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The Happiness Initiative is a national project offering tools and resources to communities and individuals seeking to enhance their well-being. The mission of the Happiness Initiative is to work for a just, healthy and resilient society where all people have the opportunity to pursue happiness. The Seattle Area Happiness Initiative is a local happiness initiative that uses the tools and resources developed and provided by The Happiness Initiative.
How happy are we? Over 7,200 people took the survey between Jan. and July 2011; 2,400 from the Seattle area. Download the Seattle Happiness Report Card Now!
Background
The Happiness Initiative began as Sustainable Seattle's fifth set of indicators. The project is based on the Gross National Happiness Index used in Bhutan. We are inspired by our Declaration of Independence that states all have " certain unalienable rights... life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
In 1991, Sustainable Seattle became the first organization in the United States to develop local indicators of well-being as an alternative to GDP. To do it, we partnered with dozens of other local organizations and agencies. Our work led to similar projects in more than 100 American cities and name recognition around the world. For our 20th anniversary, Sustainable Seattle is again taking the lead, as we begin to collect and publicize the first set of happiness (or well-being) indicators for any city in the United States. Together with our partners, we are creating a model of survey results and metrics for well-being and social justice that can be replicated in any city to catalyze citizen dialogue and action in pursuit of happiness — sustainability and love.
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Read about our historical regional indicator work.
Media about the Seattle Area Happiness Initiative:
KING-TV special!(4 minutes)
KCTS CNX documentary (9 minutes)
King TV coverage (2 min
)KCTS CNX coverage (scroll in 20 min).
Al Jazeera coverage (2 min)
Please donate! Every donation helps! Please donate today and help us put the happiness initiative on sound financial footing! Your contribution is tax-deductible.!
Supporters of the Seattle Area Happiness Initiative
City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
Fred Gellert Foundation
Anonymous
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