Rich Harwood to be 2016 Arts Conference Keynote Speaker

By Suzanne Lynch, Director of Marketing and Development –

The Tennessee Arts Commission is excited and honored to introduce Rich Harwood as the keynote speaker for our 2016 statewide arts conference, Collective Impact. As you might recall, we are merging both our arts education conference and our biannual arts conference bringing both audiences together. With the theme of Collective Impact, we will explore a common agenda to address community issues through the arts. With his expertise and relevant work, Rich is an excellent choice to kickstart the conference.

Rich is founder and president of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, a national nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, MD. The institute teaches and coaches people and organizations to solve pressing problems and change how communities work together.

Rich’s transformational work has spread to thousands of communities nationally and worldwide—from small towns to large cities—through concrete methods he created and has honed for more than 25 years.

These proven practices are based on hands-on work with individuals, organizations and communities in their quest to create change. Rich’s talks, coaching techniques and practical guides have provided the hope and inspiration for individuals and groups to improve their public and private lives.

A visionary with the ability to help people identify obstacles and tap their aspirations, Rich has inspired hundreds of audiences as he shares his philosophy of what it takes to be relevant and connected in today’s world. Rich is also a prolific author whose books and guides include “The Work of Hope: How Individuals and Organizations Can Authentically Do Good“; “Hope Unraveled; Make Hope Real”; and “Why We’re Here: The Powerful Impact of Public Broadcasters When They Turn Outward.”

Rich has also written numerous studies and articles that chronicle the most vital issues of our time, and has appeared on national media including MSNBC, NPR, CNN’s Inside Politics, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Special Report with Brit Hume, C-SPAN, CNN’s The Don Lemon Show, German Public Radio, China Central TV and Voice of Russia Radio. Learn more about Rich and his inspirational personal journey.

Follow Rich on Twitter @Rich Harwood using his hashtag, #turnoutward. You can also join him on Facebook at Rich Harwood.