Health Fund Partner Stories

“This network has allowed us to develop deeper relationships with organizations outside of United Way, as well as our Collective Impact partners. We have also had some amazing community conversations, that I believe will continue to inspire and develop some amazing ideas. ”

“Rich Harwood makes a final statement and in that statement he spoke on how he didn’t have a plan coming into this session; that struck me in a sense that I couldn’t believe it. His ability to connect with this specific room of people, with his fluency in the language he chose to use, was astounding. His approach to engaging in conversation is so powerful and highly responsive. I found myself being more engaged than I thought I would be and it was enlightening. Everyone had something to connect over in many capacities and it felt nice to be heard. This was an awesome event and I would definitely not be opposed to coming to more. ”

“As a result of the coaching by Rich Harwood we began holding Innovation Spaces instead of a typical meeting format for the Great Start Collaborative. Great Start Collaborative members have continued to attend with the new format and have shared that they appreciate having the time to talk and learn with each other. Several Great Start Collaborative members went on to attend the Open Tent sessions held by the United Way of Southwest Michigan. Changing the GSC meeting format has engaged members more fully and had peaked their interest in the Turning Outward approach. ”

“This work has truly changed our community and the organizations that are participating. When we had our first Public Innovators discussion with Rich Harwood, the individuals in that room shared so much about what they have learned about themselves and what they have learned from the community in doing this work. It was such an inspirational, uplifting moment to see how this work is transforming the people involved. ”