Featured Speaker: Dr. Matthew Lee (Harvard University)

Few would dispute that the arts play a crucial part in a life well-lived. Aesthetic experience is part of the story, but only part. There is so much more. It is good to remind ourselves of an expanded vision of the role of a musical composition, a painting, a poem, or the performance of a dance in the lives of all people. The arts can act as a bridge to connect disparate groups of people, while at the same time helping us to diagnose and remedy well-being deficits in our own organizations. But there are disparities in the extent to which the arts are utilized by different groups. Drawing on a wealth of interdisciplinary research, this session will envision a deeper role for cultural organizations in fostering a more inclusive experience of flourishing, or complete well-being, for all members of the community in Palm Beach County and beyond.

About the presenter: Dr. Matthew Lee is Director of Empirical Research at the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Scholar of Health, Flourishing, and Positive Psychology at Stony Brook University’s Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics. He previously served as Chair of the American Sociological Association’s Section on Altruism, Morality, and Social Solidarity and as Vice President of the Center for Restorative Justice of North Central Ohio. His research explores pathways to human flourishing, benevolent service to others, and the integration of social science and the humanities. He is currently co-editing a book for Oxford University Press on the interdisciplinary measurement of well-being.

Main Session

Suggested for: board of directors, executive, development, programming/events, creative professionals

Location