Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts

Roots of Empathy looking for babies born in June, July, or August

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Roots of Empathy classroom volunteers
Do you have a baby who was born in June, July or August? Would you like to volunteer with your baby to help nurture empathy in children? 

Several Shoreline elementary schools are looking for parents with infants who are between 2-4 months old in October to volunteer about once per month during the school year.

What is Roots of Empathy?

Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. 

The program has been widely evaluated across three continents for two decades and is proven to result in improved empathy, increased emotional understanding, decreased aggression and bullying and improved pro-social behavior among participating students. 

Research also demonstrates that these improvements are sustained and even strengthened over time.

Here is a brief introductory video that explains how Roots of Empathy works and why a baby is such a powerful teacher of empathy. Roots of Empathy was also recently featured on NBC’s Today – you can view that segment here.

If you would like to volunteer as a Roots of Empathy Family, please contact the Roots of Empathy Program Manager, Suz Fix, at sfix@rootsofempathy.org



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Echo Lake Elementary and The Great Kindness Challenge

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

For the fourth year, Echo Lake Elementary will be participating, school-wide, in The Great Kindness Challenge the week of January 28- February 1.

The Great Kindness Challenge (GKC) is a proactive and positive bullying prevention initiative that improves school climate and increases student engagement.

The Great Kindness Challenge is one week devoted to performing as many acts of kindness as possible on campus.

They will kick-off the week with an assembly on Monday featuring Shoreline school district superintendent Rebecca Miner, and representatives from Shoreline police, fire and city government speaking about kindness.

They will also debut their fourth annual Echo Lake Kindness Video.

The school will be collecting “Kind Coins for Liberia” to help build a much needed health clinic in Africa.



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Act of Kindness

Act of Kindness

Have you ever found a nickel, dime, quarter, etc. as you were shopping, playing in the park or taking a walk? How did you feel as you made such a discovery, no matter the denomination? I know I've experienced a "feel-good" moment!

When we recently had dinner at our friend's home in Shoreline, we noticed a number of 50 cent pieces lying on his kitchen counter. When asked what he was doing with all those coins, his first reply was "Do you want one?" He then told us how he loves to "surprise" others.

In the past, our friend has seen the smiles on people's faces when they've found a coin on the ground, and he wanted more individuals to enjoy that same "feel-good" moment. So he decided to go to places like a park and "hide" coins which could easily be found. Not too long ago this family's sweet dog passed away, so our friend placed his dog's name on the coin as a remembrance. (Maybe you've found one of those coins?)

Our friend is doing something that brings him joy, knowing it will also bring a little joy to others. Kudos to him and all the other kind individuals that make this world a happier place!

--C. Osaki, Lake Forest Park



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Healing the Hate - with Empathy Ambassadors - Sunday

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Rais Bhuiyan - healing the hate
Communities Rising! sponsors Healing the Hate, this coming Sunday, December 3rd from 3-5pm at the Shoreline Center, Shoreline Room (north end of complex), 18560 1st Ave NE, 98155.

Speaker Rais Bhuiyan will describe the path he has been on since being shot in the face by a white supremacist, ten days after 9/11.

Jessica Carso, Executive Director of World Without Hate (WWH), will facilitate the event, which includes "The Empathy Ambassadors Leadership Training Program."

The program is for participants from middle school on up, including adults. It is customized for audience and atmosphere, from corporations and businesses, nonprofits and community organizations, and even a curriculum for prison communities.

Carso explains, "This is in response to feedback from participants. We have a team working on customization and updated curriculum for specific participant groups."

Editions of the book The True American will be available, which tells Rais' story, entwined with that of the man who shot him. The book was recently recommended in The NY Times as one of three books to read during these times of trauma.

The event is free, but tickets are requested for planning purposes: Free tickets here

Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE. Carpool if possible, as on-street parking has been removed from 1st Ave NE. Shorewood student volunteers will help direct attendees to available parking.



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Finding Kind: end girl-on-girl bullying

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Give your daughter the tools she needs to combat bullying

Almost every girl has experienced bullying. Unfortunately, almost every girl has also contributed to bullying.

The Finding Kind campaign is a movement to end girl-against-girl bullying.

The two-hour Finding Kind event includes a screening of the Finding Kind movie and a facilitated discussion about what girls can do to help prevent and address bullying at school and in the community.

Surveys of girls who participate in a finding kind event report that:
  • 96% were compelled to be kinder to girls after the event
  • Two out of every three girls apologize to someone during or after the event
  • 90% agreed that they did not want to participate in gossip or drama after experiencing the event.
  • 90% realized that they were not alone because of their participation. 

The trailer for Finding Kind is here

Saturday, August 26, from 11:30am - 2pm
The Edmonds Theater, 415 Main Street, Edmonds, WA 98020
For Girls entering 5th through 12th grade
Cost: $8 per person

Hosted by: Girl Scout Senior Troop 41002

While this event is open to the public, the program is designed for girls and their parents/leaders.





