History
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to growing the compassionate culture of Greater Houston through awareness, education, community, and service. Founded in 2011 by Rev. Betty Adam and a nucleus of dedicated co-founders such as The Boniuk Center, Rothko Chapel, and Interfaith Ministries, Compassionate Houston was inspired by the Charter for Compassion. Its principles of treating others with respect, encouraging appreciation of cultural and religious diversity, and cultivating an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings were our aspirational foundation.
Compassionate Houston undertook with its early partners, including the City, several grassroots service projects whose success allowed Houston to be designated a Compassionate City in 2013 by Mayor Annise Parker, a designation that was reaffirmed in 2017 by Mayor Sylvester Turner. Furthermore, Mayor Turner presented Compassionate Houston with a Proclamation, declaring November 12th, 2019, the Charter for Compassion 10th Anniversary Day in Houston.
We currently hold annual city-wide Compassion Weeks featuring workshops and experiential events. We regularly bring internationally known speakers to keynote our annual luncheon, alternating those educational programs with the highlighting of local compassionate innovators.
Mission
We remain a collaborative network of partner organizations from all walks of life, non-profits, faith communities, compassion-focused practice groups, and like-minded businesses.
Our main objectives for all our programs are:
To provide and support compassion skills education and practice across our city and the region.
To provide opportunities for individuals and partners to network, thereby fostering innovative and synergistic solutions toward community needs.
To foster initiatives that nurture inter-cultural relationships and understanding.
To recognize innovative, compassion-focused individuals and group projects.