Stepping Forward

"For anyone looking to ratchet down the shouting and ratchet up the solutions in today's society, look no further than Rich's book. Having dedicated his career to community building, Rich understands that people - and their dignity - lie at the heart of strong communities. Rich knows how to heal divides, build bridges, and help all people find greater opportunity, and his experiences weave together a story of hope and purpose that we can all use to build better selves and support the places we call home."

—Brian Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way Worldwide 

"Stepping Forward is a profound and inspiring book by one of our leading organizers. Blending memoir, reporting, and razor-sharp, strategic analysis of how social change happens, Rich Harwood offers an unforgettable account of what it means to connect, engage, and transform the world. It's a powerful call to action, a necessary read for these difficult times."

—Eric Klinenberg, Professor of Sociology at New York University and author of Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life

"Reflecting on thirty years of transformational work in the field, Rich Harwood presents a critical case of people-centered service, which keeps intact human dignity, connection, and individualism - a message especially important in this time when mistrust and divisions dominate the headlines. He shares poignant lessons from his journey, laying a compelling framework to guide us forward, to a hopeful future."

—Michele Nunn, President and CEO, CARE USA

"Stepping Forward thunders with optimism amid an America overwhelmed with worry. Decades of work in communities large and small informs Harwood's unique perspective on an America that has lost its way. Eschewing mere diagnosis, Rich Harwood teaches us how to bind our cultural wounds, embrace our shared humanity, and, in so doing, remake our Republic. In an America where too many have weaponized difference for their own ends, Stepping Forward is a well-timed act of civic faith, reminding us that none are exempt, as Senator Edward M. Kennedy said, 'from the common obligation to give of ourselves."

—Melody Barnes, Co-Director, Democracy Initiative, University of Virginia and former Director, White House Domestic Policy Council (2009-2012)

"Many people are distressed by today's bitter divisiveness and feel powerless to affect the forces shaping their lives. Rich offers up a set of simple but profound insights for making a difference, drawn from a lifetime of reflection and working in communities around the country. Stepping Forward is a powerful and timely book."

—David Mathews, President, Kettering Foundation

"Richard Harwood has written a practical book about dreams. This is no oxymoron. In Stepping Forward, Harwood shows how community transformation involves unlocking personal aspirations and linking them to our innate desire to be part of something larger than ourselves. He captures the spiritual essence of what it has meant in our past to be American, inviting each one of us to be part of that great journey. It is therefore really a book about the human soul. The very language of the book tells it all: covenant, resilience, dignity, loyalty, faith, and love. When we discover each other's deep humanness, we forge bonds that enable us to create our future together. Rich Harwood shows us how."

—Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel, Temple Micah, Washington, DC

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