Compassionate Action Network

From Seeds to Sprouts!

Think about Compassionate Action Network as the "sprouts of compassion." Compassion is much more than feelings of empathy toward others. Compassion is an entirely different way of acting. CAN aims to focus attention on what we do in the world, in all of our institutions – schools, families, neighborhoods, foundations, community organizations and other nonprofits, small businesses and corporations, hospitals, unions and professional associations, prisons and halfway houses, faith and spiritual communities, government (city councils, state legislatures and legislators, Congress and national lawmakers), and the military – to adopt and promote compassion as our guiding principle.

Soon, the Compassionate Action Network will introduce ways in which you can:

Join the Compassionate Action Network as an individual.

Attend an informal gathering hosted by Compassionate Action Network.

Affiliate your organization as a Compassionate Action Network organization (these can include school classrooms, community groups, religious and spiritual communities, foundations, activist networks, etc).

Create or join a social networking group that reflects your passions, interests, and efforts in bringing compassion to life.

Share your resources and ideas by publishing them online.

Build the Compassionate Action Network by joining and building conferences and public events, organizing service and education projects, and recruiting others.

Sign up for our newsletter so you can get updates on our plans and programs! Visit the CAN online community!

CAN was inspired by Seeds of Compassion

For one week in April 2008, Seattle, Washington hosted an unprecedented event, The Seeds of Compassion. “Seeds” was an historic series of public gatherings, dialogues and workshops that galvanized individuals, networks, and organizations around the world. In addition, community and spiritual leaders, educators and writers, researchers and thinkers all gathered to share their wisdom, ideas, and questions with tens of thousands of others. People across our community — parents, children, youth, teachers, activities, politicians and philanthropists — were prompted to consider how we can help Seeds of Compassion continue to resonate for many years after April 2008.

Anchored by the deep wisdom of the Dalai Lama, Bishop Desmond Tutu and other key international religious leaders, this community-focused event celebrated and explored the relationships, programs and tools that nurture and empower children, families and communities to be compassionate members of society. Each of the five days provided those present an opportunity to better understand the real benefits of compassion, and concrete steps on how to bring compassion into their lives.