From Hopeless to Hope: A Conversation on The New Civic Path with Monica Encarnacion

Editor's Note: Since July, individuals and organizations throughout our region have leaned into courageous conversations, meaningful connection, and collective imagination through The New Civic Path Book Circles. Now, we come together to reflect, reconnect, and recommit.

Join us for a celebratory gathering, The New Civic Path: Continuing Our Journey, on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM hosted by The Patterson Foundation to honor your part in this civic journey. Whether you've already participated in a book circle or you’re just discovering what this movement is all about—this event is for you. REGISTER HERE.

The Patterson Foundation’s Beyond The Blog podcast recently featured a meaningful conversation between host Leah Verier-Dunn and Monica Encarnacion, founder and CEO of Homeschool STEAM. Together, they explored what it means to walk The New Civic Path and how the experience of participating in a book circle can transform both personal outlook and community work.

Monica, a former New York City educator who now leads homeschool families in Florida through STEAM-focused programs, shared how joining a book circle came at just the right time. She admitted she was feeling overwhelmed and even hopeless with everything happening in the world. But reading and discussing Rich Harwood’s book gave her language and perspective that shifted her outlook. What began as uncertainty turned into a renewed sense of hope and a deeper commitment to the community she serves.

Throughout the episode, Monica reflected on how the ideas in The New Civic Path confirmed and strengthened the work she’s already been doing: listening first, finding common ground, and building connections that go beyond the classroom. She explained how even small acts of engagement, whether in education, at home, or in civic life, can ripple outward to create lasting change. As she put it, “Start small, and then you can go big.”

The conversation also highlighted the unique design of book circles. They bring together people who might not otherwise meet, creating space for honest dialogue and diverse perspectives. The time spent together in the book circles isn’t just about discussing a book; it’s about taking ideas forward into action. A standout feature is the Pay It Forward opportunity, where each circle chooses a nonprofit from The Giving Partner to receive a $300 donation from The Patterson Foundation. Monica described this as an immediate and powerful way to participate in solutions that matter.

By the end of her first book circle, Monica summed up her experience in two words: before, she felt “hopeless”; after, she felt “hope.” That transformation captures exactly what the New Civic Path seeks to spark, reminding us that change begins close to home, in the small but meaningful ways we connect with others.

If you’re curious about how a simple book discussion can inspire new thinking, new friendships, and new energy for community building, this episode is one you don’t want to miss.

Listen to the whole conversation with Leah and Monica on The New Civic Path Beyond The Blog podcast, and discover how you, too, can take the first step toward walking this path of hope and shared aspirations.

Watch the podcast, or listen to it here. Register to join a New Civic Path book circle here!