R Street Institute

When Americans think of government, many feelings come to the surface—many of which include low trust, dissatisfaction, and fear. But translating feelings into action can be a lofty goal for government, and traditional processes often try to sanitize the elements of human emotion in exchange for progress. However, what if to create effective change in our communities, there was a focus on the feelings—harnessing the emotion and the stories and experiences that shape our lives. In Pennsylvania, this is exactly what PA Heart & Soul is doing.

Now, having operated in the state for a little over a decade, PA Heart & Soul has modeled how to successfully harness storytelling and emotion into actionable change. The program began in partnership with the PA Humanities Council and the national Community Heart and Soul organization. Their model is simple and straightforward: listen to the community and build.