The Little Field Guide for Sparking Community-Led Change: 10 Essential Questions to Build Civic Confidence and Momentum

by Richard C. Harwood

Creating change in communities is hard. Getting people and resources in motion and keeping them aligned is a big challenge. Creating something sustainable is even tougher. Generating results can be downright elusive. What are we to do? How can we get started in ways that increase the likelihood of long-term success?

If we want to spark community-led change, then how we do the work is as important as what we do. And the early steps we take matter—a lot. Drawing on over 35 years of experience leading change in communities across all 50 states and 40 countries worldwide, Harwood reveals ten essential questions that are often overlooked in community change initiatives. With inspiring stories of transformation and actionable strategies, this field guide is a must-read for those ready to step forward, meet communities where they are, and forge sustainable momentum that creates a new trajectory of hope.

Genres: Nonfiction

122 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

Richard C. Harwood, President and Founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, is an innovator, author, and speaker. For 35+ years, he has devoted his career to revitalizing the nation’s hardest-hit communities, transforming the world’s largest organizations, and reconnecting institutions to society. He has been recruited to solve some of the most difficult problems of our time, including being called into Newtown, CT after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He has appeared in numerous national media outlets and has written nine books, scores of articles, and groundbreaking reports like Civic Virus: Why Polarization is a Misdiagnosis.

Reviews

[Grace -thewritebooks]

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

I picked this one up as a quick non-fiction read and it caught my eye with the word 'community' - a couple of the books I've read this year and last year have involved aspects of community building so I was hoping for a look at the practical side of things.
This guy definitely knows what he's talking about, and I don't doubt the amazing work his organization has done, I would have however enjoyed some concrete examples to go along side his theoretical field notes. I am sure there are probably some difficulties there with not openly sharing specific case notes - but also he kept referring to "the work in Reading" but I feel like I have no idea what actually went on there.

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Little Field Guide for Sparking Community-Led Change: 10 Essential Questions to Build Civic Confidence and Momentum is a fabulous resource for sparking and sustaining change in communities. The Harwood Institute (THI) approaches community building very differently than other organizations.

THI asks thought provoking questions of community residents about their shared aspirations rather than focusing on problems and divisiveness. THI is radically inclusive to ensure many different voices and opinions are heard. By focusing on shared aspirations, communities can determine what they want to work on and how to work together.

The biggest "aha moment" for me while reading The Little Field Guide for Sparking Community-Led Change: 10 Essential Questions to Build Civic Confidence and Momentum was the difference between an invitation and an entreaty. An invitation is inviting someone to join something you've already planned and created. An entreaty is asking people if they want to go on a journey together to cocreate a path forward. Big difference!

I have read several other books by Rich Harwood, and I highly recommend them as well: Unleashed: A Proven Way Communities Can Spread Change and Make Hope Real for All, Stepping Forward: A Positive, Practical Path to Transform Our Communities and Our Lives, The Work of Hope: How Individuals and Organizations Can Authentically Do Good, Why We're Here, and Hope Unraveled: The People's Retreat and Our Way Back.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: The Little Field Guide for Sparking Community-Led Change by Richard C. Harwood

Overview
Richard C. Harwood’s The Little Field Guide for Sparking Community-Led Change is a practical, inspiring manual for anyone seeking to foster meaningful civic engagement and grassroots transformation. Framed around 10 essential questions, this guide distills Harwood’s decades of experience into actionable insights for building trust, momentum, and collective agency in communities. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, activist, or concerned citizen, this book offers a roadmap to turn aspirations into tangible change.

Key Strengths
-Action-Oriented Approach: The 10-question framework is brilliantly simple yet profound, guiding readers to reflect deeply on their community’s needs and assets.
-Real-World Relevance: Harwood’s expertise shines through with relatable anecdotes and case studies that illustrate how small shifts can ignite large-scale impact.
-Accessible & Engaging: Written in clear, conversational prose, the book avoids jargon, making it welcoming for both newcomers and seasoned organizers.
-Empowering Tone: Focuses on cultivating civic confidence—a refreshing emphasis on agency over apathy.

Considerations
-Niche Audience: While universally applicable, the book’s greatest value lies with practitioners actively engaged in community work.
-Depth vs. Breadth: Some topics warrant deeper exploration (e.g., navigating systemic barriers), though the concise format prioritizes clarity.
-Visual Aids: Additional diagrams or worksheets could further enhance its utility as a “field guide.”

Score Breakdown (0–5 Stars)
-Practicality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – A toolkit you’ll dog-ear and revisit.
-Clarity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) – Complex ideas made approachable.
-Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Fresh framing of timeless principles.
-Impact Potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – Has the power to transform mindsets and methods.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) – A spark plug for the soul of civic action.

Who Should Read This?
-Community organizers, nonprofit leaders, and local government staff.
-Educators teaching civic engagement or social change.
-Individuals seeking to move beyond theory and do the work effectively.

Final Thoughts
Harwood’s guide is more than a book—it’s a call to roll up your sleeves and believe in the possible. By centering humility, curiosity, and shared ownership, it redefines what it means to lead with (not for) communities. A must-read for our fractured yet hopeful times.

Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Richard C. Harwood for the advance review copy. This book is a gift to anyone ready to build a better future, one question at a time.

Note: Review based on an uncorrected proof; final publication may vary.

[Wy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The copy I read was an eARC from Studio Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is for:
- people actively involved in local politics,
- community aid, or
- local/regional non profit work.

