FLORIDA NEWSWIRE (WINTER PARK, Fla.) — Winter Park Institute (WPI) today announces the integration of the Winter Park Ideas Festival (WPIF) as its third signature program, joining Experiences and Pages for the Ages in the WPI portfolio. The integration brings the Festival’s vision for belonging into WPI’s expanding calendar of ideas and conversation, preserving its distinctive identity while creating new opportunities for community connection.
The Festival was incubated by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce through its affiliated Winter Park Improvement Foundation, where the Winter Park Ideas Foundation was formed to develop it as a strategy for strengthening community connection. Its central theme is belonging: how people connect to one another and the places they call home. Conceived in response to social isolation and declining civic engagement, the Festival explores how fields including arts, food, education, wellness and culture can build stronger communities.
The Festival adds a complementary dimension to WPI’s programming:
* Experiences bring globally recognized voices to Central Florida through the Inspire, Reflect and Impact model, connecting keynotes with smaller conversations and local nonprofit partnerships.
* Pages for the Ages brings students and older adults together through recurring book and media discussions that build understanding across generations.
* Winter Park Ideas Festival brings multiple voices and disciplines together in a concentrated crescendo of ideas and conversation around a shared theme, inspiring participants to carry new perspectives and connections into their communities.
Together, these programs offer distinct but connected ways to engage throughout the year, strengthening WPI’s role as a convener of ideas, people and community partners.
Future Festival programming, timing and opportunities for involvement will be announced as planning progresses.
ABOUT WINTER PARK INSTITUTE
Founded at Rollins College in 2007, Winter Park Institute is an independent nonprofit that engages global thought leaders in meaningful conversation that impacts our world. Its programs create opportunities to explore new perspectives, build connections and translate ideas into local impact. Learn more at https://winterparkinstitute.org/.
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