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Compassion Games Team at The Everest Kitchen in LFP

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Jon Ramer, center, Mohan Birgurung, right
in front of the Everest Kitchen in Town Center, LFP
Photo by Anne Stadler
By Anne Stadler

When you walk in the door of The Everest Kitchen in the Lake Forest Park Town Center, you're welcomed into a community of kindness and service, focused on good food.

Mohan Birgurung and his wife Huni, who immigrated from Nepal twenty years ago, have created a new life here in Lake Forest Park, bringing with them cooking and culture from their roots in Nepal.

And that's not all. Mohan says their restaurant is about more than food, it's about community. 
"I want to encourage people to open their hearts, to be part of a community of compassion and kindness."

Enter Jon Ramer, a Lake Forest Park neighbor, founder of the Compassion Games International. He's inviting everyone to join in honoring Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday by "LIVING beloved community" from January 15--18th .... living the kind of community Mohan encourages.

It's a Compassion Game that teams from all over the country are participating in. Ramer calls them "coopetitions", emphasizing cooperation and community building rather than competition.

So the Everest Kitchen's staff decided to be a Team in the International Compassion Games.

When you come in for a meal anytime between January 15 and 18th, you'll be served by people who are living the values of Kindness, Compassion and Respect. You'll help The Everest Kitchen Team honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And you'll be helping to create the kind of community we all want to live in.



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Richmond Beach Congregational Church Lenten Lecture Series

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Starting this Wednesday, March 12, and each Wednesday until April 9, Richmond Beach Congregational Church will be holding a series of lenten lectures titled Beyond Band-Aids: Next Steps to Compassion.
Each week we will explore ways that we as individuals or groups can act with compassion in our community. Discussions will be led by people with real life experience in developing a compassionate approach to life.

Members of the community are welcome to attend any or all of the presentations. 

  • March 12, Jon Ramer of Compassionate Seattle will talk about the Charter for Compassion and how it might be implemented in our community.
  • March 19,  Elizabeth Nunes, a member of the congregation, will describe her day-to-day experiences as the principal of an elementary school in Everett and ways that she encourages teachers and students to work toward greater compassion in the school, with special emphasis on the problem of bullying.
  • March 26, Pastor Paul Ashby will lead a discussion of the Buddhist approach to compassion.
  • April 2, Peter Qualliotine of the Organization of Prostitution Survivors will do a follow up to his presentation of last year on sex trafficking in the the Seattle area.
  • April 9, Kevin Osborn, a local representative of the North Urban Human Services Alliance, will talk about homelessness in the Shoreline area and work that the Alliance has been doing in partnership with the City of Shoreline, social service agencies and churches.

The Adult Faith Formation Board has organized this series to use the preparation time of Lent to reflect on ways we can act, and react, with a greater level of compassion in addressing situations that need our attention, care and love.

Consider attending one or all of the discussions at 7 pm in the Lena Voreis Room. Richmond Beach Congregational Church is located at the intersection of Richmond Beach Road and 15th NW.  The parking lot for the Lena Voreis Room is on 15th NW.


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Compassion Games challenge us to be the World's Most Compassionate City

Sunday, September 8, 2013


Games run September 11-21 with opening ceremonies at Cleveland High School

Residents of Seattle and surrounding communities are invited to play in the Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest, a worldwide “co-opetition” running September 11 through 21, 2013. Opening ceremonies will kick off the Seattle Games on September 11 at Cleveland High School. Afternoon festivities start at 3:00pm, with an evening program at 6:30pm.

Over the following 10 days, neighborhoods, organizations, businesses, and individuals will organize and participate in games of their choice. Scores will be tallied and displayed online, so “co-opetitors” can track the progress of teams worldwide.

In 2010, Seattle affirmed the Charter for Compassion, and committed to a ten-year Compassionate City campaign, followed two years later by Lake Forest Park. In 2012, the city of Louisville Kentucky challenged Seattle to see which was the most compassionate city. Jon Ramer, co-founder of Compassionate Seattle, rose to the challenge, declaring “Game on,” and the Compassion Games were born. This year, more than a dozen communities around the world are participating.

“The Compassion Games are inspiring and challenging us to create new ways of learning, playing, and serving each other and the world,” said Ramer. “We call them a “co-opetition” because we’re cooperating to compete – we’re competing with each other to create a culture that promotes compassionate action. The Games are a chance to focus attention on all the opportunities and the compassionate actions going on around us every day.”

Participants can choose to do random acts of kindness; sign up to be a Secret Agent of Compassion and receive a daily mission by email; contribute to a service project organized by a business, organization, or neighborhood; or create their own games. Players will record their activities by submitting a quick online report. Results from all participating communities worldwide will be tallied and shown on a Compassion Map online. Details and instructions for participating are at compassiongames.org. An events calendar will identify all gatherings, festivals, and opportunities for service during the Games. 

