A Year of Meaningful Conversations and Engagement with DeSoto County Ahead

This year started with The Patterson Foundation (TPF) and The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation launching a DeSoto County initiative to catalyze community-led change! Here's an overview of what has been accomplished and what's in store!

• In January, roundtables were completed to listen to the community. Rich Harwood, president and founder of The Harwood Institute, gave a keynote speech.
• In February, the DeSoto Digest Newsletter was launched to engage readers, amplify the community's voice, and inspire community-led change.
• In March, April, and May, A2A conducted community conversations with 300+ people. The Harwood Institute's researchers completed 36 one-on-one interviews with people identified as community leaders.
  • Also in April, five DeSoto County community leaders began The Harwood Institute's Catalytic Community Guide program to learn the Harwood approach and create meaningful change.
• In July, ten roundtable discussions focused on the recently released the DeSoto County: Coming Together report (and there's a great overview video!).
• August 1 was the culmination of the work done in the spring, with Rich giving a keynote to 174 community members who care about DeSoto County. 

What's Next?

Action teams are forming, and the Harwood Institute's Lab, "Getting Started," will happen on October 24th and 25th, with a second Lab in the Summer of 2025. 

As TPF's journey to support the community in navigating issues with new perspectives to build stronger, more effective collaboration continues, we're capturing the stories through video (with the help of Bill Wagy) and Beyond The Blog podcasts. 

• View Rich's Keynote Address
• View the Q&A Session following the Keynote
• Reflections From the Desoto County Coming Together Report and the Work Ahead
• Listen or watch a recent podcast with Rich Harwood recounting the work underway since Spring 2024 here:
  
  • Part I
  • Part II