Two years ago, Luis Gallardo, founder of the World Happiness Foundation, was invited to a mayor’s conference in Washington D.C. and shared his mission to create cities of happiness. Now, as a result of Gallardo’s efforts, the City of Pinecrest is officially designated the first United States City of Happiness.
In honor of this, Pinecrest held their first World Happiness Festival on March 20-21 in Pinecrest Gardens. This event included activities ranging from breathing exercises to a dance party featuring electronic dance music by DJ E Feezy, as well as a ceremony where the official designation was passed on to Pinecrest Mayor Joseph Corradino.
These activities reflected the community’s dedication to boost morale and uphold their new title. Moreover, there was a large emphasis on calming activities such as yoga, as the village council and World Happiness Foundation discovered that stress and anxiety was prevalent among teachers and high schoolers in the community. Due to this, the foundation made the event free for all students and teachers, and gave students two community service hours after they attended two activities, hoping to encourage greater turnout among these groups.
World Happiness Foundation advisory board member and long-standing Pinecrest resident, Jennifer Price is proud of Pinecrest’s achievement and hopes that the city’s efforts impacts other communities.
“ … [Knowing] that our community has been designated as the first city of happiness really makes me full of joy, because we’re going to be an example for so many other cities, and to the world,” Price said.
Through this event, the foundation was also able to boost energy among the neurodivergent community by having speakers and activities aimed at them. Additionally, the event brought in professionals in different industries from around the world.
“[Gallardo] is going to introduce Nilo Del Monte. He’s a singer and he’s very much on brand. He sings Spanish songs of happiness, of gratefulness, of gratitude and he’s launching his happy song in English for the first time at the World Happiness Fest,” Price said.
Alongside Del Monte, Vibha, a well-known gratitude speaker, came from India to hold a “joy shop,” and Regina Pocay, an expert in breathing, traveled from Brazil to teach attendees better breathing techniques.
“We’re bringing people, coaches, that are experts in teaching, those that take care of others because we’re trying to deliver back to the community things that were of concern,” Price said. “ … So, we’re bringing tools to the community that will create the magic of transformation and success.”
The World Happiness Foundation hopes that this event becomes a longstanding tradition in the community, and helps people recognize the value Pinecrest holds.
“It’s not just about being a beautiful place, Pinecrest. It’s about as residents that we live there, that we start understanding the importance of having the right mindset, meaning that you care for your neighbor, that we take care of the green spaces, that we, you know, do things that will enhance the quality of life and create happiness amongst the residents, so that we also become a stronger united community,” Price said.
