Dear Friends,

 

Thank you for joining us for the first Open Mind of the Fall 2026–Spring 2027 season. We hope you enjoyed the wonderful evening with Vijay Gupta, Helena Hansen, MD, PhD, and the Street Symphony Ensemble: Son Estimados.

 

It was a memorable evening of music and conversation, offering a thoughtful look at the powerful role music can play in fostering connection, compassion, healing, and well-being. Vijay shared not only his remarkable journey as a musician, but also his personal journey of transformation from burnout and collapse into the work that rebuilt his life and the experiences that have shaped his commitment to bringing music to communities often overlooked, including people experiencing homelessness on Skid Row and those facing incarceration.

 

We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success. Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and continued support are what make the Open Mind community so special and allow Friends of Semel to bring meaningful conversations about mental health, science, the arts, and the human experience to our community.

 

If you found this evening meaningful, we invite you to consider making a contribution to support the Open Mind community lecture and film series. Your generosity helps us continue bringing thought-provoking conversations and preeminent thought leaders at the intersection of science and culture to the community, expanding awareness and understanding of mental health, neuroscience, and the human experience.

 

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Open Mind programs throughout the season.

 

Visit www.friendsofsemelinstitute.org to see a calendar of upcoming events and learn more about supporting Friends of Semel.

 

With warmest thanks,

Your friends at
UCLA Friends of the Semel Institute