Gathering at the Heart of Civic Hope

By Sheree Haubrich, Public Innovators Network, Centro Hispano

Harwood Local Highlight

When the Greater Reading Unity Coalition hosted Richard Harwood at Centro Hispano, the room wasn’t filled with spectators — it was filled with builders. Community leaders, political representatives, school-district partners, grassroots conveners, innovators from our network, residents, and retirees from every corner of Reading, came not to be briefed, but to help shape a civic path built on trust, possibility, and the courage to turn outward together.

The night didn’t feel like a presentation. It felt like a gathering — a space where people were leaning in, not just listening. There was no hierarchy in the room, no divide between “decision-makers” and “community.” What you felt was alignment — rising naturally from shared purpose. People didn’t rush out afterward; they stayed in conversation, circling back to ideas, exchanging numbers, and reflecting together on what it means to be turned outward in a moment that often pushes us inward.

For many, this was the first time in a long time that civic work in Reading felt both grounded and hopeful — not about one organization’s effort, but about the collective will to move forward together.

People recognized themselves as part of something larger — not a campaign to watch, but a movement to join. This wasn’t a meeting — it was a moment of becoming. A reminder that the future of this city will not be handed down through systems but grown through relationship and commitment.

The real significance of this gathering is that Reading saw itself — not as a fragmented city waiting on change, but as a civic engine already in motion.

Innovation at Street Level

From Invisible to Unmissable — How a Map Became a Movement for Reading Families

This summer in Reading, families didn’t just hear about opportunity — they found it. The RDG Summer Programs Map created by the After School Activities (ASA) Team, became more than a link or a graphic. It became a doorway — especially for families who have spent years feeling like access was reserved for those who “knew the right person.” For many parents, it was the first time the city felt like it was for their children, too.

By the end of the summer, the map had been opened more than 44,000 times — not because it trended online, but because it traveled by hand and by trust. As word spread, the Reading School District began sharing it directly with families as a tangible resource, helping parents and students discover free and low-cost enrichment opportunities across the city. What began as a grassroots tool became a citywide connector — a simple act of coordination that turned access into equity. The story was no longer “there’s nothing here for our kids.” The new message is: “there is something here for us — and it’s within reach.”

And while the map lived online, its heartbeat lived on the street.

Ryan Cooper — a lifelong community servant — didn’t just share the map. He carried it into laundromats, bodegas, barbershops, court offices, corner stores, church steps, and sidewalks where families actually stand. He met parents face to face, in their own everyday spaces.

“Parents aren’t missing opportunities because they don’t care — they just can’t find them. When I’m on the block, I’m talking to real people. I’m putting it in their hands, not on a website they may never see. And you should’ve seen their faces — they were shocked. We just had to meet them where they are.” — Ryan Cooper

This is what public innovation looks like when equity and belonging take root: not a rollout, not a press release — a reconnection.

And this is only the first wave.

The work ahead is already shifting from a summer map into a year-round youth resource hub, expanding this fall to include after-school programming and seasonal programming. The hub will provide clear, easy-to-navigate information and allow families to search and filter opportunities by interest, age, and location. The visual element of the map remains critical — helping parents and students see what’s nearby as they navigate the very real barriers of transportation.

 What started as a tool is becoming civic infrastructure — built from the ground up, held in community hands.

This is Reading in motion. This is us — moving from invisible to unmissable.

Where the Work Continues

ESL Conversation Dinner

The ESL team continues to coordinate monthly ESL conversation dinners with partner hosts across the community. This event creates a welcoming environment where ESL learners can practice real conversation, build confidence, and feel supported by the wider community.

 Trinity Lutheran Church — 527 Washington St, Reading

 Tuesday, November 11, 2025- 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

 RSVP:   Auria Bradley at abradley@racc.edu or call 610-372-4721 ext 5120

Solidarity Walk for Youth Homelessness Awareness Month

Imagine walking a mile just to find food, shelter, or safety. For many unhoused youth, this is a daily reality. Join the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness for this community walk of awareness and compassion as we stand in solidarity with young people experiencing homelessness

 Reading Public Museum — 500 Museum Rd., Reading

 Saturday, November 15, 2025 · 10:00 a.m.

More info: Abby@bceh.org

 Holiday Pop-Up Farmstand

Use your FMNP checks before the holidays and enjoy nutrition tips, healthy food samples, Food Bucks, and giveaways! Most vendors accept WIC/Senior Checks, Food Bucks, cash, and credit/debit cards.

 GoggleWorks Café — 201 Washington St, Reading

 Friday, November 21 · 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Nourish 2 Flourish Cooking Matters Series

A three-week hands-on cooking class where adults learn to prepare easy, nutritious meals and make smart, affordable food choices. Supported in part by the PAFP Foundation & Pennsylvania Department of Health. Participants must be 18 years or older.  Click Here for Registration

 145 N 6th Street, 1st Floor Classroom, Reading

 Tuesdays — November 5, 12 & 19 · 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Share Your Story: What’s Moving in Reading

Have a moment worth lifting — a small win, a new partnership, a spark of belonging, a lesson learned, or an upcoming gathering? We want to hear it and help it ripple across our Innovators Network.

Email: Sheree Haubrich — shaubrich@centrohispano.org

Subject Line: Innovator Story: [Project/Neighborhood]

Include (brief bullets are perfect):

• What happened + who was involved
• Where it took place (neighborhood/venue)
• Why it matters (impact, shift, or learning)
• Any dates/links/flyers (PNG/PDF welcome)
• 1–2 photos (with permission to share)

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