Title:A collaboration that prioritizes global health and well-being

Recognizing the power of human connection, empathy, and purpose-driven leadership through innovation and education, Georgetown University’s School of Health (SOH) and the Power of Words Foundation are collaborating to advance emotional intelligence as a foundation for global health and well-being.

At an event last July in Los Angeles, Deborah Sawaf, fashion designer, philanthropist, and founder and CEO of the Power of Words Foundation, hosted School of Health alumni and local leaders to explore avenues for the new work.

The Power of Words Foundation seeks to use fashion and art to advance emotional intelligence and encourage people to express themselves and connect with others. The foundation also supports organizations that are dedicated to erasing the stigma around mental health challenges.

During the LA event, SOH Dean Christopher King described Georgetown’s commitment to creating a society that values both health and mental and emotional well-being. The school looks at health at the local and global level, emphasizing compassion, connection, and resilience.

“The United States spends more on medical care than other industrial countries. If we, as a society, prioritize mental health and well-being, we will experience a reduction in medical care expenditures and improved quality of life. For that reason, prioritizing mental health and well-being is a cornerstone of the SOH mission,” said King. “Joining forces with the Power of Words Foundation promises to deepen the impact of both entities.”

Sawaf and King will use the collaboration to explore ways to support current and future leaders, students, clinicians, and educators with tools that allow them to lead with emotional strength and authenticity. In an October School of Health event, Sawaf led faculty and staff through an interactive session exploring emotional intelligence and emotional literacy as tools for global well-being and leadership, as well as for bringing compassion into daily life.

“Emotional intelligence, which is frequently characterized as a soft skill, is one of the most overlooked aspects of the work that we are called to do in higher education and in leadership development,” said King. “Being in tune to our emotions, as well as others, and adjusting those interactions accordingly, not only fosters more productive exchanges, but it takes us one step closer to being of better service to the world, one step closer to a purpose-driven life.”

“Together, we can weave a tapestry of leaders, thinkers, and changemakers,” Sawaf said. “We are planting the seeds of a movement, one that integrates emotional literacy, communication tools, and compassion into health care, education, and community systems.”