Mission Statement
The Art of Compassion
The Art of Compassion is a gathering of artists, writers, and storytellers who share a passion for using their creative talents to spread kindness and compassion in the world. Through a series of presentations and workshops, participants explore how the power of storytelling, art, and entertainment can be harnessed to promote education, encouragement, support, and love for others.
Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.
KINDNESS IS THE LANGUAGE THE DEAF CAN HEAR AND THE BLIND CAN SEE
Examples to Follow
Societal Well-Being
Tom Tait was inspired to run for mayor after seeing pictures of a rainbow’s curve with messages of kindness written by a 6-year-old girl. He believed that kindness could transform the city and won the election with this platform.
One of his initiatives was the “Hi Neighbor” campaign, a community-based program encouraging residents to get to know their neighbors. This initiative aimed to build a stronger sense of community and connection among residents.
The city also asked children to participate in creating a million acts of kindness. This effort led to significant positive changes: school suspensions were cut in half, bullying incidents decreased, and crime rates lowered.
In addition, all Anaheim schools now hold a Serve-a-Thon every Martin Luther King Day. Instead of taking the holiday off, teachers, administrators, and students come together to work on projects such as planting trees or singing at senior centers, fostering a spirit of service and community involvement.
Health and Happiness
Diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, she created the initiative “Chemo to Kindness.”
During each week of her chemotherapy treatments, she challenged her community to perform an act of kindness. She encouraged them to share their acts on social media using specific hashtags.
This initiative inspired more than 1,700 acts of kindness and positively impacted over 75 organizations worldwide.
Key Themes
- The role of storytelling, art, and entertainment in promoting compassion and empathy
- Strategies for using creativity to educate and inspire individuals to create positive change
- The importance of providing encouragement and support to those who are working towards a kinder and more compassionate world
Who Should Attend
- Artists, writers, and storytellers who are passionate about using their talents for social good
- Educators, activists, and community organizers who are interested in harnessing the power of creativity to create positive change
- Anyone who is interested in learning more about how art and storytelling can be used to promote compassion and empathy in the world.