Hope Circuit: Activating HOPE through action

The photo of the first Hope Circuit international conference represents, for me, the essence of what I have tried to cultivate since first meeting Marty in 1993: the conviction that human flourishing is sustained through connection, presence, and the courage to face challenges together. In this image I see not just a gathering of colleagues and friends, but a living symbol of the ripple effect of Positive Psychology—the way ideas become communities, and communities generate hope. Choosing this photo for the Seeing Happy collection at MAPP’s 20th anniversary reflects my belief that legacy is not built in isolation; it is woven through shared purpose, laughter, compassion, and the ongoing commitment to imagine and create a more hopeful world.