Public Innovation Across the Generations
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
(The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation)Across the nation, public innovators from
community organizations, public agencies, and
foundations are using the messages of Richard
C. Harwoodís latest book Hope Unraveled: The
Peopleís Retreat and Our Way Back to place
their work in the context of the reality of
public life, and help find an alternate path
for their communities and the
nation.
Read on for more information
about the Harwood Instituteís continuing
effort to instill the necessary sensibilities
and practices in the next wave of public
innovators.
Harwood speaks with public
innovators at two major national
conferences
- Last Monday, Rich was at the Independent
Sectorís 25th Anniversary Conference. The
Independent Sector is one of Americaís leading
organizations on building a more vibrant public
life. Here, Rich spoke on a panel with Brian
Gallagher, president of the United Way of
America, and Carolyn Lukensmeyer, president of
AmericaSpeaks. Rich spoke about the need for
more authentic civic engagement in todayís
society. ìOur mechanisms for manipulation have
been driven to a science,î he noted. ìThey
are the enemy of the public
good.î
- Last Thursday, Rich met with a group of
public innovators who are working to figure out
ways to capitalize on the growing number of
retiring Baby Boomers who still very much want
to be engaged in society. Here, Rich spoke on a
panel with Marc Freedman of Civic Ventures and
Thomas Endres of the National Council on Aging.
Rich noted during this talk that while certain
government initiatives such as tax incentives
for volunteerism may seem to be addressing this
issue, it only calcifies the overarching
narrative in America that people are consumers,
not citizens. ìHave we monetized the public
good?î Rich asked.