Hearth Summit 2025: a global call to listen, reflect, and reconnect

Set against the serene backdrop of venues like Križanke and Cankarjev dom, the summit invited participants to explore the link between inner well-being and systemic change. One of the guiding messages, “Home is not a destination—it’s a state of being”, was reflected in every element of the program. As Aaron Pereira, co-lead of The Wellbeing Project, put it during the opening session:

“The ability to truly listen to others, and to recognize that everyone brings something valuable, is one of the most important skills of our time. This is also the sacred duty of democracy: to find common ground among diverse perspectives and to see wisdom in every form.”

From a symbolic group ritual to a collective walk through the city, the event reinforced the idea that personal well-being can serve as a compass in a world shaken by climate stress, social disconnection, and burnout.

A city in tune with the message

Ljubljana, known for its sustainability and community spirit, offered more than just logistical support—it embodied the summit’s ethos. As  Pereira remarked with warmth, “Ljubljana puts the ‘love’ in Slovenia.” From car-free city planning to communal green spaces, the city was both host and model, prompting a deeper question: Are we building cities that make us healthier?

Deputy Mayor Boštjan Koritnik echoed this, saying, “We know how to be kind, curious, and human.” Participants found the city’s hospitality and openness to be a quiet but powerful affirmation of the summit’s core values.

Listening beyond the known

Each day of the summit was crafted as a thematic journey. The final day, framed as an invitation to “listen beyond the known,” featured powerful talks by David Simas (former Obama Foundation CEO) and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP, both urging attendees to move past assumptions and toward deeper human understanding. Their message was clear: only through genuine listening can shared values emerge.

This idea of listening—quietly, attentively, and with courage—was echoed across the summit’s many panels. On stage, thinkers like Kumi Naidoo, Louisa Zondo, and Dr. Jean Bosco Niyonzima spoke candidly about healing through vulnerability and community. Meanwhile, sessions on interfaith dialogue and sustainable cities invited participants to reimagine structures of care and governance from the ground up.

Art as a force for change

Art was not a side event but an equal pillar of the summit experience. From installations like The Mirror of Peace and Dragon’s Nest, to performances such as Aakash Odedra’s evocative dance piece Cut, the artistic programming helped embody the summit’s belief that emotions and aesthetics are essential tools of transformation. As Manuel Bagorro, artistic director of the Hearth Summit, noted, “Artists responded not just with ideas, but with love and hope for the future.”

AI, philanthropy, and the future of values

One of the final sessions explored the ethical frontiers of artificial intelligence and philanthropy. Speakers like Grace Clapham and Sennay Ghebreab said that technology must not erase human values but instead mirror our deepest commitments to care, interdependence, and ecological responsibility. Meanwhile, philanthropists such as Rohini Nilekaniand Laurence Lien called for a shift toward relational giving—where listening precedes action and trust replaces top-down models.

A beginning, not an end

Rather than offering universal answers, Hearth Summit 2025 aimed to open space for sincere questions, shared humanity, and renewed commitments. Its parting message was not a conclusion, but a call:

“To care for human well-being, we must reach beyond what we know—toward a humanity yet to be discovered.”

As the summit closed with spontaneous dance and community joy, it left behind a resonant truth: that healing begins with listening and that real change begins within.