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• Overview
• Mission
• Purpose
• Programs
• Interviewees
• Movement
• Team
•        Advisory Board
•        Staff
•        Volunteers
• Media Coverage
• Quality of Life Forum

We are pleased to announce the launch of The Quality of Life Forum, a monthly speaker series in which featured guests share the things they do that contribute to their quality of life. 

The event, which is hosted and sponsored by the Santa Monica Public Library, takes place every third Wednesday most months from 7pm – 8:15pm.  

Attendance is free but space is limited to 125.  To register and secure your space, email QOLF_Registration@qualityoflifeproject.org with your name in the body of the email.   The event begins precisely at 7pm so please arrive at 6:50pm or earlier.

Directions and map information at bottom of page.  

The format of the event is akin to the approach used in programs like “Inside the Actor’s Studio” and “Charlie Rose.”  The conversations between the moderator Kit Cooper and featured guests are relaxed and easygoing without the air of anyone claiming to be experts.  The talks focus on what are the perspectives and practices of the interviewee that contribute to his/her quality of life.  The session always includes a substantial Q&A period with the audience.

The most common areas of discussion include Health, Family, Balance, Getting Things Done, Relationships and Emotional Well Being.  “How does a ‘benefit of the doubt’ mindset in relationships make your life more enjoyable?”  “What are some things you do on a daily basis that make your life better?”  “What is something you’ve gotten better at over the years?”  “Can you tell us more about your practice of always carrying an audio recorder with you?”  

UPCOMING EVENT

Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 7pm
Moctesuma Esparza, award-winning filmmaker, producer, entrepreneur and activist, is revered for his contributions to the movie industry and commitment to Latinos everywhere. Esparza established Maya Cinemas, a growing chain of modern movie theatre complexes, and Maya Entertainment, the only Latino owned Entertainment Company targeting U.S. Latinos today. Some of his production credits include: Selena, The Milagro Beanfield War and most recently Walkout for HBO. Esparza founded the Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise Charter School, is Co-Founder of the Smithsonian Latino Center, and founding Member of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. In this conversation, Moctesuma will share his thoughts on living a full life as well as his practices around the art of interpersonal communication.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 7pm
Dr. Barbara Kay Polland has served as a professor of child development, a psychotherapist, a teacher, and a consultant to parents and teachers for decades. Barb is widely respected for her expertise on family issues; and by those that know her she is respected for her positive and independent approach to life. She has written several critcally acclaimed books including We Can Work It Out – Conflict Resolution for Children and Every Parents' Question and Answer Handbook.  And luckily her children and grandchildren live close to her in southern California.  In this session, Barbara will talk about the things that have brought joy in her life as well as specific practices that have made her family relationships richer and more fulfilling. 

 

PAST EVENTS

Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 7pm
Annie Duke is the world’s most successful female poker player. She’s also a mother of four, an author and a television entrepreneur having appeared on Celebrity Apprentice and other major programs. Annie was an English and Psychology major at Columbia University and did her doctorate studies in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She ended up moving to Montana and in 1994, at the urging of her brother, Annie entered her first World Series of Poker and walked away with $70,000. Over the course of the next decade, Duke established herself as one of the best poker players in the world. In 2004, Duke beat out an assembly of 234 players in the WSOP $2000 buy-in Omaha Hi/Lo Split. In August of the same year, Duke knocked out 8 of the worlds’ greatest poker legends and won $2 million in the No-Limit Texas Hold’em winner-take-all, WSOP Tournament of Champions. Annie is a thoughtful person who despite her high profile has maintained a centered approach to life. We are excited for Annie to share with us her perspectives on quality of life, particularly the importance of going after opportunities and creating one’s own path in life.  WATCH VIDEO OF EVENT HERE.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 7pm
Sonya Lyubomirsky, writer, positive psychology expert, professor, author of The How of Happiness.  Through her interviews with thousands of people on what drives their happiness, Sonja has pioneered a detailed yet easy-to-follow plan to increase our quality of life. In this discussion, Sonja will share her personal experiences as well as her research findings into what practices contribute to living an joyful and contented life.  WATCH VIDEO OF EVENT HERE.

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009, 7pm
Ben Sherwood, award winning author, entrepreneur and journalist.  Author ofNew York Times best seller The Surviors Club, former executive producer Good Morning America and senior producer for NBC Nightly News.  Ben recently launched www.TheSurvivorsClub.org, an online resource center and support network for people facing all manners of adversity.   WATCH VIDEO OF EVENT HERE.

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009, 7pm
Mark Thornton, author of Meditation in a New York Minute, executive coach, expert on how meditation can create competitive advantage for leaders and individuals, former COO of JP Morgan London.  Consults with leading organizations like McKinsey and Harvard Law School on how to improve performance through deployment of meditation practices.  WATCH VIDEO OF EVENT HERE.

DIRECTIONS/LOGISTICS:  The event is in the Martin Luther King auditorium at the Santa Monica public library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA.  Entrance to the parking garage is on 7th street, 100 yards north of Santa Monica Boulevard on the west side of the street.  Plenty of underground parking is available at just $0.50/half hour.  After parking, take the parking elevator up to their first floor, exit to the right and the auditorium is right there.  Parking lot is indicated by the below arrow.