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MAY 6: MILLENNIALS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM | BOOK CLUB
An evening with journalist (and millennial) Jill Filopovic, author of OK Boomer, Let’s Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind. Filopovich shows that millennials are not the avocado toast-eating snowflakes of boomer outrage fantasies. She upends dated assumptions with revelatory data and paints a revealing portrait of America’s most educated, most engaged, yet least-wealthy generation. Register here.

MAY 10: HISTORY IS AN OPEN BOOK | BOOK CLUB
May 10, 1933 marks the first student-led book burning in Germany. These students, under the guidance of Nazi ideology, carried out public burnings of books they claimed were ‘un-German.’ The burnings took place in 34 university towns and cities. Works of prominent Jewish, liberal, and leftist writers were targeted for burning. (Registration link coming soon.)

MAY 12: 100 DAYS IN WITH ALI VELSHI
MSNBC Anchor and Citizen Board member Ali Velshi’s analyzes the first 100 days of the Biden presidency and looks forward. In conversation with The Citizen’s Larry Platt and Roxanne Patel Shepelavy. (Registration link coming soon.)

 

EVENTS IN THE WORKS—all dates TBD

INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE NEW BLACK
What can President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan mean for American cities like Philadelphia? A conversation with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, whose “Maps 4” plan uses infrastructure projects to spur inclusivity and transparency in his city; and Shalini Vajjhala, founder/CEO of re:Focus, a California social venture that has worked with both Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro on developing and financing lauded green infrastructure programs. Moderated by Bruce Katz, founding director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University.

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION
A discussion on new classroom models, featuring Rebecca Skinner, head of School of New York’s Blue School, an independent school founded by the members of Blue Man Group to connect students to their innate ability to create and express themselves; Christina Grant, chief of innovation for the Philadelphia School District; and Carlos Moreno, executive director of Big Picture Learning, a student-centered learning model in 150 schools, including two in Philadelphia. Moderated by The Citizen’s Larry Platt.

HE ROCKED THE WORLD: STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF THE ROCK & ROLL REVOLUTION
A conversation with legendary rock promoter Larry Magid, co-founder of groundbreaking Electric Factory Concerts. Moderated by The Citizen’s Larry Platt.

JO PIAZZA AND CHRISTINE PRIDE | BOOK CLUB
The authors discuss their new book, We Are Not Like Them, an evocative novel about two lifelong friends—one Black and one white—whose friendship is shaken by an all too familiar tragic event that becomes an exploration of race in America today. Moderated by The Citizen’s Roxanne Patel Shepelavy.

ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
As the kick-off event for Mural Arts Month, a discussion between Mural Arts Philadelphia executive director Jane Golden and prominent national artists on how art can fuel social change.

LEARN MORE

About Dr. Ludwig's work

Learn about Dr. Ludwig’s work and check out Platt Labs research on health and wellbeing.

Watch How Kindness Is the Key To Happiness

At The Citizen’s most recent virtual event, author/entrepreneur Brad Aronson and Dr. Vera Ludwig shared the science and stories behind doing good for others

Watch How Kindness Is the Key To Happiness

At The Citizen’s most recent virtual event, author/entrepreneur Brad Aronson and Dr. Vera Ludwig shared the science and stories behind doing good for others

It started with a simple call to action from author Brad Aronson: Think of a kind act someone performed for you. Now, text the person who did it, letting them know you’re glad they’re in your lives.

And so began a heartwarming hour-long conversation on Wednesday evening between Aronson, entrepreneur, mentor, and author of HumanKind; Vera Ludwig, PhD, neuroscientist and research associate at Penn’s Platt Labs; and Citizen Executive Editor Roxanne Patel Shepelavy.

Aronson’s book is a collection of moving anecdotes about the transformative power of kindness—from the life-changing confidence MLB pitcher Jim Abbott derived through the kindness of his third grade teacher, who taught him how to tie his shoes with one hand, to the global impact of young Massachusetts cancer survivor Gabriel Aljalian, who turned the anniversary of his leukemia diagnosis into a worldwide day of performing acts of kindness.

“Being kind makes us feel good. And when we think about the kindness someone did for us, we relive that kindness,” Aronson said, by way of explaining the opening exercise. In real-time, guests started experiencing the effects of their gratitude, as people responded with equally warm messages.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ludwig explained the documented benefits of kindness on our hearts, brains, and bodies. It turns out that connecting with, and doing good for, others has proven scientific benefits for our own well-being—lessons Ludwig has taken from both her study of yoga and meditation, and from her neuroscience research.

“These stories are everywhere,” Aronson said. “If we don’t ask, we don’t hear about them.”

But happiness requires more than just striving to walk through the world focusing only on joy. “Seeing sadness is the first step in making change,” Ludwig said. We are not to tune out the injustices of the world—but to acknowledge them, then dig in to chipping away at them.

If you missed this inspiring event, which opened with a rousing performance by the students of Rock to the Future, the nonprofit that brings free music programming to students throughout Philadelphia, you can watch it below. You can order HumanKind through Head House Books, with proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters, where Aronson is the regional board chair.

You can start experiencing the power of kindness right now: It doesn’t take any money or even much time to brighten someone else’s day with an authentic compliment, a thoughtful gesture, a heartfelt boost.

And do yourself a kindness, too: Make like Aronson, and start asking others about the random acts of kindness that changed their lives. “These stories are everywhere,” he said. “If we don’t ask, we don’t hear about them.”

Be sure to join our ongoing series of free virtual events—you can learn more and RSVP to them here.

RELATED: Catch up on some of our other virtual book club gatherings

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