Needham Community Education

Barbara Harman taught English at Wellesley College for over two decades, wrote three books (two on Victorian fiction), and, after becoming Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation in 2000 and founding the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington (now Spur Local) in 2003, realized she had changed careers. Once a passionate teacher and writer about literature, she began learning and writing about philanthropy. During the pandemic, she started a monthly newsletter about intersections between arts and culture, politics, and the current moment. An academic who is also skilled at writing plainly and passionately for a general audience, Barbara sees writing as her personal superpower and a fascination with language (both English and Spanish) as her passion. After 25 years at the helm of the Foundation, she participated in its redesign and remains an active member and Co-Trustee. Barbara is proud of completing the entire Duolingo Spanish course, fulfilling her dream of re-learning the (little) Spanish she picked up as a teenager in Oaxaca, Mexico (her streak is 1800 days and counting), and using her skills to teach English to a Oaxacan artisan. Up next? Returning to her origins as a teacher of literature and working locally with immigrants who wish to improve their English language skills.