Together, we’ll explore a deceptively simple question: When does now begin? It already has.
The future isn’t waiting for us to catch up. It’s unfolding in this breath, this moment, this conversation we almost didn’t have. Right now, someone is receiving a diagnosis. A family is navigating a decision that will shape what care looks like. A policy is quietly becoming a default. The moments that matter most rarely announce themselves.
Through mainstage talks and immersive workshops, we’ll examine how we’re navigating caregiving, grief, loss, and dying today—and what becomes possible when we stop postponing the conversations that matter most.
Because the hardest decisions aren’t always dramatic. They’re embedded in habits, systems, and assumptions so familiar we forget they were chosen.
This is a day to sharpen our attention, to come together across disciplines and lived experiences, and to leave with both the insight and the tools to do things differently.
The resources exist. The community is here.
So, when does now begin?
Now begins when you choose to show up.
We hope to see you in November.
We’re thrilled to offer a slate of midday workshops and deep dives, designed to give you tangible tools, spark richer dialogue, and deepen your understanding of key themes. These concurrent hour-long sessions will take place just before lunch. Click the images below to explore each session. You must RSVP to attend. Sign-up through the Whova app.
Policy can feel distant, technical, or overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. This interactive workshop will guide participants through a simple framework for identifying an end-of-life policy issue they care about, and developing a real-world plan to address it. Through case studies, discussion, and hands-on tools, attendees will walk away with a personalized roadmap and the confidence to take action, whether it’s in their workplace, community, or at the state level.
(This session is only available in-person)
An intimate, interactive session grounded in the powerful film The Chaplain & the Doctor, directed by Jessica Zitter of Reel Medicine Media. The film follows the unexpected friendship and collaboration between Chaplain Betty Clark, an 80-year-old African American spiritual care provider, and Dr. Jessica Zitter, a white Jewish physician. The two will join us live to share how they were able to push past barriers and come together to provide the best care possible for their patients, and for each other.
Moderated by Meghan Riordan Jarvis, MA, LCSW
Watch the trailer here!
(This session is only available in-person)
Organ donation saves lives and unites people across the political spectrum—yet for most people, the process remains a mystery, even if they’ve checked the box on their driver’s license, there’s so much more they might want to know. What does it really mean to say yes in the driver’s license? Who can be a donor? How does the process work, and what happens to families in those profound moments of loss and generosity? How might clinicians better communicate about the options to donate with the patients and loved ones?
Other Side follows the deeply moving story of Lynda Bluestein, a Connecticut-based activist and three-time cancer patient, who fought for the right to choose how her life would end. When the compassionate end-of-life option she sought was unavailable in her home state, she filed a landmark lawsuit in Vermont to gain access to the state’s Death With Dignity law—and won.
Join us for a screening of the film followed by a candid panel conversation exploring the evolving landscape of medical aid in dying and what autonomy at the end of life really means.
(This session is only available in-person)
Our bodies hold what words cannot. This immersive sound meditation offers an opportunity to pause, feel, and listen beneath the surface of thought. Using crystal alchemy bowls and guided reflection, Jackie Cantwell (The Big Quiet, Bowl Club) invites participants into a deeply calming and restorative space. Whether you’re processing grief, navigating stress, or simply curious about the therapeutic power of sound, all are welcome.
(This session is only available in-person)
Barbara Karnes and Alua Arthur are two of the most trusted and beloved voices in end-of-life care—each shaping the field in profoundly different ways. Barbara, a hospice pioneer and the author of the widely read Gone From My Sight, has educated millions on what the dying process looks and feels like for patients and families. Alua, a nationally recognized death doula and founder of Going With Grace, has opened new pathways for people to engage with mortality through honesty, humor, and cultural change. In this rare conversation, they come together across generations to share stories, reflections, and practical wisdom—illuminating how we care, grieve, and accompany one another through life’s most universal experience. Moderated by Claire Bidwell Smith, LCPC.
(This session will be live-streamed as well as recorded.)
What if the way you see the world is quietly shaping how you’ll leave it?
Our beliefs—about life, death, and what matters most—don’t just guide how we live. They influence how we show up in moments of uncertainty, how we make decisions, and how we face the end.
Join us for End Well’s first-ever workshop, created in partnership with Ira Bedzow, PhD of the Aspen Center for Social Values. This intimate, pilot experience is designed to help you pause, reflect, and uncover the hidden assumptions that shape your story—and to reimagine what might be possible if you saw things differently.
(This session is only available in-person)
Location and Timing
The event is on November 12, 2026 and is taking place at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles as well as virtually.
In person begins at 8:30 AM PT with registration and coffee and ends at 5:15 PM PT with a reception following.
Virtual begins at noon ET / 9 AM PT and ends at 8:15 PM ET / 5:15 PM PT
Food and Beverage
We provide coffee and tea all day, snacks, lunch, afternoon refreshments and a cocktail reception.
Continuing Education Credits
We will be offering continuing education credits (CE) for this event. More details to follow.
Accommodations
For our out-of-town attendees, there are several hotels located within a 7-15 minute drive from the event venue. We recommend using Google to find a hotel that fits your budget.
Coat Check
Free and supervised all day.
Airports
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Burbank Airport (BUR)
Parking
Free onsite parking, please plan on 10 minutes to get from your car to registration.
Refund Policy
We understand that circumstances may arise that require you to cancel your attendance at our event. We offer a 60-day refund policy that provides a full refund if you cancel your registration more than 60 days prior to the start of the event.
If you need to cancel your registration less than 60 days before the event, we we will not be able to issue any refund.
To request a refund, please contact our team at hello@endwellproject.org and provide your registration information. We will process your refund within 5-7 business days of receiving your request.
We strive to provide fair and reasonable refund policies for our attendees, while also ensuring that we are able to cover the costs associated with organizing and hosting the event.