Great thoughts come from both the heart and the mind."
- Mary Gordon, Founder/President, Roots of Empathy
News
Mary Gordon joins Dalai Lama to plant Seeds of Compassion
Roots of Empathy Founder/President Mary Gordon participated in two discussions about empathy and compassion at the April 2008 Seeds of Compassion event in Seattle, Washington.
The Dalai Lama was in Seattle, Washington for the five-day Seeds of Compassion event, which ended earlier this week. This event drew more than 50,000 people live and countless more through webcasts in 24 languages to celebrate and explore the relationships, programs and tools that nurture and empower children, families and communities to be compassionate members of society.
Roots of Empathy Founder/President Mary Gordon participated in a panel with the Dalai Lama called >From Knowledge to Compassion Action: What We All Can Do. The moderator was Dr. Mark Greenberg, Director of the Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development. The other panelists were:
- Dr. John Gottman, globally recognized for his work on emotions and communication, and author of The Heart of Parenting: Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child
- Dr. Roger Weissberg, past president of the American Psychological Association’s Society for Community Research and Action, and the President of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
- Dr. Bob Marvin, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatric and Director of the Mary D. Ainsworth Child-Parent Attachment Clinic
- Karen Gordon, Founder and Executive Director of Whole Child International
Mary moved the audience of thousands to tears with the story of Darren, a boy in a Roots of Empathy classroom who wondered, "do you think that if nobody ever loved you, that you can still be a good father?" She concluded by saying that empathy and compassion can develop at any time and age, and "It's not just that it takes a village to raise a child, but sometimes it takes a child to raise a village."
Mary had the opportunity to ask a question of the Dalai Lama. She spoke of how we are concerned about nuclear disarmament and clearing landmines in the world, but not the landmines of our own hearts. She asked the Dalai Lama to speak of inner disarmament, a theme he returned to during an afternoon dialogue.
You can watch the full discussion here, along with many of the events involving the Dalai Lama. Scroll through the list of events on the left-hand page, then click on the "play" icon that appears behind the event you wish to view.
Mary also participated in a workshop called Compassion at Home, in Schools and the Community with Dr. Dan Siegel, award-winning child psychiatrist, and Dr. Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at the University of Washington Seattle.
Mary brought stories from classrooms where Roots of Empathy raises the floor of compassion. She referenced her philosophy that "Love Grows Brains," which was later repeated by the governor of Washington in her introductory remarks before the Dalai Lama spoke on Saturday afternoon.
Roots of Empathy wins Ashoka Changemakers Competition!
Roots of Empathy is one of three winners – and the only Canadian organization – to win an international competition for programs that help youth at risk.
"It really changes in a fundamental way the character of children who participate in this program and opens up opportunities for them," says Kris Herbst, Director, Online Community at Changemakers, which sponsored the competition. "I think it's very effective. And I think it’s a new and different kind of approach that is worth supporting."
The competition, Young Men at Risk: Transforming the Power of a Generation, drew 362 entries from 39 countries. Fourteen finalists were selected by expert judges, then presented to the public, who voted for the winners via the Internet.
The competition identified Roots of Empathy as addressing "young men's missing voices and input leads to disconnection and failed policies", and found that the main insight the program offered was to "create stability and safety without condescension or judgment."
Roots of Empathy will receive a US$5,000 grant from Changemakers, an initiative of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public that focuses on social innovation. Finalists are also invited to a Young Men at Risk Change Summit hosted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Many of the votes came from parents who volunteer with their babies in Roots of Empathy classrooms, and teachers who witness the effects of the program. Here are some of the comments posted on the Changemakers.net website:
From a teacher with Roots of Empathy in the classroom: "My favourite moment was when our baby stared at my smallest fourth grade student for the whole class. This boy has several learning/behavioural issues, but with our baby's eyes on him, he fell in love. You could see the walls soften, and the self-esteem (hey, the baby likes ME! Nobody usually likes me!) shoot upward."
From a parent: "I love this program. My youngest daughter and I have been involved in this program for about 5 months now and I think it is great. Her class just loves their visits and they ask great questions. I have notice changes in them all, especially the boys. They are definitely learning to see things differently."
From another parent: "Both of my daughters have been Roots babies. I cannot say enough about this program. It is always a joy to go to the classroom each month and watch how these kids interact with my child. On the first day not everyone (especially boys) are willing to participate but by the third or fourth visit to see there eyes light up when they see the baby is an amazing change. I feel that this program is making a difference in everyone's lives."
To read all the posted comments and Roots of Empathy's submission to the competition, please visit the Changemakers.net website.
Roots of Empathy Chosen as a Finalist for the Changemakers Young Men at Risk Competition
Roots of Empathy has been chosen as a finalist in the Changemakers competition: Young Men at Risk: Transforming the Power of a Generation.
Of the 362 entries received from 39 countries, Roots of Empathy is proud to be included as the only Canadian finalist!
Voting is open to the public from now until Tuesday March 11th, 2008. Register on the Changemakers.net website by clicking here to cast your vote. Once registered, you can also leave your comment on the Changemakers Forum.
Changemakers is an initiative of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public that focuses on the rapidly growing world of social innovation. Changemakers is building the world's first global online "open source" community that competes to surface the best social solutions, and then collaborates to refine, enrich, and implement those solutions.
Roots of Empathy featured in new books
November 3, 2006
In a number of recent book releases, The Roots of Empathy program is recognized and lauded as an exemplary model for changing the landscape of our global society.
Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed
Frances Westley, Brenda Zimmerman and Michael Quinn Patton
Getting to Maybe "harvests the experience of a wide range of people and organizations…to lay out a brand new way of thinking about making change in communities, in business, and in the world." (Source: Getting to Maybe, 2006)
Mary Gordon is introduced in the chapter “The Powerful Strangers.” Here we learn that her childhood was the breeding ground for her commitment to citizen engagement and social justice. The philosophical and historical context of her idea of empathy is explored. Her direct approach to the problem of bullying—bringing the weak and the powerful together in the classroom—is likened to such global initiatives as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa whose mandate was to bear witness to, record and in some cases grant amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes relating to human rights violations, reparation and rehabilitation.
Child Honoring: How to Turn this World Around
Editors Raffi Cavoukian and Sharna Olfman
Child Honoring is an original philosophy of Raffi Cavoukian, best known as Raffi, award-winning songwriter, recording artist, ecology advocate and author. It is "a compassionate revolution in values, a children-first approach to global restoration." The contributors to the book "include leading thinkers in the field of psychology, education, economics, business, governance and religion. Together, they show how the universal human symbol and reality—the child—can inspire a peacemaking culture for our world." (Source: Child Honoring, 2006)
Mary Gordon contributes to the book in the chapter entitled “The Power of Empathy.” She shares success stories of the children in the Roots of Empathy program, provides an overview of the program, and expounds on empathy as an essential human trait.top
Celebrating Mary Gordon's investiture to the Order of Canada
October 3, 2006
On October 19th, friends, supporters and family assembled at the Roots of Empathy office for a heartwarming celebration to recognize Mary Gordon’s investiture of October 6th to the Order of Canada. During the event, John Ralston Saul, C.C., author, essayist and philosopher (and husband to former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson), spoke eloquently of the significance of the Order of Canada. His remarks helped to deepen everyone’s appreciation of the significance of this honour, particularly in a global context. Ms. Gordon was appointed to the Order when Madame Clarkson was in office. The official citation reads:
Mary Gordon, C.M.
Toronto, Ontario
Children, parents and educators across Canada and beyond our borders have benefited from the vision, wisdom and commitment of Mary Gordon. A teacher by training, she has pioneered innovative educational programs that promote early childhood development, such as the Parenting and Family Literacy Centres for the Toronto District School Board. As founder and president of Roots of Empathy, she created a program that fosters emotional intelligence and empathy in children, with the goal of reducing aggression and bullying in our schools. She is sought after by organizations throughout the world for her leadership and experience in shaping youth into caring citizens.
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Mary Gordon presents at WAVE Conference in London, England
September 20, 2006
On September 18 and 19, Mary Gordon presented at an international meeting held in London, England to address the issues of societal violence. The conference was presented by WAVE Trust who, in The Wave Report 2005: Violence and What to do about it, had this to say about Roots of Empathy:
"The programme may appear to lie outside the age range WAVE has indicated as an intervention priority (i.e. before the third birthday); but the most powerful reason for including ROE is that it actually prepares schoolchildren for parenthood. It emphasizes models and provides literal hands-on experience of how to handle and interact with a real-life baby. Given the number of children who now become parents by ages 12-15, this can be seen as a pre-pregnancy programme."
Further, the report highlights Roots of Empathy as a program with universal application in preventing violence in children. WAVE Trust (Worldwide Alternatives to ViolencE) is an international charity dedicated to advancing public awareness of the root causes of violence and the means to prevent and reduce violence in our society.
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Vancouver Dialogues 2006 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
September 11, 2006
Webcasts of the Vancouver Dialogues 2006 can now be viewed at the Dalai Lama Website
"Educating the Heart", which took place September 8, at 1:30 p.m. PST, features Mary Gordon, Dr. Mark Greenberg, Dr. Martin Brookenleg, Dr. Tim Shriver, Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl and Dr. Clyde Hertzman in dialogue with the Dalai Lama on the themes of cultivating compassion and educating the heart.
The Vancouver Dialogues 2006 (September 8-10, 2006) were a series of public and private events designed to inaugurate The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education in Vancouver, British Columbia.
On September 9 and 10, Mary participated in Connecting for Change, a series of small group conversations among corporate and social thought leaders. On September 10, the Dalai Lama joined a select group of the leaders, of which Mary Gordon was one. She engaged the Dalai Lama in dialogue on her concept of “empathic ethics.” During this dialogue, the Dalai Lama had a wonderful, hearty laugh.
The Dalai Lama Center is a non-political, non-religious cultural institution that is aligned with the Dalai Lama's belief that each person should "Develop the heart and work for peace within yourself and the world." It is scheduled for completion in 2009.
Mary Gordon wrote a chapter for the commemorative book Vancouver Dialogues, which is available for purchase through the Dalai Lama Center.
To learn more about the Vancouver Dialogues 2006 and The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education, please visit the Dalai Lama Center website.
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Mary Gordon meets with New Zealand Prime Minister
August 23, 2006
On August 23rd, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark met with Roots of Empathy Founder and President Mary Gordon when Ms. Gordon was in the country presenting to government ministers on Roots of Empathy. The Prime Minister is an enthusiastic supporter of Roots of Empathy and is looking forward to its implementation in Auckland in the new school year, February 2007. Prime Minister Clark is also anticipating visiting a Roots of Empathy classroom with Mary Gordon on her next visit.
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