Welcome to Roots of Empathy
"Roots of Empathy is Canada's olive branch to the world." - enRoute Magazine
Roots of Empathy is a powerful idea whose time has come. An evidence-based classroom program, its mission is to build caring, peaceful, and civil societies – child by child – through the development of empathy in children.
The program was founded in Canada in 1996 by Mary Gordon, an internationally recognized educator, social entrepreneur, and child advocate, and today has reached more than 270,000 children in 11,000 classrooms worldwide. Roots of Empathy also has a sibling program, Seeds of Empathy, designed for early childhood settings.
At the heart of the program are classroom visits by an infant and parent. Through guided observations of this loving relationship, children learn to identify and reflect on their own thoughts and feelings and those of others (empathy). Independent evaluations consistently show children who receive Roots of Empathy experience dramatic and lasting effects in terms of increased pro-social behaviour (sharing, helping and including) and decreased aggression. For more information, watch our video (9 minutes).
Roots of Empathy has been recognized by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, Daniel Goleman, the World Health Organization, Helen Clarke, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, among others. The organization works in partnership with indigenous people globally, and has been endorsed in Canada by National Chief Shawn Atleo (and formerly Phil Fontaine) of the Assembly of First Nations. Mary Gordon, Founder/President of Roots of Empathy has won numerous awards, and her program has also won an international Changemakers award from the Ashoka Foundation.
Pour obtenir des renseignements en français, cliquez ici.
News
Roots of Empathy book now available in the U.S.!
To celebrate the launch of the U.S. edition of her book, Mary Gordon will be speaking and signing books at the Town Hall in Seattle, Washington on December 8, 2009. For more information on the event, click here.
Seattle was the first American city to run the program, which launched in 2007. For more information about Roots of Empathy programs in Seattle, click here.
Canadian Teachers' Federation Honours Mary Gordon
The Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) recently honoured Mary Gordon with the 2009 Public Education Advocacy Award. The award is presented to groups or individuals outside the teaching profession who have made major contributions to promote and support public education in Canada. A former Kindergarten teacher, Ms Gordon became the founder of Canada's first school-based Parenting and Family Literacy Centres in 1981, which have been used as a best-practice model around the world. The premier of Ontario made the program policy in 2008 as part of their anti-poverty strategy. In 1996 Ms. Gordon founded Roots of Empathy, and in 2005 she created the Seeds of Empathy program.
"Mary has demonstrated exceptional commitment and greatly contributed to strengthening and supporting public educations", said CTF President Emily Noble. "On behalf of teachers across Canada, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Gordon for her visionary leadership and support to public education," she concluded. The CTF speaks for nearly 200,000 teachers in Canada as their national voice on education and related social issues.
Ms. Gordon’s name will be added to the roster of CTF Public Education Advocacy Award recipients who include His Excellency John Ralston Saul, Kathy LeGrow, Canadian School Boards Association, Annie Kidder, People for Education in Ontario, Denise Pike, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils, Alfie Kohn, U.S. author and educator, and last year's recipients, the Association francophone des parents du Nouveau-Brunswick and Gerard Kennedy, former Education Minister of Ontario. (more)Toronto District School Board to open ROE Centre of Excellence – first in world
With the signing of an official partnership with Roots of Empathy the Toronto District School Board will become the first in the world to open a ROE Centre of Excellence to be piloted in six elementary schools beginning in the fall. The Centre of Excellence will see a select group of TDSB schools and Roots of Empathy instructors delivering the highest quality of ROE programming in Canada. Six ROE Instructors will deliver three programs each in six jointly selected TDSB schools with at least two programs running at each grade level from K – 8. (more)
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario visits Roots of Empathy Classroom
Roots of Empathy was privileged and honoured to have Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable David C. Onley attend a Family Visit in teacher Taz Kassam’s grade one classroom at Sunny View Public School in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2009. Sunny View serves the needs of children with severe disabilities.
Also in attendance were Joan Green, Chair of the Board, our own Mary Gordon, Founder/President of Roots of Empathy and school principal Marita Adams.
Mr. Onley graciously addressed veteran Instructor Kathy Kathy’s ROE class and spoke of the transformational impact of Mary’s vision of “the baby as teacher”. Everyone watched as baby Claire brought self-confidence and joy to children who face daily struggles few of us can imagine.
Roots of Empathy connects with First Nations Chiefs of Canada
At their Annual General Assembly this year the AFN passed a resolution to support and endorse Roots of Empathy and Seeds of Empathy (ROE's younger sibling), calling both programs "compatible with traditional First Nations teachings and worldviews" because they address aggression and foster empathy and social and emotional competence. One of Roots of Empathy's main focus as an organization will be to dialogue with Aboriginal communities across Canada in support of healing and finding a way ahead. As history books are rewritten, school children will learn about the injustices and generational impact of residential schools. Roots of Empathy will challenge all children to develop empathy to ensure that no group in society is ever treated as Canada’s Aboriginal children have been treated.
Investing Today for Tomorrow: Mary Gordon Part of Panel Discussion on Corporate Responsibility
Our own Mary Gordon recently joined Bob Elton, President of BC Hydro on a panel discussion about successful corporate and not-for-profit partnerships. This panel was part of the Business Council of British Columbia’s one-day conference, Investing Today for Tomorrow: Corporate Responsibility in BC. Former United States president, Bill Clinton and Frank Giustra, Canadian Business Executive and Philanthropist, were the lunch speakers at the completely sold-out event, touted as “the BC business event of the year”. Also in attendance with Mary was B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell (pictured below).
The panel’s message focused on the ingredients of successful funding partnerships. The other panel members were Tamara Vrooman COO, Vancity Credit Union, and Liz Evans, Founder and Executive Director, Portland Hotel Society. The panel was moderated by Rick Cluff of CBC Radio.
Bob Elton announced BC Hydro’s partnership with the Roots of Empathy organization in enhancing their work with Aboriginal Communities.
Roots of Empathy wins global competition thanks to your support!
Roots of Empathy is delighted to be named one of three winners of a global competition for programs that help youth at risk. The competition was decided by public vote - thank you to our many supporters who voted for Roots of Empathy!
Read about the competition here. Or, read more about Roots of Empathy's submission and the wonderful comments of some of the people who voted for us.