Flourishing: A new perspective on community well-being

Traditionally, health and well-being has been viewed through a narrow lens, often focusing only on the absence of disease or the alleviation of symptoms. However, the World Health Organization’s definition offers a more holistic view. They define health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” Building off of this idea, Harvard University launched the Human Flourishing Program, led by Tyler J. VanderWeeler, to research and develop a pathway to synthesizing practical social sciences such as education and economics with often philosophical ideas of human well-being. This encompasses five key areas:

1. Happiness and life satisfaction

2. Physical and mental health

3. Meaning and purpose

4. Character and virtue

5. Close social relationships

This approach to well-being forms the basis of our “Flourishing” series, which encourages us to look beyond isolated issues and consider the interconnected factors contributing to a balanced and flourishing community. This year, Generocity.org will examine concepts of well-being developed by our readers and community members, offering a new perspective on what it means to flourish together.

A Community-Driven Exploration: Stability and Security

Generocity’s “Flourishing” series will be relevant and engaging, reflecting our readers’ and community members’ needs, aspirations, and experiences.

To kick off our series, Generocity conducted a reader survey, which revealed a common theme: the desire for stability and security. From financial stability to social and environmental stability, responses focused on the impact of stability on mental and physical health and community relationships. 

Our initial exploration will focus on the concept of stability and how it contributes to overall well-being and the essential components of a flourishing community.

Throughout each focus area, we will:

1. dive into individual ideas of flourishing to understand what community members need, 
2. explore how common this idea is in the community and what is needed for the community as a whole to flourish,
3. then examine the effect this idea would have on society across the state.

This approach will provide insights into what our community needs to flourish and identify practical ways to achieve these goals.

Looking Forward

We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences to shape the direction of this exploration and ensure that we address our community’s most pressing issues and desires.

By broadening our understanding of well-being and focusing on the concepts that matter to our readers, we aim to foster a more inclusive and nuanced dialog about creating an environment in which all members of our society have the opportunity to succeed, not just survive.

Join us throughout 2025 on this journey as we explore community well-being through the lens of “Flourishing”. Your stories, ideas, and experiences will be the driving force behind this transformative series.