DANBURY, CONN. — In Buddhism, there is a belief that creativity can reach beyond barriers that separate people from others and provide a means to compassion.

Dedicated to exploring this connection, “Creativity and Compassion: How They Come Together” is a conference and conversation with Buddhist scholars, faculty, students and creativity experts. The weekend-long program will be held Friday, April 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, April 21, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Student Center Theater on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury.

“Creativity and Compassion: Embracing the Challenges of the 21 Century” is the theme of a year-long series of events leading up to the arrival of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at WCSU on October 18 and 19, 2012. On October 18, the Dalai Lama will speak on the related topic of “The Art of Compassion.”

The April 20-21 program will focus on understanding how the powerful concepts of creativity and compassion are related. Some of the panel discussions include “Making connections: Facebook, Twitter and Social Media: Modes for Spreading Compassion or a Wasteland of Fabricated Images and Narcissism?” and “The Art of Compassion: Bringing Creativity and Compassion to the Ordinary Tribulations of Daily Life.”

For more information, go to www.wcsu.edu/creativitycompassion.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.