A Fresh Chapter in My Harwood Journey

When I was invited to participate in the Harwood Catalytic Guide Program, a program of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, I felt genuinely excited. After more than ten years of using the Harwood approach training, including participating in two Harwood Labs that shaped how I turn outward toward my community, I knew it was time for a refresh. A sharpening, so to speak. New tools, new perspectives, and a deeper understanding of what it means to help affect and support community change through people.

The training is comprehensive, intensive, and already proving to be impactful. I am only a few weeks in, yet I can see why The Harwood Institute describes this experience as “a practical PhD in creating and catalyzing change.”

Over thirteen weeks, our cohort meets for two hours each week on Zoom. We are a group of twenty‑five people from across the world. A number of my fellow cohort participants join from Australia, which means while class begins at 3 p.m. EST for me, it starts at 5 a.m. for our Aussie colleagues. Their commitment alone is catalytic. We also have weekly homework and hands-on practice with our new tools, which we call the North Star. There are eight participants from our area, thanks to The Patterson Foundation and the Bishop-Parker Foundation. While some of us knew each other prior to the program, we are getting to know others who are passionate about their community.

We are learning tools to develop a catalytic mindset. Much of the work so far focuses on our own behaviors and the behaviors of others because lasting change begins with how we show up and engage. “Catalytic” is a big word with many definitions, but metaphorically it describes a person, event, or idea that sparks action or meaningful change.

I think we all hope to be catalytic in our lives and in our communities. I know this training is helping me do exactly that, and my hope is to help others shape a shared future with new tools.

North River Manatee County Harwood Catalytic Guide Team

• Alicia Chalmers
• Norma Kennedy
• Dawn Stanhope
• Brian Ries
• Marisol Garcia
• Caitlyn Cobb
• Julio Suarez
• Michelle Walker