This event was a celebration marking the 11th International Day of Happiness and 25 years of positive psychology – a field of research focused on the empirical study of human flourishing. The first positive psychology summit took place in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1999.
This event took place on Saturday, March 23, 2024. The sound quality is not great while the musicians are playing but you can hear them when they are talking about their music.
Schedule:
Video – Welcoming Remarks: Ryan Wieber, Library Director of Lincoln City Libraries
Video – Monica Joy Fara, Poet
Video – Nick Hernandez, Living the HAPPY LIFE
Video – Richard Dienstbier on Physiological Toughness, Nutrition, and Human Flourishing
Video – Maria Nazos, Poet
Video – Panel on the Arts and Wellbeing:
- Judy Hart, Teaching Artist
- Karen Kunc, Constellation Studios
- Timothy W. Scholl, Angels Theatre Company
- Joe Shaw, LUX Center for the Arts
- Karen Shoemaker, Larksong Writers Place
Video – Julia Williams, Accordionist
Video – Paul Durbin – The Journey is the Destination
Video – Milan Wall, Community Building
Video – Orion Walsh, Musician
Video – Lincoln Improv Collective
Video – Aerica Parris and Cynthia Steele on Kindness and Generosity
Venue change to Francie and Finch
Panel on Re-Imagining Career Paths with Purpose, Joy, and Authenticity
- Kimberly Rath, author of “Now, Near, Next” and co-founder of Zeal of the Heel
- Karen Shoemaker, Founder of Larksong Writer’s Place
- Leslie Huerta, Founder of Francie & Finch Bookshop
We gave away books to deepen wellbeing; a few were signed.
- Ted Kooser, Winter Morning Walks
- Maria Nazos, The Slow Horizon That Breathes
- Gus Carlo, Prosocial Development, inscribed, “Altruism is worth our while.”
Click here see the 15 year anniversary celebration we threw for positive psychology in 2014.
March 20th is the official International Day of Happiness but it falls on a Wednesday in 2024 so we are moving our celebration to a Saturday so that more people can participate.