Reconnecting to our Roots Speaker Series
In this Speaker Series, we hear from thought-leaders, experts, and passionate thinkers as they focus on the core concepts that make The Green Center who we are: Community, Science & Nature, Education & the Arts.
"Being Human in Times of Change: Growing Communities Through Mattering, Fairness and Well-being"
with Michael P. Scarpa, PhD
Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 11am
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In our inaugural offering of this series, we will hear from Michael P. Scarpa, PhD about his work and research on cultivating community.
Change is all around us — in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and the world at large. Research increasingly shows that strong communities are key to our health, happiness, and sense of purpose during uncertain times. But what exactly is community, and how can we cultivate it?
In this talk, we’ll explore the idea of community through the lens of nature — as an ecosystem where relationships grow from and help shape a nurturing environment, much like a thriving garden. Drawing from his academic research, Mike will outline the Mattering-Fairness-Wellbeing (MFWB) framework — a practical model for creating spaces where people feel valued, experience fairness, and contribute meaningfully to one another’s lives.
We’ll discuss how these experiences create a virtuous cycle — the healthy soil in which community takes root and flourishes. The talk will close with actionable ideas for strengthening connections right here in St. Louis, offering practical steps we can take to foster resilience and belonging in our local communities.
Michael P. Scarpa, PhD, is a community psychologist, author, and evaluator focused on the systems and relationships that support sustainable well-being and the common good. He is co-editor and contributing author of How People Thrive (Cambridge University Press), which introduces a novel psychological framework for advancing social well-being. Michael earned his PhD in Community Well-Being from the University of Miami, where his research centered on wellness, fairness, and mattering in communities and organizations.
As an educator, he has developed and taught doctoral courses in social research and quantitative methods. As an evaluator and consultant, he brings over a decade of experience in professional learning evaluation, operations consulting, and social impact measurement for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and federal agencies. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wonderful wife and a burgeoning container garden that’s teaching him as much about ecological complexity and well-being as his research ever did.
All currently active Volunteers are entitled to discounted tickets of $5 for our Speaker Series. Discounted tickets need to be purchased in person and can only be purchased with cash or check. If you are a volunteer who would like to reserve your spot, please email [email protected] today.
Past Speakers