Valarie Kaur in Conversation for the Public Love Summit

Valarie Kaur in Conversation for the Public Love Summit is a day of talks, stories and shared practice at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland, California. It sits within the Greater Good Love Summit, a day of science, stories and action built around one question: whether love can heal a fractured world and bring more meaning to our lives. It suits anyone who wants concrete ideas for spreading love in their community and cultivating it in themselves and others, and it may be especially useful to educators, health professionals, and faith and community leaders.

What to Expect

The summit brings together scientists, storytellers and performers. Leading researchers speak on the origins and power of love, award-winning storytellers share narratives of love in action, and participants take part in performances and creative activities. The talks are meant to be mind-opening, and the practices interactive and uplifting.

The day covers what science tells us about love and why it matters now, the biological and evolutionary basis of extreme acts of altruistic love, how love can strengthen our social fabric and bridge divides, and ways to recognize our innate capacity for love and encourage it in the next generation.

The lineup includes author Anne Lamott, positive psychology pioneer Barbara Fredrickson, Citizen University CEO Eric Liu, and comedian, director and producer W. Kamau Bell. There is also a live recording of the Greater Good Science Center's Science of Happiness podcast with host Dacher Keltner. A conversation between Valarie Kaur and Dacher Keltner is part of the program, and the day concludes with a book signing.

About Valarie Kaur

Valarie Kaur is a civil rights leader, lawyer, filmmaker, educator and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. Born to Punjabi Sikh farmers in California, she grew up in a family shaped by hard work, community and resilience, and by the challenges of immigrant life. That upbringing gave her a deep understanding of marginalized communities and a sense of responsibility to advocate for justice and equity. She is the author of the #1 LA Times bestseller See No Stranger, a book on the power of love and empathy in the face of adversity, and has led campaigns addressing issues such as hate crimes.

About Dacher Keltner

Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., is the faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center and host of its Science of Happiness podcast. He is the author of Awe: The New Science of. At the summit he joins Valarie Kaur in conversation and hosts the live podcast recording.

The Setting

The gathering takes place at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland, California, a performing arts venue that suits a day of talks, music and shared activity.