Virtual Public Innovators Lab: Getting Started (August 2024)

Learn how to get started using the transformative Harwood approach and embrace the mindset and practice of Turning Outward! This approach is road-tested, time-tested, and has spread to all 50 U.S. states and 40 countries around the world.

As one participant said, “Harwood's philosophy and approach is inspirational.”

About Getting Started:

Over five weeks, guided by our team of Certified Harwood Coaches, you'll learn how to catalyze a chain reaction of actions in your community, develop ways to discover what matters to people, discern where your community is starting, and identify how you can show up more intentionally in your work and life.

This Virtual Lab is interactive and dynamic! We are looking for public innovators who are ready to engage. Attendees must complete all pre-session homework assignments and come with an open mindset and a can-do attitude.

Are you ready to get started? Join us on July 29!

What You’ll Learn:

Session 1 - Why Turn Outward: You’ll explore the mindset and the behaviors that are needed to make more intentional choices and judgments in your work and life so that you can create a path of possibility and authentic hope for your community.

Session 2- How Change Happens: You’ll examine how you can catalyze a chain reaction of actions in your community with others and learn how the chain reaction can grow and spread over time.

Session 3 - What Matters to People: You’ll discover why starting with people’s shared aspirations and concerns is critical, and how the public knowledge you gather can help you reframe public discussions, enlist allies, develop strategies, and align actions over time.

Session 4 - Know Where Your Community Is Starting: You’ll learn how to discern and diagnose where your community is starting—not where you wish it could be—which will enable you to calibrate a set of actions that best fit your local context.

Session 5 - How You Show Up: You’ll identify what it means and what it will take to show up differently for yourself and others in the community.

Click here to learn more about the session format, what materials you’ll receive and other frequently asked questions.

Session Dates & Times:

Getting Started includes a 90-minute group orientation and five weekly two-hour group sessions, along with readings, videos, and lessons for participants to complete on their own with feedback from our coaches. All group sessions are held over Zoom and are recorded.

Orientation Session: July 29, 2024 | 2 - 3:30 pm EST

Session 1: August 1, 2024 | 2 - 4 pm EST

Session 2: August 8, 2024 | 2 - 4 pm EST

Session 3: August 15, 2024 | 2 - 4 pm EST

Session 4: August 22, 2024 | 2 - 4 pm EST

Session 5: August 29, 2024 | 2 - 4 pm EST

Program Expectations:

Your openness to learn and how you show up—your preparation, active engagement, and application yourself—are critical to the success of this lab and what you get out of it.

To be in the lab is to be an engaged learner and an active contributor. This means you are expected to:

• Show up on time, prepared and ready to engage with others in the lab.
• Ask for clarity.
• Take time to reflect on what you are learning during and after the lab.

For more information, to meet the coaches, and to hear from previous lab participants visit our webpage.