In a presidential election year marked by polarized politics, some Shasta County residents are looking for ways to help people with different perspectives reach common ground.
United Way of Northern California launched its Building Bridges effort in September to help people close their divisions.
The nonprofit now plans to host a public discussion to be led by an expert who has helped communities across the United States and around the world to overcome their discord and work together toward common goals.
That expert, Rich Harwood, advised the Newtown, Connecticut community after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings shattered lives and trust.
When he comes to Mercy Oaks in Redding on Oct. 29, Harwood — the president of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation — will talk about ways people can pivot from the derogatory politics that have put Shasta County in the spotlight and instead focus residents on solving issues that all sides of the community want to improve.
Creating a focus on shared values may seem challenging in a county where some local politicians have made national headlines for backing unverified voter fraud claims and making attempts to break state laws.
“Shasta County is a microcosm of the combativeness that’s rampant in many communities in our country, not just here,” said United Way of Northern California spokesperson AbbyAnn LoCascio in an announcement about Harwood’s upcoming visit. “Harwood has worked with other cities that are in our same boat.”
Reshaping a divisive and toxic culture into a constructive one requires a shift in thinking, from politics to community and then to people recognizing they have shared aspirations, Harwood said. The expert facilitator was called in to help people in Shasta County “see possibilities for positive change,” said United Way of Northern California CEO Larry Olmstead.
Since he started his organization in 1988 ― at age 27 — Harwood and his Bethesda, Maryland-based organization have helped people with clashing opinions explore ways to identify and address their shared concerns, from improving school safety to creating community equity.
Other United Way groups, including the one in Redding, have been trained in Harwood’s community-building techniques. Olmstead said his staff have gone on to use those listening and trust-building skills in their own local outreach efforts.
Members of Building Bridges had reached out to more than 100 community leaders as of late September, asking them to participate, Olmstead said.
The effort has received financial assistance from local organizations including the McConnell Foundation and Redding Rancheria, according to Olmstead, but most of the funding comes the California Endowment, with additional grants from the Ford Family Foundation and the Sierra Health Foundation.
Said Harwood: “What we’ve done is to develop approaches that teach people how to strengthen the civic culture of their community.”
The most important step, Harwood said, is getting people to identify what’s really most important to them, be it mental health, education or safety. Based on those shared aspirations, he said people can then decide which issues and actions to pursue.
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“We teach people a practice that enables them to put these ideas into play each and every day,” Harwood said, which helps communities ”develop a sense of hope.”
Harwood said that in the past he has worked with groups in Reading, Pennsylvania to address their concerns about education “at the height of the culture wars.” Factions that once argued over book banning and school board recalls are now finding common ground and are instead working together on shared public education goals, he said.
According to Harwood, the ideology clash that has divided Shasta County is happening all over the country.
“Our politics will change when our communities demand different behaviors,” he said.
Harwood said significant changes in American history also began at the community level, including the Civil Rights movement and the right of women to vote.
When something matters to people, said Harwood, “it spreads like a positive contagion.”
When: Doors open at 5 p.m.; program begins at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29
Where: Mercy Oaks, 100 Mercy Oaks Drive in Redding
Other venues: Harwood will also speak at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 at the South Side Community Center, 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road in Oroville.
Cost and reservations: Admission is free. Seating is limited to 200 attendees. Registration is required. To attend in Redding go to norcalunited.co/BuildingBridgesShasta. To attend in Oroville go to norcalunited.co/BuildingBridgesButte
For more information: Call United Way of Northern California at 530-241-7521
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter@RS_JSkropanic and onFacebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work,please subscribe today. Thank you.
