Breaking down silos to build the Logan County we all aspire to!
Coordinated by United Way using the Harwood approach, Better Together (formerly The Harwood Initiative) unites residents for community-led action in 3 focus areas: Youth, Seniors, and Whole Health.
Driven by the Harwood Approach
Coordinated by United Way, our work relies on the Harwood Approach, a proven national practice developed by The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation.
Instead of making decisions inside conference rooms, this approach centers on Turning Outward: intentionally shifting away from top-down assumptions to deeply listen to resident wisdom and turn public knowledge into grassroots action.
Made Possible by Local Investment
This movement launched through a two-year investment from Honda, bringing Harwood coaching, training, and structural support directly to Logan County to strengthen local civic capacity.
Action Rooted in What We Heard
In 2023, residents across Logan County gathered for Community Conversations to answer simple questions, such as: What kind of community do you want to live in?
Hundreds of neighbors shared their honest hopes, challenges, and priorities. When those insights were published in the late 2023 community report, "Forging a Bright Future," three clear priorities surfaced above all else: Youth, Seniors, and Whole Health.
Stepping Up to Lead
In early 2024, United Way of Logan County stepped forward as the official coordinating partner to steward the movement long-term. At a local Getting Started Lab, community volunteers formed dedicated Action Teams for each priority area—turning report findings directly into grassroots solutions.
Two Years of Building Momentum
Over the past two years, residents and leaders have hosted conversations, tested ideas, and taken practical steps forward. Along the way, small actions began building on one another — creating “chain reactions” of trust, collaboration, and progress across the county.
As the formal coaching period concluded in February 2026, the community gathered for a Story of Change Celebration and released a new report, Logan County’s Story of Change: Building a Bright Future, highlighting what has taken root and how this momentum continues to grow.
This work does not end with coaching. It continues as an ongoing practice embedded in how Logan County works together.
What’s Happening Now
The initiative continues to grow through:
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Ongoing community conversations
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Action teams applying the Harwood approach
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Coaching and learning opportunities
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Cross-sector collaboration among residents, organizations, and leaders
This work is designed to create momentum- small actions that build trust, strengthen relationships, and spread throughout the community over time.
Get Involved
Strong communities are shaped by the people who live in them.
Whether you’re curious, hopeful, or ready to lead, there is a place for you in this work.
You can:
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Join an action team
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Attend an orientation session
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Host or participate in a community conversation
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Receive updates and stories of change
United Is the Way, and this is one way we live it out.
For more information or to sign up for an action team, contact the Better Together Coordinator, Jamie Morley at jamie@uwlogan.org
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