Harvesting Happiness

Jane Ekayu is a trauma counselor for former child soldiers of Joseph Kony and founder of Children of Peace Uganda, a nonprofit which works to heal and empower these youth through psychosocial therapy, creative arts therapy, education, and empowerment programs. Since 2004, she has helped over 3,000 of these children rehabilitate and return home to their communities. Ms Ekayu also travels around the world to raise awareness on the issues of child soldiers and post-war rehabilitation. She has captivated audiences in schools, universities, community groups, human rights organizations, political embassies, and in the United Nations General Assembly Hall. To learn more about Jane and her work, visit: childrenofpeaceuganda.com

Filmmaker Cynthia Travis has worked in Liberia since 2003, where she's developed innovative grassroots approaches to conflict resolution with her non-profit organization everyday gandhis. Her most recent film, THE FIGHT TO FORGIVE, follows former child soldiers who were forced to fight in Liberia's brutal civil war. THE FIGHT TO FORGIVE teaches that perpetrators of violence have an extraordinary capacity as peace builders. With an academic background in human development and creative writing, and a professional life in mediation and conflict resolution in vulnerable communities, Cynthia believes that storytelling is a powerful tool in conflict resolution. To learn more about Cynthia and her work, visit: www.everydaygandhis.org and www.thefighttoforgive.com

Dr. Syed Nabi is a Sleep Specialist and a regular contributor to Sleep & Wellness Magazine. He is Board Certified as a fellow of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Sleep Medicine. He currently works at Tranquility Sleep Specialists, Knoxville, TN and has been involved with American Sleep & Breathing Academy for the last 2 years.

Marci Williams is currently a Center Director, Wellness Coach, and a Management Consultant of a large recreation and fitness facility in which she oversees the day-to-day administration, operations, and programming. She has over 28 years of experience in the fitness and recreation industries both in the private and public sector. She holds multiple certifications along with a degree in Psychology.

Jeanette Robins is the founder of the American Sleep & Breathing Academy and the Sleep & Wellness Magazine. has been in the field of sleep medicine for 22 yearsand served on the curriculum committee for Weber State University to write the Sleep Add-On program for Respiratory Therapists.She served as the National Education Chair for the AAST and co-wrote the Principle of Polysomnography text book with staff members under her direction.

Bill King is a writer, speaker, certified trainer and mentor. A master of designing and implementing processes to simplify complex issues with amazing results, he used this gift to design fun, exciting and educational ideas to help kids deal with negativity, low self-esteem, bullying and anger. He teaches kids positive thinking, kindness, forgiveness and awareness in a way they can relate to.

His website www.idontstink.com teaches kids from a completely different point of view. The premise is negative thoughts stink. Using humor to break down the barriers many people have, Bill provides an entertaining atmosphere that promotes learning that will stick. Check out the STINK-o-city quiz to see how badly you STINK! Benefit from tons of easy-to-follow exercises, and enter your kind deeds into the kindness meter. Issue kindness challenges and be challenged yourself – all because you want to SMELL sa-weet!

JD Messinger is a modern day visionary whose credentials are reminiscent of a renaissance man. He is a fireman, CEO of Ernst & Young Consulting, Singapore, one of 37 Distinguished Graduates from the United States Naval Academy class of 1981, a nuclear submarine officer, and the Exxon executive who helped supervise the Valdez Oil spill cleanup. He has a dynamic presence in the media as the creator and host of both a television show and CNN radio show. In the business world he has been an advisor to Fortune 100 clients, governments, and members of parliament on five continents. He is a Best Selling Author and CEO of Spirituality, who shares the key lessons he learned from his 12 year journey and the key messages from his book, 11 Days in May. To learn more about JD and his work, visit: http://www.jdmessinger.com/

Larry Broughton is an Award-winning serial entrepreneur, best-selling author and former Special Forces Operator (The Green Berets) Larry is here to share heart-warming & humorous lessons on leadership, failure, tenacity, and the power of effective teams. Larry has parlayed his unique experience of serving on Special Forces A-Teams to the business world. He is now Co-Founder & CEO of BROUGHTONadvisory (a strategic planning, elite team-building, and transformational leadership training organization with clients ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups, to The Pentagon and Turner Broadcasting), and broughtonHOTELS. To learn more about Larry and his work, visit: http://aboutLARRYbroughton.com

Chip Conley is part world traveler, cultural anthropologist, armchair psychologist, and the founder and former CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality. With a simple yet profound mission, to CREATE JOY, San Francisco's Most Innovative CEO turned a seedy "no tell motel" into the 2nd largest boutique hotel brand in the world.Traveling to Bali a dozen times rekindled his childhood love of festivals, and experiencing collective effervescence on Burning Man's desolate playa (he's now a board member) solidified his vision. Experiencing the transformative power of cultural travel through festivals inspired his mission to now create joy on a global scale with Fest300, believing that, "Being culturally curious creates a more robust and resilient life, which creates a safer and saner world." To learn more about Chip and his work, visit: www.chipconley.com