Hope to see a lot of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park good deeds showing up on the Compassion Mapping!

The opening ceremonies at Cleveland High, MC’d by Evening Magazine host Jim Dever, will feature welcome speeches, music, aerial acts, compassion booths, a food drive, videos produced by What’s Good 206 and Cleveland students co-hosted by executive producer Austin Williams, and breakdancing. The event is free and open to the public (the evening program is first come first served, as seating is limited). 

Closing ceremonies will take place September 21 at El Centro de la Raza at 4:00pm. Details will be posted to the events calendar as they are finalized.

Sponsors of the Games to date are: United Way of King County, LUSH, Make it Matter, Talking Rain, PEMCO, The City of Seattle, New Stories, Kind Living, Ideal network, and Service Learning Seattle - Seattle Public Schools. Media partners to date are: King5TV, What's Good 206, Pyramid Communications, Fish/Astronaut, and Fat Cat VDO.

Volunteers and additional sponsors are welcome – contact Jon Ramer for information.


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Compassionate block watches in Lake Forest Park

Monday, August 5, 2013

Anne Stadler
By Anne Stadler

In 2012, Lake Forest Park affirmed the Charter for Compassion, a ten year program encouraging compassionate acts citywide. Many of us who live here already engage, on an individual level, in activities intended to improve the lives of others.  Imagine how great our impact could be if we came together and focused our energy!

Are we a compassionate block watch circle? Of course, we are!  Are we… the MOST compassionate neighborhood in Lake Forest Park? Well, in a manner of speaking, them’s fightin’ words! Let’s get together – in the spirit of fun and goodness – to show our stuff in the Compassion Games Sept. 11 – 21. We can hold a food drive, clean graffiti, help a neighbor, pick up litter – we decide. We can work together or individually.  All that really matters is that we help!

How do we keep score? It’s easy. All we need to do is record our helpful acts on the Compassion Games website, during the week of Sept. 11—21. After doing any act of compassion, just access the  Compassion Games website. Click on the Compassion Map in the title bar, and follow the simple instructions to submit a report. At the end of the week we’ll see which neighborhood racked up the most points.

Join in September 11- 21. Make a difference to someone else and help Lake Forest Park become the most compassionate city in the Compassion Games! That list now includes Stockholm, Sweden, and Gurgaon, India as well as New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, Seattle, Louisville, Kentucky and MORE.


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Share your story of compassionate action for the Compassion Game

Friday, September 28, 2012

By Anne Stadler


In 2010, Seattle adopted the Charter for Compassion and is embarked on a ten year effort to BE a compassionate city. Louisville KY followed suit. Now they've challenged us in a Compassion Game to be as compassionate as they are. So we responded by organizing the month long Compassion Games: Sept. 21 through October 31.  

On Sept. 21, on the United Way Day of Caring, 58,000 people recorded compassionate acts that they did ... starting our month off with gusto.

Among the things you can do, is tell your story of compassionate action.  I know you have those stories -- so PLEASE write up or video yours; then go to the website and click on the Compassion Stories section to submit yours. AND there are other events you can participate in too. 

I'd love to see citizens of Lake Forest Park and Shoreline really show up in this!  

Please sign the Charter for Compassion yourself and encourage your City council to adopt it.



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The Compassion Games on United Way of King County's Day of Caring, September 21

Thursday, September 20, 2012





Our society is fascinated by entertainers, sports heroes and lawbreakers. Glance at the “most read” list on most any online news site and you’ll find it overwhelmingly populated with articles that are variations on those themes.

 In this election year we’re also frequently reminded about our political and social divides. Yes, there are important issues and real divisions, but that’s an old story, and it’s demoralizing. Rather than spurring u to action, our continual political stalemates deflate us into non-action, isolation, and cynicism.

A new project asks residents of the Seattle area to tell the positive stories that are meaningful to them and that will inspire others to get involved in our community.

 It’s a story contest that is part of the Compassion Games sponsored by Compassionate Seattle and United Way of King County, with support from the City of Seattle and King County

 We figure if people are talking about the good things they do, we will inspire our neighbors to make our community a safer, kinder, more just and better place to live. To that end, winners will be named in six different categories, including youth, those working to provide basic needs, faith communities, education and business.

These stories can involve past experiences of compassion, or experiences of compassion that occur during the Games. Submission starts Sept. 21 and ends Nov. 1. Compassion can take many forms, but think of it as a commitment to appreciate and treat with respect all individuals we encounter, and to alleviate suffering when and where we encounter it. How and where have you seen compassion demonstrated? How can you best tell this story?

All stories will be displayed on the Compassion Games website as well as the Voices in Education website, becoming online galleries of acts of kindness and compassion. The stories can be text, video, MP3 or photography. Submission information is available on the web site.

The Compassion Games also includes community service projects and other activities designed to involve people in doing good works in the community, starting with United Way of King County’s Day of Caring on Sept. 21. 


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