The Need

The gap is increasing between our evolving social needs and the financial ability of local and national governments to fulfill those needs. Many people feel disconnected and disempowered to address these needs.  A network of individuals and groups organized around compassion will empower our community to help meet these needs and to promote our general well-being.  The City Administration can be a great catalytic agency using its power to convene and its facilities. In the process the City can also see a beneficial impact on its future budget requirements.  Furthermore, building and growing Houston’s image as a compassionate city will attract business and jobs and further the economic future of the City.

Vision, Mission, Values

Compassionate Houston is a civil society initiative, a collaborative and humanitarian organization formed by a group of Houstonians who are passionate about encouraging and supporting philanthropic activity in the City of Houston.  Our objective is to serve the citizens of Houston and in the process we want to see Houston become the City the world looks to as a leader in Compassionate Activities.

The Strategy

The book The Tipping Point discusses how social change moves to the point of becoming embedded into a culture.  The three types of people that help move change to a tipping point are: (1) experts (2) connectors (3) persuaders or those who are passionate about a message. Our strategy has been to create an organic organization of Compassionate Partners and Compassionate Ambassadors that connects these three groups of people around a hub of leadership and the common goal of increasing compassion as a civic virtue and a way of living with others.  The book offers a framework for advancing the notion of Compassion in all aspects of human activity.  We would like to apply this framework to advance the objectives of this initiative.  In doing so, we offer a partnership to the City of Houston to work with us.

Houston is a Candidate for Certification as a Compassionate City

A compassionate stream has flowed through this Bayou city, from its very beginnings in 1837.  Individuals and families have stepped up in times of great tragedy in our city and offered their hands to those who suffer.  Today more than 15,000 nonprofit organizations are registered in metropolitan Houston.  CAN International has named Houston a “Candidate” for certification as a “Compassionate City.” Becoming a “Compassionate City” requires that the governing body (1) affirms The Charter for Compassion or its principles (2) declares the city to be a “Compassionate City” (3) supports a 10-year joint citizen-government campaign for creating a culture of compassion in its government and among its citizens. http://compassion.is/international-compassion-campaigns/compassionate-cities/

Please JOIN US in helping us meet our desire of serving the citizens of Houston and to see Houston become a “Compassionate City” and embark on a 10-year campaign for celebrating, nurturing, and enhancing the compassionate culture in Houston.  Become a Compassionate Partner or Compassionate Ambassador as a way of showing your support in this early phase of Houston’s compassionate movement.  Get Involved.