Helen Kivnick is a psychologist and a professor of social work at the University of Minnesota, and executive director of CitySongs, an award-winning youth and community development program in music. In her book Vital Involvement in Old Age (1986), Dr. Kivnick collaborated with Erik Erikson in reconceptualizing his theory of lifelong psychosocial development to permit psychosocial health at each stage of the life cycle. Kivnick develops, implements, and teaches direct practice modalities that promote psychosocial health in culturally diverse communities. She has produced two record albums of original field recordings of South African singing; the first Mbube! Zulu Men's Singing Competition, received a Grammy Award nomination. In 1990, Kivnick published Where is the Way: Song and Struggle in South Africa, describing the role of singing in black life in South Africa. She co-founded CitySongs in 1992, as a hybrid social work/music program for inner-city youth (grades 3-8) that explicitly seeks to celebrate diversity, promote harmony, and develop the individual and group skills that underlie these goals. She is a performing member of the Leigh Morris Chorale. Dr. Kivnick has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Michigan, USA.