The Expert Living Next Door Could Save Your Life

ATLANTA - July 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Studies show that people with active hobbies live longer, more fulfilling lives. And with Atlantans facing increasingly longer commutes, a healthy release for stress via a hobby that ignites your passions can add years to your life.

While that neighbor of yours may get up and go to work each day at a typical 9-5 office job, it’s what she does in her spare time that you can learn from to increase your life expectancy.

Popular in Washington DC and Chicago, Learnapalooza is making its debut Aug 1-2 in the ATL as a festival for all ages, celebrating that e​veryone has something toteachandeveryonehassomethingtolearn.​From bee keeping to knitting baby booties,

understanding sign language to the ins and outs of 3D printing, over 100 Atlantans will teach what they love at the first annual family-friendly festival.

Meet Eliza Bacot, an Intensive Care nurse whose job is a daily pressure cooker. While traditional medicine is how she makes a living, her passion for holistic healing is her release after hours. Eliza has become an expert at using essential oils with her 2 year old and newborn to heal everything from chigger bites to common upset stomachs.

Meet Clay Johnson, bestselling author, and former Presidential Innovation Fellow at the White House and successful entrepreneur who has spent the past 4 years making a name streamlining government bureaucracy. He’ll be teaching a workshop on “Ninja Skills for Dads” about rigging your home electronics to get your children to cooperate. “It’s hard to connect with people about government procurement, but any parent will get a kick out of how a toddler responds to the Amazon Echo telling her to go to bed.”

Meet Atlantan Tim Cailloux, the wireless engineer who is a home brewmaster. Tim grinds it out with a busy work travel schedule, often gone from his wife and three children under the age of 3. Yet his passion for homebrewing gives him a stress-free outlet he enjoys sharing with his neighbors and friends.

Meet Amanda Love, the special education teacher who outside the classroom is a wiz with power tools. Unafraid to take projects into her own hands, Amanda’s ability to tackle jobs most women won’t touch has saved her hundreds of dollars and given her a creative outlet.

Meet Andrea Seabrook, NPR’s former congressional correspondent, and most recently the founder and head podcaster of Decode DC. She’s teaching an inclusive class not about the news, but about how to tell great stories that people can relate to: as important skill for teachers and parents as it is for radio hosts and journalists.

And for those interested in health, there are classes on the science of mindfulness to combat anxiety, African Dance, yoga, herbs for health, “Let’s Move” aerobics, and more. For the kids, there are crafts, puppetry, and, of course, King of Pops.

An expected 1,500 Atlanta-area residents will attend the festival held at the new Chattahoochee Hills Charter School campus. Festivities include food trucks and a Maker’s Marketplace on Saturday August 1 and a VIP dinner at neighboring Serenbe on Sunday, August 2.

All proceeds of Learnapalooza ATL benefit the Chattahoochee Hills Charter School Foundation. The Foundation supports Chattahoochee Hills Charter School, a charter school that opened in 2014 and serves the South Fulton community with grades K-6. With over 345 students enrolled and another 300 students on the waiting list, CHCS is already providing high quality elementary education in South Fulton -- and plans to add grades 6 through 8 over the coming 3 years.

Website: LearnapaloozaATL.com

Date: Saturday, Aug 1, 10-5

Location: 9670 Rivertown Rd, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30213

Cost: $10 for unlimited workshop ticket; kids are free (VIP event Sun 4-7, Serenbe Pavilion, tickets $100)

Participants quoted in this press release are available for interview. A full list of scheduled workshops is available upon request.