A New Civic Path Forward: Coming Together in Reading
When Rich Harwood visited Centro Hispano to speak with members and supporters of the Greater Reading Unity Coalition, his message was simple but profound. He highlighted our aspirations for the work we are doing every day at Centro and lifted up our shared purpose: to spark unity, strengthen civic life, and build a more hopeful future for our Greater Reading community.
The Unity Coalition, which includes Centro Hispano, Bring the Change, the NAACP of Reading, the Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks, the Islamic Society of Berks County, and Alvernia University’s Holleran Center, reflects that spirit. It is a partnership rooted in shared values and a shared belief that Reading can continue to move toward a more inclusive and hopeful future. For Centro, this is not new work. It is the heart of our mission in action.
Finding Hope in Uncertain Times
Rich Harwood’s visit was part of a broader campaign traveling across America, meeting communities of every background and political persuasion who recognize that the challenges we face require us to come together in new ways. His message to Reading was both uplifting and energizing: there is an innate goodness in people, and real progress begins when we lean into that goodness, focus on what matters most to our neighbors, and start with small steps that lead to big positive change. This belief is at the foundation of the work we due at the Centro Hispano
At Centro, we prioritize the challenges we hear from our constituents. Parents ask how to support their children through uncertainty. Seniors talk about the fear of isolation. Young adults wonder whether their voices matter. Rich’s visit affirmed what we already know from our work with families, students, and neighbors: even in difficult times, people still want to believe in each other and in the places they call home.
He reminded us that this moment also holds possibilities. Rich highlighted what he sees emerging across the country and what he clearly saw in Reading: people are ready to get in motion, ready to forge a new civic path, and ready to move forward together. At the Centro Hispano we continue to convene and demonstrate what’s possible when collectively we choose partnership over division and hope over fear. The desire to step forward, to take care of one another, and to imagine a different future is alive here in Greater Reading, and Centro is honored to help nurture that hope.
The Goodness That Still Lives in Us
One of the most hopeful parts of Rich’s message was the reminder that our innate goodness has not disappeared.
At Centro Hispano, we see goodness every time a parent shows up to learn how they can be a more impactful advocate for their children through one of our Opening Doors sessions, a student earns her college acceptance letter after we help her through the application process, or a member of our senior center is recognized for his volunteer work for the first time. We want to be seen and heard. We want to feel that we matter. We want to belong. We want our children to grow up in a community where they feel safe, valued, and capable of dreaming big. When we can ground ourselves in what we all care about: dignity, love, safety, opportunity, and hope. That is the space we create every day at the Centro Hispano in our daily work.
Reading Already Moving Forward
Rich described Reading as an example of what can happen when a community chooses a new path. Not long ago, Reading was labeled the poorest city in America. Today, while serious challenges remain, something meaningful has shifted.
People from many backgrounds have been coming together to build new relationships, create shared agendas, and collaborate on early childhood education, after-school programs, ESL support, and more. Centro has played a key role in that process, listening to residents, lifting up community voices, and helping convene partners who want to create real, lasting change.
For Centro Hispano, this is what it means to be part of the Unity Coalition. It is an extension of our mission to turn outward, to listen deeply, and to stand alongside our neighbors as partners in strengthening the community we share.
Four Mantras for a Stronger Civic Life
As part of his message, Rich outlined four ideas that can help any community build a more hopeful civic life. These ideas reflect what Reading has already begun and what Centro strives to embody every day.
1. Turn outward toward one another
Change begins with a choice: to see and hear one another. Turning outward is not a program to sign up for. It is an orientation. We feel that turning outward looks like listening before acting, honoring people’s stories, and recognizing the wisdom that already exists in our neighborhoods.
2. We must get into motion
Get in motion. Start building with others. Talking matters, but building changes lives. Differences will always exist, but they do not have to stop progress. When we focus on shared concerns, such as youth opportunities, mental health, safe neighborhoods, and a sense of belonging, we create room for action. Centro’s work with families, youth, and seniors is grounded in these shared priorities that go beyond party lines.
3. Starting small to go big
We all want to see big changes, but when we start small and focus on small wins we can build to the big change we all want to see. When we release ourselves from the burden that we must see big changes overnight, we can celebrate the small wins that can catalyze and lead to larger community impact over time.
4. Making the invisible, visible in creating a new trajectory of hope
Hope is at the core of all that we do. We must demonstrate over time that we are moving in a better direction that is producing better results for our Greater Reading Community. Much of the best work happening in Reading is quiet and unseen. By lifting these stories, we help our community remember that progress is real. Our families, volunteers, staff, and partners are part of that good news, reminds us that change is possible and already underway.
Reading is on the move
Reading is already showing what can happen when people refuse to give in to division or despair. When families, faith communities, nonprofits, and local leaders choose to work together, new pathways open.
Centro Hispano is grateful to be part of that ongoing story. Together with our partners in the Greater Reading Unity Coalition, we will continue to turn outward, uplift dignity and belonging, and help shape a future built on hope, shared purpose, and the everyday goodness of the people of Reading.
We invite community members to learn more about our partnership and impact on the Harwood Institute website.
