Photo Illustration By William Duke via the Wall Street Journal

This is part of Mac & Cheese Productions℠’ Life of Yes℠ Field Trips & Recess series, which brings people together for exploration, learning, and connection, and is sponsored by 92nd Street Y, a world-class cultural and community center where people all over the world connect through culture, arts, entertainment and conversation. For additional Trips & Recess, head here.

When you think of Ben Franklin, most people think of Founding Father, inventor, and the $100 bill. Franklin was also a self-improvement junkie. He lived his life according the 13 virtues that he tracked daily in a little notebook that he carried around with him everywhere. He also formed a mutual improvement club that he called the Junto. This group met weekly at the pub to talk about improving themselves and improving the world. This group went on to create many civic innovations that we take for granted – the public library, the post office, and the volunteer fire department.

Today, Franklin’s Junto is being reimagined for modern day. Ben Franklin Circles seek to bring people together who have a mutual interest in improving themselves and the world.

At this Life of Yes℠ Recess, we’ll host a Ben Franklin Circle to connect with new people, discuss one of Franklin’s 13 virtues, and learn about the Ben Franklin Circle movement. Patty Morrissey will facilitate our conversation. Patty, a Fear Experiment℠ alum (improv and storytelling), participated in the first Ben Franklin Circle and now leads her own Circle where she lives in Huntington, New York.

In the Press

What Would Ben Franklin Say? Discussion groups take on the founding father’s 13 virtues and put a modern spin on temperance and chastity, Wall Street Journal

Visiting a modern-day salon where people discuss Ben Franklin’s ideas showed me how valuable his insights can be 290 years later, Business Insider

Register

Snacks and drinks provided.

In the spirit of doing good, giving back, paying it forward, and realizing that when we lift others up, we lift us all, all registration proceeds will go to Open Books. Open Books is a nonprofit social venture that provides literacy experiences for thousands of readers each year through inspiring programs and creative capitalization of books.

Refund Policy: there are no refunds or credits so please make sure you can join before registering. If you’d like to transfer your seat to someone else, you may do so via Eventbrite.

If you can’t attend but you’re interested in learning more, check out the website and send Patty a note if you have any questions not answered there — helloATpattymorrisseyDOTcom

To learn more about Life of Yes℠ Field Trips & Recess, head here. To see other upcoming offerings, head here.