* Happiness and Sustainability: An Exploration with Michael Roberts

We often associate the word “sustainability” with responsible environmental practices. But today, sustainability is giving rise to a new metric of vast significance to all of us: Happiness. The concept of measuring and promoting citizen happiness as a marker of progress, instead of increases in gross domestic product (GDP), is galvanizing people around the world.

Sustainable Seattle’s Happiness Initiative is a model of metrics for well-being and social justice that can be replicated in any community to catalyze citizen dialogue and action in pursuit of happiness. Groton resident and community icon Michael Roberts recently graduated from the first Happiness Initiative “Train the Trainer” course. Michael is uniquely qualified to bring the principles of this initiative to Groton, teaching from the perspective of a community member who is deeply committed to sustainability here at home.

Join us at Open Studio for a three-session interactive workshop in sustainability and the Happiness Initiative. We’ll explore the history of sustainability around the world and in Groton. We’ll delve into what sustainability means, how it can be measured and practiced, and its importance for a master plan. With reading assignments and homework, this workshop will give you an in-depth understanding of sustainability, the Happiness Initiative, and what these ideas mean for you as an individual and as a community.

About the Instructor: Michael Roberts is the founder and current Chair of the Groton Sustainability Commission. He is a Historic Preservation professional with 40 years of experience in the preservation and management of community historic resources, preparing community preservation plans and interpreting a community’s past for local, regional and international audiences. He has been a student of the sustainability movement for more than 15 years and has observed successes, disasters, and changes in sustainable community development. His goal is to help communities become self-sufficient and sustainably content.