[Town Hall] For the Greater Good: Finding Balance and Hope in Troubled Times
We exist in a moment when anger, despair and cynicism seem to be everywhere. How do we find balance and even hope amidst the chaos and uncertainty assaulting our communities, country and planet? This online Town Hall panel discussion will focus not only on compelling reasons why a more positive response is warranted, but also on possible pathways of constructive action that can benefit everyone in the interest of the greater good. Facilitated by Berkeley's Darren Zook.
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Panelists
Marion Standish retired recently as vice president of The California Endowment, a $4B+ private, statewide health foundation established in 1996 whose mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all California.
Elizabeth Svoboda is a science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, and the Boston Globe. She is the author of What Makes a Hero?: The Surprising Science of Selflessness. She is working on a book about the art of pacing ourselves in an overclocked world.
Charles Halpern is a lawyer, activist, author, educator, and meditation practitioner. He also served as the founding dean of CUNY School of Law. His book, Making Waves and Riding the Currents: Activism and the Practice of Wisdom, tells the story of how he brought public interest activism, mindfulness, and meditation into law schools and courthouses across the U.S.
Alessandra Carter joined the UC Berkeley Extension Leadership team in 2024 as the inaugural Equity, Access, and Belonging Leader. Driven by a commitment to service and social impact, she draws motivation from Daisaku Ikeda, bell hooks, and Michelle Obama as she is inspired by their respective ideas about race, equity, and education.
[For members only • Livestreamed + possibly recorded]