200,000 groups.
128 countries. All 50 states.
One theme: character.
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
KENYA
GLOBAL LIVESTREAM
CHARACTER DAY
Character Day was a global day that ran annually for 6 years, from 2014-2019.
Each Character Day, millions around the globe in schools, companies, and homes gathered to watch short films, engage with discussion materials, and join a global livestream conversation about character -- the science behind how to develop strengths like grit, gratitude, self-control, curiosity, and creativity -- and why these strengths lead to more meaning, purpose and happiness. Character Day grew, in its final year, to having over 200,000 groups in 128 countries and all 50 states. We told everyone: we provide the films. We provide the discussion kits. You create an event that works for you. Any size. Anywhere in the world.
Character Day was supported entirely by visionary foundations.
A middle school Character Day "bravery flashmob"
at Sarasota Military Academy, Florida.
Refinery29 Headquarters in New York City, like many companies,
held a Character Day happy hour.
Hong Kong made Character Day a city-wide event,
with billboards across busses and streets, and government involvement.
CHARACTER DAY
FILMS
All of the Character Day films -- which were used to kick off each Character Day event -- are free and ready to stream. Each film comes with online discussion guides for different ages. We consider the film the appetizer. The conversation after the main course! When Character Day was in full production, we also offered hands-on discussion kits to all participants.
The Adaptable Mind (10 mins)
The Making of a Mensch (11 mins)
30,000 Days (10 mins)
Dear Parent (2 mins)
Dear Student (2 mins)
THE SCIENCE OF CHARACTER
8 MIN FILM + DISCUSSION GUIDES
THE ADAPTABLE MIND
10 MIN FILM + DISCUSSION GUIDES
30,000 DAYS
10 MIN FILM + DISCUSSION GUIDES
THE MAKING OF A MENSCH
11 MIN FILM + DISCUSSION GUIDES
DEAR PARENT
2 MIN FILM + DISCUSSION GUIDES
DEAR STUDENT
2 MIN FILM + DISCUSSION GUIDES
GLOBAL LIVESTREAM
The first Character Day, 2014
Each Character Day, we put on an all-day livestream that featured the greatest minds from all different fields on the subject of character development. Events around the globe could tap into the livestream, and watch, listen, and ask questions in a free global Q&A conversation (long before the pandemic!).
Livestream speakers included scientists like Dr. Angela Duckworth, Dr. Martin Seligman, and Dr. Mark Brackett; educators like Randi Weingarten and Sal Khan; and artists, authors, and students of all ages.
Character Day 2019
01:22
14:59
17:01
22:52
09:44
23:34
01:05:59
47:54
56:52
56:31
01:12:20
12:47
22:42
18:03
24:24
24:43
27:46
24:37
22:26
18:38
CHARACTER (EVERY) DAY
RESOURCE HUB
We ran and operated the Character (Every) Day Resource Hub for 6 years, with 5,000 curated resources -- films, books, lesson plans, podcasts, apps, websites, articles, and games -- that could be sorted by character stregnth, age, and type of person (educator, individual, parent, etc).
The hub is not currently live due to the costs to keep it running, but if you're interested in funding the hub to bring it back to life, contact sawyer@letitripple.org.
RESEARCH
We worked with UPENN's ImpactED to evaluate the qualitative impact of Character Day on individuals and institutions who participated. Here are some highlights:
93% reported an increase in their *personal* intention to develop character.
80% reported an increase in their *institution’s* support of character development.
96% reported intention to continue participating in Character Day.
100% reported they wanted more: more ways to engage, more content, and more resources, year-round.
Read thefull report and three case studies here.
Research
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