FFI Senior Fellow Gary Anderson, a theater director and producer with over 36 years of experience, makes a compelling case for centering the arts as a pathway to wellbeing and democracy. Drawing from personal experiences, historical context and contemporary research, Anderson explores how art serves as a transformative force that can heal trauma, build empathy and strengthen social connections. His paper, “You Got a Right to the Tree of Life,” weaves together JFK’s vision of arts as a measure of civilization’s quality with FFI’s wellbeing frameworks, demonstrating how accessible, meaningful artistic experiences are essential to creating an equitable society where everyone can thrive.
This tool offers a set of questions related to tradeoffs and the Five Domains of Wellbeing that you can use as a “check engine light” for you and your work.
Use this tool to identify how a specific policy, project, program or practice will impact different stakeholders’ wellbeing, allowing you to anticipate and address unsustainable tradeoffs.
Learn how domestic violence practitioners can shift from a singular focus on short-term safety toward increasing survivor safety in the context of creating opportunities to support long-term wellbeing.