The Real Science of Well-Being
by Sara Flitner
Tomorrow we welcome one of the world’s most acclaimed researchers on human flourishing: Dr. Richard Davidson. Named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People, Richie (as many know him) has pioneered the modern science of resilience—proving it is not just a trait but a trainable skill. He’s carried this message from the World Economic Forum to our own Center for the Arts stage, where he drew standing-room-only crowds with research on building resilience, focus, optimism, and generosity.
Richie’s visit is a Big Deal. Since Connie Kemmerer first brought him here in 2018—part of her longstanding commitment to introducing mindfulness in schools, workplaces, and communities—Richie’s work has only grown more influential. His Center for Healthy Minds continues to publish groundbreaking studies, develop tools like the award-winning Healthy Minds Program app (named “best meditation app” by The New York Times, Vogue, Sports Illustrated, and more), and inspire initiatives such as the Emmy-winning Kindness Curriculum that even shaped a Sesame Street season.
I first met Richie when we were both speaking at a conference. I was a few months into my term as Mayor of Jackson, knee-deep in an avalanche of challenges: the looming Budge Slide disaster, an acute housing crisis spilling into hours of tense public comment, and development regulations bogged down after seven years of debate. It was also the dawn of today’s political climate, where division and tribalism increasingly define public discourse.
Richie’s research offered something rare: hope. He showed that communities, like individuals, can strengthen their resilience muscles—learning to stay focused, connected, and solution-oriented even in the face of overwhelming stress. Intrigued, I asked: How might we use this science to improve outcomes for Jackson as a community? That question became the seed for what is now Becoming Jackson Whole.
From Town Hall pilots to policy-maker trainings, Richie’s curriculum helped lay the scaffolding for the work we continue today: Friday morning mindfulness practice, our community TRYathlon, daily practices we share, and science-based trainings for schools, hospitals, and workplaces. If you’ve joined even one of these, you’ve been touched by Richie’s legacy.
So much has changed since Richie last visited in 2018, but one truth has only deepened: his science is more urgently needed than ever.
This Saturday at 7 PM in the Grand Room at Snow King, Richie will share proven, science-based strategies for strengthening focus, compassion, and resilience—tools to help us build a community that is not only functional but caring, effective, and connected.
Here’s my invitation:
Turn off the news.
Show up with neighbors who want to be part of change.
Bring someone who may not yet know why this work matters.
Tickets and scholarship seats are available here. Special thanks to our partners, friends and colleagues at St. John’s Health, in particular the Wellness Department, for partnering with us, and to Connie Kemmerer and her legacy of bringing the vision of a mindful community alive.
As we say daily: Pause. Breathe. Act. Together, we can do so much.