Many of us want to share what we’ve learned and what we hold dear with future generations. An ethical will (or legacy letter or a letter to loved ones) allows us to pass on our values, stories, and life lessons to our loved ones. It’s a way to express our love and gratitude to those who will carry on after us.

Chris Palmer, author of the new book Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life and a Board member of the Bethesda Metro Area Village, will lead a workshop on writing an ethical will. This process is deeply rewarding, allowing you to preserve your memory and legacy. Your loved ones will find inspiration, comfort, and guidance in these documents, gaining a deeper understanding of who you are. Ethical wills are cherished ways to pass on your hopes and the personal insights you want future generations to know. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have made significant progress toward completing the first draft of your ethical will.

Chris Palmer is an end-of-life activist and a trained hospice volunteer. He frequently gives pro bono presentations and workshops to community groups on aging, death, and dying issues. He founded and leads an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village, and serves on the board of several nonprofits focused on end-of-life issues, including Montgomery Hospice and Prince George’s Hospice, Final Exit Network, the Hemlock Society, and the Funeral Consumers Alliance.

Chris has written ten books — the latest, published by Bloomsbury on October 1 last year, is Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life—proceeds from all his books fund scholarships for American University (AU) students. Chris Palmer served 14 years on AU’s full-time faculty as Distinguished Film Producer in Residence. He holds advanced degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School and University College London.