over the country. However, book circles that met in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties benifited from The Patterson Foundation's support.

Book circles came in many shapes and forms. However, to qualify for complimentary copies of Stepping Forward and the $250 Pay It Forward Award, book circles –

• Registered a minimum of eight participants.
• Had at least six people of the registered eight meet three to five times by December 1, 2020, although best book circle practices suggested five meetings.
• Gave the book circle a nickname.
• Answered the corresponding Poll Everywhere question provided by TPF at each book circle meeting.
• Provided at least one photo and one story from the book circle with The Patterson Foundation for sharing on social media.
• Came to a consensus about what nonprofit with an up-to-date profile in The Giving Partner would benefit from a group's Pay It Forward Award.

Each registered member of an official book circle – eight or more participants – received a copy of Stepping Forward as a gift from The Patterson Foundation. A discussion guide created by Rich Harwood was also provided for every book circle. Book circles that meet a minimum of three times, reported attendance, and completed a question at each meeting were eligible for a $250 Pay It Forward Award, intended for any nonprofit with an up-to-date profile in The Giving Partner.

If a group didn't come to a consensus about which nonprofit to gift its Pay It Forward Award, then the gift was not awarded. The Patterson Foundation believed that every group was equipped with the tools to negotiate the discussion and arrive at a common goal.

The Patterson Foundation anticipated there would be many sharable, inspiring tidbits. To make sure each group could be recognized, they needed to select a unique name. The nickname was an opportunity for groups to be as creative or ordinary as they liked.

There were many reasons to participate, but here are just a few:

• Guests learned something new.
  Even Public Innovators had the opportunity to learn new things about other people in their group and therefore more about their community...in some cases, guests learned more about themselves. 
  
  
• You could be a part of something new.
  The chance to work together to decide the fate of the $250 Pay It Forward Award was new. Also, book circles full of yet-to-be friends created new orrpotunities to build relationships!
  
  
• Participants were part of a national “happening.”
  Stepping Forward Book Circles happened all over the United States. By deepening our understanding and tools to connect with others, we joined a national network of people “Turning Outward.”

Some businesses were looking for new ways to connect with their employees or their customers...or their employees with their customers. When we get to know more about the people we spend time with every day, we forge connections, strengthen engagement, and feel more supported.

Nonprofits are 100% dedicated to their mission. Sometimes, it’s helpful to create intentional opportunities to pause and reflect on how we connect inside our organizations, with our community or with those we serve. Stepping Forward Book Circles offered opportunities for renewal and reenergizing passion for mission.

The possibilities were endless! Our aspiration was that each participant would be inspired to make a difference. Movement or change doesn’t need to happen on a grand scale to be important.

In the words of Dr. Suess, “And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.”

Humans, although pets were welcome. It's nice to gather with friendly faces to discuss something new, but Stepping Forward was about how we could Turn Outward to begin building bridges with diverse people. So, really, Stepping Forward Book Circles were a great way to meet new people or strengthen relationships with people you wanted to know better.

Kudos to you for participating in The Power of Presence Book Circles. In total, there were more than 100 book circles and upward of 1,000 participants who learned "how to be the voice in a child's ear when you're not with them." 

Stepping Forward Book Circles were similar in that anyone was welcomed to lead or join one. However, rather than collecting a stipend per meeting, qualifying book circles received one Pay It Forward Award to be designated to a local nonprofit with an up-to-date profile in The Giving Partner.