Harvesting Happiness

Ashley Michelle Williams is a world-traveled multimedia journalist who currently works at WBAL as a multimedia reporter/ web producer, contributing to its digital content. Prior to working at WBAL, Ashley worked at NBC Network News as a member of the New Associates Program, a rotation program designed to develop future producers within NBC News. During her time at NBC, she has worked for the Today Show, the Grio, and MSNBC's Politics Nation with Al Sharpton.

In her spare time, Ashley also manages and oversees her media company, RIZZARR. She created RIZZARR to inspire youth and young adults to create their own ripple effect in the world. High school students and college students from around the country contribute to the platform, which features current news and articles on issues that they face.

Kirsty Spraggon is a Talk show host, Speaker, Life Liver, People lover, Founder of Konnection Global, and Executive Producer of Kirsty TV.

Kirsty TV is about the power of sharing stories. As an interviewer she holds hearts in her hands as her guests share their most personal and vulnerable stories. She believes when people share their stories they heal themselves and others.

Psychotherapist Ira Israel is the author of "Mindfulness for Urban Depression DVD," "Mindfulness Meditations for Anxiety DVD" and "Yoga for Depression and Anxiety DVD". Ira has Master of Arts degrees in Psychology, Religious Studies, and Philosophy. He is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and a Certified Yoga Therapist.

Richard J. Davidson, PhD, is a renowned neuroscientist and one of the world's leading experts on the impact of contemplative practices, such as meditation, on the brain. He is the founder and chair of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work in studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought after expert and speaker internationally. Time magazine named him one of the most influential people in the world in 2006.

An innovator in the field of personal growth and transformative thinking, Eric Handler is the co-founder of Positively Positive -- an online multimedia platform known for its creative content designed to challenge readers to live a life worth sharing. Beginning as a Facebook page that quickly grew into a community of more than 1 million fans, the full platform was launched in October 2011 by Eric and his wife and business partner, Julie. Together they seek out the strongest voices and storytellers this world has to offer to inspire others to be present to the moment and live fully in the now.

Rex Pratt has been involved in various film and video projects over the past decade. His interest in a project is always based upon the ability of the film to move and inspire the viewer. Between Iraq and A Hard Place is a project that became personal as it progressed. It began by documenting the difficulties of troops' transitioning back to normal life after combat. After almost 2 years of meeting with returning troops, Rex has developed a special attachment to the troops. He defines himself as "not easily converted to a new cause". However, the personal stories that he became involved in have stirred his filmmaking talents and inspired a film that will move you and touch your heart as you experience up close what is in the heart and minds of our young troops. He is currently working on his next project that also deals with war and assisting in the completion of the book Between Iraq and A Hard Place with his partner/brother, New York Times best-selling author, James Michael Pratt.

Paula J. Caplan is a clinical and research psychologist. She received her A.B. with honors from Radcliffe College of Harvard University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology from Duke University. She is currently Associate at the DuBois Institute, following two years as a Fellow in the Women and Public Policy Program of Harvard Kennedy School, both at Harvard University. She is the author of 11 books, co-editor of one book, and author of dozens of book chapters and articles in scholarly journals, as well as of numerous articles and essays in popular publications.

Her most recent book, When Johnny and Jane Come Marching Home, won the Association of American Publishers' PROSE Award for best psychology book of 2011, Independent Publishers' Groundbreaking Book of the Month Award the month it was published, and Independent Publishers' Silver Medal in the psychology/mental health division for 2011.

Danielle LaPorte is the outspoken creator of The Desire Map, author of The Fire Starter Sessions, and co-creator of Your Big Beautiful Book Plan. She is an inspirational speaker, former think tank exec and business strategist, she writes weekly at DanielleLaPorte.com, where over a million visitors have gone for her straight-up advice offering white hot truth. Her site has been deemed "the best place on-line for kick-ass spirituality", and was named one of the "Top 100 Websites for Women" by Forbes.

John C. Havens is Founder of the H(app)athon Project, a contributing writer for Mashable, and author of, H(app)y - The Value of Well-Being in a Digital Economy .The H(app)athon Project is an initiative that utilizes emerging technology to improve human well-being and drive positive social change. He is a former professional actor and current blues musician.

Janice Kamenir-Reznik is Co-founder and President of Jewish World Watch (JWW), an organization she co-founded with Rabbi Harold Schulweis to mobilize Americans to fight against genocides and mass atrocities, and to provide relief and support to survivors. Janice served as President of California Women Lawyers, President of the California Women's Law Center, and as trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar and trustee of the California State Bar's Trust Fund. Janice travels to the Darfuri refugee camps, and to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help JWW establish and fund various recovery and economic development projects in the eastern regions of the country.

Naama Haviv, who holds an MA/ABD in Genocide Studies from Clark University, joined JWW's team as Assistant Director. Naama develops and directs JWW's policy objectives towards Sudan and Congo, manages JWW's strategic partnerships both in the US and in Sudan, Chad, and Congo, and their program development including youth activist training initiatives and domestic education and advocacy programs. As well as researching current world conflicts to assess the risk of genocide.

Julie Bram is a full time community volunteer and activist. As a founding partner and past chair of the Jewish Venture Philanthropy Fund she has been blessed to support and work with many remarkable non-profit organizations. Her passion lies in using education and communication to effect positive change in the world. (Tikkun olam) Julie currently serves on several advisory committees and boards of directors for a wide variety of charitable causes.

James Clear is on a mission to make the world well and the founder of The Art of Becoming Better. He is an entrepreneur, writer, and travel photographer in 18 countries. His writing has been featured by US News & World Report, American Express, Yahoo, Lifehacker, and dozens of other businesses and media outlets. His photography was nominated for the Travel Photographer of the Year award for his work covering the September 11th Memorial in New York City.

Tanya Geisler is certified Life and Business Coach (CPCC, ACC) with a penchant for clarity (and her Clarity Sessions have been likened to “divining rods”). She’s coached hundreds of people who were ready to step into the spotlight of their lives and businesses. She wrote The Joy Pages, created Board of Your Life, is a blogger for the wildly popular The Daily Love, has served as contributor and was featured in Canadian Living, and is an in-demand speaker who talks with great passion on all things joy, meaning and purpose (just try to stop her). She recently spoke at TEDxWomen (video available March 2013).

It is her indomitable belief that if everyone knew their own unique recipe for their personal brand of joy, they’d hold the key to shining in their life, in their work and in their life’s work. (It really does change everything.)