Dear Character.org Family,
We hope this message finds you all in great spirits.
Each year, at our annual Forum we look forward to connecting or reconnecting with each of you. We also love learning how you have been inspired by our keynote speakers (like Steve Hartman from CBS), our 60+ breakout sessions, and celebrating with us the educators who have worked tirelessly to help their school achieve National School of Character recognition.
Unfortunately, a few logistical challenges have made it impractical for us to hold the Forum in 2024.
However, let there be no room for dismay! We are already in the process of planning an exceptional in-person Character.org Forum in 2025. We will announce the date and location very soon, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, please keep the spirit of the Forum in your heart. We remain humbled and grateful for your commitment to encourage young people of all ages to understand, care about, and practice the core values and character strengths that will enable them to flourish in school, relationships, the workplace and as citizens.
We can’t wait to see you during our Forum in 2025.
Respectfully yours,
Dr. Arthur Schwartz
President
On behalf of the Board and Staff of Character.org
Highlights From Our Last Forum
Keynote Speakers
Steve Hartman
Character Can Change The World
The Power of Real-Life Stories to Help Students Practice Kindness and Gratitude
During the pandemic, Steve Hartman from the iconic CBS News series “On The Road” began a new series called “Kindness 101.” Together with his children, Steve shares stories around character-inspired themes and how ordinary people are doing extraordinary acts and changing lives. Steve will give a keynote at our Forum on how to join thousands of teachers around the country who are using his videos to inspire students to build connections, and how through a ripple effect, create a more caring and compassionate world.
Dr. Michele Borba
Character: The Science-Backed Solution to Our Mental Health Crisis
Tools and strategies to improve well-being
Our young people are experiencing a mental health crisis due to a variety of factors. In her keynote, renowned psychologist Dr. Michele Borba will share the science-based tools and strategies educators and families can use to equip young people with the resiliency and character strengths that all of us need during the inevitable storms of life.
Dr. Maurice Elias
Cracking The Intrinsic Motivation Code
5 Insights To Help Students Discover Their Moral Compass
Dr. Elias will explore how to shape positive student behaviors by fostering their sense of purpose. He will also discuss the evidence-informed approaches and practices that encourage students to set goals for themselves, to think about their own thinking, as well as tools to help students assess and strengthen their own character. This highly-interactive keynote will draw on many of the key indicators highlighted in Principle 7 of our 11 Principles Framework for Schools.
Breakout Sessions
Together we learned about peer mentoring, service learning, staff retention and morale, parent engagement, student leadership, sports, restorative practices, and much more. Check out some highlights in the short clips below
Jim Clark, President of Boys and Girls Clubs of America received our John Winthrop Wright “Ethics in Action” Award!
Phil Brown, co-founder of the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional, and Character Development (NJASECD), received our “Sandy Award” for lifetime achievement in character education!
Forum Partners
Character.org is honored that the Kern Family Foundation is our 2023 Forum Sponsor.