This book is not for:
- individual contributors,
- people curious about community organisation,
- national NPO or activists.

This title caught my eye as I am working on building a local community for queer afab and trans women. It was a great overall read, but not what I needed for my purposes - hence the 3 stars.

For the right people, this book will be a treasure trove of how to and thought provoking community organisation tools. The author has well laid out thoughts and the illustrations within help give visual aid to the concepts he covers. Short and sweet and very direct - it maybe took me a half hour to read. He discusses a real life example of how he and his institute use these principles to effect long term change (I really loved the “we’re not looking for repeat work”). The heart of this book is how to facilitate positive forward thinking discussion and intersectionality when creating long lasting community progress.

Overall I would recommend this book to the people it is for. For those that aren’t already involved at a leadership level with community organisation, I would say this book is a skip.

[j3n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Studio Books and NetGalley for the eARC! I think this book is a pretty good introduction into community-led, or grassroots, organizing for change. It is straightforward and easy to understand. I appreciate the intersectional lens the author aims to discuss organizing through and actually went beyond the book to read/listed to some other bodies of his work. This ultimately helped flush out some of the ideas presented in this book! I also enjoyed the format and the reiteration of ideas, sometimes that can be repetitive, but for this book I think it was more useful than anything. Specifically for the format: the inclusion of cartoon sketches, underlining throughout the chapters, and bolding the final takeaways from each really helped keep my interest — beyond just the content. Definitely a useful book that lays a framework out through “field notes” in order to most compassionately serve communities in growing, rebuilding, or simply just existing. Thank you again for this eARC!

Favorite Quote: pg. 39 - “Change spreads over time, like a positive contagion.”

Author’s repeated phrase: “Let me be clear…” (at least 4x, lol)

[Leah Croghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world feels like a mess right now, and honestly, I’ve been struggling to see a way forward in my own community. When I picked up this book it was the first time in a long time, I felt some hope. This book isn’t about grand, impossible ideas—it’s about real people stepping up in their neighborhoods and making change happen in small but powerful ways. Harwood gets it. He knows that trust has been broken, that people feel disconnected, and that it’s hard to even know where to start. But this book lays it out so clearly: listen, build relationships, take action. It’s practical, doable, and, most importantly, proven to work.

What really hit me is that this isn’t just another book filled with feel-good stories—it’s a roadmap. The Harwood Institute has been doing this work for decades, and the examples in the book prove that communities can heal and move forward, even in tough times. If you’re frustrated, exhausted, or just feeling stuck, this book is a must-read. It reminded me that change doesn’t have to come from the top down—we already have what we need to make things better, right where we are.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was a bit repetitive, but I did find it very insightful regarding both the processes for community-led change truly suggested by the connected Institute and differing methods used by other practitioners/funders outside of the organization; plus, the repetition helped make the main themes 'stick' and last. Not only did the author challenge these alternative methods with respect, but rationale/reasoning and suggestions for improvement were provided. The chapters, while fairly brief, provide a great amount of points and questions to ponder at different points in one's reading journey, if not between points of their civic discussions, as well. Good stuff.

Thank you to Studio Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Flo Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book gets to the point!
Rich Harwood has been inspiring people to make change in their communities for decades, but this book does not require you to go on a detour through extended case studies, rather it gets right to the point of how you can create the conditions for change. Spoiler alert: there are no shortcuts. At a time when it is so easy to give into “how can we start to bridge what divides us?” The Little Field Guide reminds us that in neighborhoods, school districts, faith and arts communities or chambers of commerce; we truly still share enough to get going and spark change that can last.

[Sandra Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve worked in community change work in the past and it wasn’t until I learned about the Harwood Institute’s work and approach to shifting how communities make change happen. This book offered a dynamic perspective to how we help communities approach change. What it takes to lead “community-led” change that matters and is grounded in what the people want. Too many times organization (me included) look at our communities and think we know what it needs. This books offers insightful questions that will help you tho k differently about community change. A must read!!!

[H Noss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to start a movement in their community; this short book gives you the advice necessary to create actual change, not to force change that isn't wanted by their community. I took so many notes while reading this, and it's genuinely helped me reflect on what I need to do to be more of an advocate of positive change. Namely, how to ask the community itself what it needs and where it wants to begin.

Actionable and insightful.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Gabriella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A field guide is a good description for this- it's short and straight-forward. There was nothing ground-breaking in terms of tips, yet the insights were still relevant. I can tell the author wants you to use your creativity for his advice, but at times it feels too vague to work with. This could be helpful for a seasoned organizer to refer back to when they need a quick refresher on certain topics.

[Michael Prihoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book contains big impact. An essential guide to adopting the mindset and behaviors needed to create real, lasting change. I highly recommend to funders and nonprofit leaders in particular, though there are nuggets here for anyone who seeks to get involved in their community, whether as a career or just as someone who cares.

[Oluwagbemiga Dasylva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed with decades of insight, the guide cuts through the noise, emphasizing that true, lasting change is rooted in people—real relationships, genuine trust, and shared purpose—not in flashy campaigns or top-down strategies. This is a book to return to again and again.

[Jon W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! This book has shifted the way I see community engagement and my own work, highly recommend to anyone interested in community-led change!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super easy read that makes real change feel possible. Provides a needed sense of hope and possibility.

[Emnet Sisay]

You want to learn/polish your knowledge of how to build a better community? This is the book!!