Ellen Langer is a Yale PhD, Harvard Professor of Psychology, and artist. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and three Distinguished Scientist Awards, the World Congress Award, the NYU Alumni Achievement Award, and the Staats award for Unifying Psychology, and has authored eleven books and over 200 research articles on the illusion of control, perceived control, successful aging, decision-making, to name a few of the topics. Each of these is examined through the lens of her theory of mindfulness. Her research has demonstrated that by actively noticing new things-the essence of mindfulness-health, well being, and competence follow. Her best selling books include Mindfulness; The Power of Mindful Learning; On Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity; and her most recent book, Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility. To learn more about Ellen and her work, visit: www.ellenlanger.com

Dr. Mario Martinez is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist and founder of Biocognitive Science. He specializes in how cultural and transcendental beliefs affect health and longevity. His biocognitive theory is based on discoveries in neuroscience research with healthy brains and psychoneuroimmunology investigations of exalted emotions (love, compassion, empathy, dignity). Biocognition offers an integrated paradigm that brings together mindbody research and cultural anthropology. Dr. Martinez is considered a world expert on stigmata (Christ-like wounds that do not heal and resist infection) and has been consulted on these rare cases by the Catholic Church, BBC, National Geographic and Discovery Channel. He coined the term Cultural Psychoneuroimmunology to address how cultural contexts affect nervous, immune, and endocrine regulation. He is the bestselling author of the learning set CD, The Mind Body Code: How the Mind Wounds and Heals the Body and The Man from Autumn: A Psychological Novel. To learn more about Mario and his work, visit: www.biocognitive.com

When Michael Russer was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in September of 2011, he began a year-long personal transformation that included, radical prostatectomy follow up with intensive radiation treatments and full blown impotence. He considers his resulting impotence to be one of the biggest blessings in his life. It is because of his impotence that he and his partner discovered an entirely new approach to experiencing levels of emotional and physical intimacy that far exceeds anything either experienced prior to when things were working "correctly". It is his personal mission in life to serve other couples who struggle with emotional and physical intimacy due to ED, impotence or simply because they have lost their "spark."

Bonnie Gayle is a Body Image & Intimacy Expert and the Co-Creator of Sex Butter (a sexually empowering butter made with organic plant based oils and infused with messages of love and healing.) She educates and speaks about feeling comfortable and confident in your body, connect intimately & step into your personal sensual and sexual power. Bonnie work involves; releasing body bondage, loving yourself, and inspiring sensual & sexual freedom to open up intimacy in a whole new way!

Dr. Behzad Parva is the head of Parva Plastic Surgery in Northern Virginia, specializing in reconstructive and cosmetic breast care focused on the individual needs of each of his patients. His goal in restorative breast surgery is to establish a woman's sense of wholeness and self-confidence.

Melissa Bollmann-Jenkins is trained in clinical psychology and medicine in the U.S. and Germany, writing and publishing research studies on cancer patients and their quality-of-life issues. As community manager for Breastcancer.org, Melissa responds to and connects with the community of women and their loved ones who use the site.

Antoine Dunn is a singer, songwriter, and producer. After losing his mother to breast cancer and singing at her funeral, there was a moment that changed his whole perspective on how precious and fragile life can be. His time with his mother inspired his single "I Am". It is his way of giving back to her the support she gave to him throughout his life.

Rebecca Summers earned her commission as a Naval Officer in May 2000 and was designated a Surface Warfare Officer upon completion of initial training in Newport, RI. She re-designated as an Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer in December 2005. Summers' assignments span experience in both the surface fleet and naval aviation; she is a veteran of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and several combat deployments. Summers resigned her commission in 2010, and joined the staff of Intersections International as Program Manager for the Veteran-Civilian Dialogue program in April 2013. It is her goal to construct inclusive communities across America through dialogue and the collaboration between veteran organizations, colleges/universities, and community leadership.

Jody Bremer is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Jody received a special certification and verification from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists in Working with Military and Their Families in Private Practice. Servicemen from the Marines, Navy, Army and Air Force are a significant specialty, allowing her to provide personalized care for all of the military members and their families struggling with the specific hardships the military incurs, such as long-term separations, deployments, and PTSD

Charles J. Orlando is a relationship expert, bestselling author, and television and radio personality best known as the author of the acclaimed relationship book series The Problem with Women... is Men®, and is the sole voice behind the smash-hit advice and relationship page The Problem with Women... is Men on Facebook. Charles has been working directly with thousands of men and women and indirectly with hundreds of thousands via social media. His approach is one of reality and balance, steering clear of techniques that might sound good in a clinical book/setting yet nearly impossible to apply when considering the organic reality of life.

Leaving a long corporate career behind her, The Single Ladies Café was founded by Miss Sharon Cunningham, known by her radio personality Miss SC, and her daughter and TSLC's Celebrity News and Entertainment Editor, Foxx. This mother/daughter duo has created a café style forum for their informative dating talk show and magazine focused on content that inspires, encourages and educates SINGLE WOMEN of all ages to be confident, healthy, and strong while creating lasting personal joy as they date.