The Crane Project: Building Relationships through Simple Acts of Kindness

In Japan, the crane is not just a beautiful bird but a mythical creature reputed to live a thousand years and bring good fortune. According to Japanese tradition, anyone with the patience and commitment to fold 1,000 paper cranes will be granted their wish—most often, one of recovery from serious illness. Dr. Kenneth Morford will share a story of making 1,000 paper cranes for a young woman with leukemia and its impact on the way he communicates and connects with patients and their families.

Kenneth Morford, MD is a rising Chief Resident in the Yale Primary Care Program. A citizen of the world, he grew up in Japan, Korea, France, and the United States. He studied art and neuroscience before finding a career in internal medicine. His academic interests include addiction treatment, patient-provider relationships, and complementary medicine. Personal interests include traveling to new places, growing a sustainable indoor garden, and cooking for family and friends.

We invite you to join us for Humanist Haven, a gathering for atheists, agnostics, searchers, the nonreligious, the unaffiliated, believers, or anyone interested in exploring human-centered ethics. Hosted by the Yale Humanist Community, we are open to the public and welcoming to all—no matter how you identify.

All Humanist Haven meetings feature a thought-provoking guest speaker and take place on the first and third Sundays of the month at 1 PM at The Grove—760 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT—unless otherwise noted. Metered street parking is free in downtown New Haven on Sundays, but please email and let us know if you’re interested in learning more about discounted lot or garage options.