Concord, NH – Leading figures in mindfulness, emotional intelligence, meditation, and mindful communication joined forces in Concord on Saturday, September 8 for a one-day Mindfulness in Society Conference. The sold-out event was tailored around the curriculum of the new Mindful Communication Certificate program at NHTI, Concord’s Community College and featured presentations and workshops from meditation expert Sharon Salzberg, change agent Charlie Hartwell, mindfulness teacher Margaret Fletcher and Richard Brady, co-founder of the Mindfulness in Education Network.
The day-long conference was the brainchild of Professor Dan Huston, who has spearheaded the mindfulness work being done at NHTI for over twenty years. Huston brought together leading experts in the field to discuss how practicing mindfulness can reduce hate, resentment, and misunderstanding while increasing compassion, understanding and cooperation – important topics in professional development, education, well-being, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal communication.
“The original goal for this conference was to bring some mindfulness 'powerhouses' to NHTI to celebrate the launch of our brand new Mindful Communication Certificate,” said Huston, professor of communication and writing at NHTI. “The fact that we sold out a full month ahead of time with a wait list is a testament to the incredible impact this relatively new field of study has on so many. And I’m deeply grateful that these amazing presenters took time out of their busy lives to support the important work we are doing here at NHTI.”
The mindfulness program featured workshops by the presenters as well as a panel discussion and question-and-answer session.
"It was a deep delight to be right in our own backyard and see so many friends gather together in the spirit of furthering mindfulness in the world,” said presenter Margaret Fletcher, mindfulness teacher of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “This new field of study has a true gem in the initiative Dan leads at NHTI, and his slow-growth approach over the last twenty years is a wonderful teaching tool for those who are interested in contributing to the field in the years to come.”
The Mindfulness in Society Conference was presented by NHTI in partnership with Tufts Health Freedom Plan and Yoga4Classrooms.
For more information about mindful communication or NHTI’s new certificate program, please contact Dan Huston at dhuston@ccsnh.edu.
Photo: Dan Huston with Amy Proctor (left), Assistant to the President of NHTI, and Laura Scott, NHTI's Development Director.