www.PositivityMatters.org
Omaha celebrated the International Day of Happiness on March 20, 2025 and the University of Nebraska – Omaha.
Above: International Day of Happiness Proclamation by the Omaha City Council.
YouTube recording from the event: www.youtube.com/live/cQIZPho3C_Y
The event was free and open to the public and took place at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center.
Social media event links: Facebook | LinkedIn
Sponsors:
UNO Office of Engagement
UNO Department of English
Above on the left: “Speak kindly to one another. Do what you can to help each other.” ~Chief Big Elk, a principle chief of the Omaha tribe | Above in the middle: Hartley Burr Alexander, a philosopher, designed the thematics of vision (VISIO) and hope (SPES) into the doors of the Joslyn Museum. | Above on the right: “Change is only a good thing if you change in a good way.” and “…the hardest thing, also the greatest thing, for any human being to do; to accept that which is already within you, and around you.” ~Malcolm X
The United Nations has been celebrating March 20th as the International Day of Happiness since 2013. Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals is Good Health and Well-Being. The World Happiness Report is released every year on March 20th.
Hope: Presentations and Generative Conversation
- ACTions for Hope – Megan Pendley
- Hope Champions Network – Suzi Yokley-Busby
- Hope Sharing – Jeff Slater
Presentations:
- Building Toughness Through Challenge and Affection – Richard Dienstbier
- Alternatives to Violence Project – Suzanne King
- Kindness, Hope, and Everyday Heroism – Ari Kohen
- World Happiness Report – Julie Ray
- International Day of Happiness Proclamation – Omaha City Council
- Business Ethics Alliance – AnnMarie Marlier
Kindness: Presentations and Generative Conversation
- Secret Kindness Agents – Ferial Pearson
- Positive Psychology in the Community – Lisa Scherer
- Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters – Emily Briones
Fostering Friendship, Happiness, and Thriving Places: Presentations and Generative Conversation
- Virtue, Friendship, and the Good Life – Richard White
- Yates Illuminates – Marie Hélène André
- The Gifford Park neighborhood – Chris Foster and Martin Janousek
- The Bennington Agrihood | Gross National Happiness – Sabastian Hunt
Presentations:
- Appreciating Teachers – Kimberly Bailey
- The Seasonal Movement – Ruben Gomez
- The Story of a Friendship – Chris McCroy and Markee Ballard
Join or Die – a documentary about Robert Putnam and his research on social capital, a foundational element for thriving communities .
- Complimentary public showing of Join or Die kindly made possible by the directors of the film.
- Live video conversation with Rebecca Davis, co-director of Join or Die.
The following pie charts are visualizations of the collective strengths of people who planned, presented, volunteered, and attended (in-person or by live stream) this celebration.
The 24 VIA strengths aggregate into the following six domains: Wisdom | Humanity | Courage | Temperance | Justice | Transcendence
The following chart is what our collective VIA strengths would look like if they were randomly distributed:
You can take the free VIA Survey of Character Strengths (Handbook) through UPenn (Registration | Take Test) or through the Values in Action Institute at www.viacharacter.org.
Regionally, the VIA has been used in Nebraska as part of a dropout prevention program and in Kansas as a part of a hope building project.
The 34 CliftonStrengths aggregate into four domains of leadership: Executing | Influencing | Relationship Building | Strategic Thinking
The following is what our collective CliftonStrengths would look like if they were randomly distributed:
Nick Hernandez, Community Builder
[email protected]
Call/Text: 402-909-5203
Profiles of my top strengths:
CliftonStrengths: Connectedness | Maximizer | Futuristic | Strategic | Positivity
VIA strengths: Curiosity | Zest | Humor (Playfulness) | Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence | Hope
*Normal parking enforcement will not be in effect due to the spring break holiday. A parking permit is not required to park in general use stalls on holidays. Parking enforcement will still be in effect for reserved stalls, ADA stalls, visitor stalls, EV charging stalls, pay-to-park timed lots (Lots A,C, and the seven (7) designated stalls in Lot M), drive aisles, and fire lanes.