We are the most diverse city in the U.S. We belong to each other.
FIND THE GOOD. PUT IT IN MOTION. ADD YOUR VOICE.
Together in 2026, we are turning compassion into shared momentum!
New Partner: Restorative Houston
We’re honored to welcome our newest partner, Restorative Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing restorative justice, healing, and non‑punitive harm repair through intergenerational networks and community circles across our city. Their work lifts up survivor‑centered healing, youth leadership, and community accountability.
Restorative Houston’s lotus logo reflects their belief that healing can emerge even from difficult conditions — a reminder that restoration is not perfection, but a collective practice of transformation.
Compassion Week Page Is Now Live
Our Compassion Week 2026 webpage is now live, offering a first look at this year’s theme, Compassion Grows Here, and the growing calendar of partner‑led programs across Greater Houston. The page will continue to expand as new offerings are confirmed, highlighting moments of learning, story-telling, reflection, hands-on activities, and connection.
We invite you to explore what’s already taking shape, return as the calendar grows, and join us this November as we celebrate compassion within us, between us, and beyond us.
Our Final Book Study of 2026
Our final book study of 2026 invites us into Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose. Jennifer Wallace explores our deep need to feel valued and able to contribute — and how those moments shape our relationships and communities.
Reading in community opens new insight, new warmth, and new ways of seeing. Together, we’ll explore the small moments that help us feel visible, valued, and connected — and how we can help others know they matter, too.
Logistics
Dates: October 1, 8, 15, 22 | Time: 7:00-8:30 PM | Zoom
Registration Deadline: September 30, 6:00 PM
Space is limited to 20 participants!
Mattering is an essential guide for how to restore meaning, comfort, and joy to our lives.” — Vivek Murthy, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States
Meditate & Connect - A Monthly Pause for Reflection and Community
Meditate & Connect continues in 2026 with a renewed rotating‑partner format. Each month, a different community leader or organization guides a simple, 30‑minute session designed to help you pause, breathe, and reconnect.
Meditate & Connect - Guided by diverse voices. Rooted in shared presence. All are welcome, whether you join every month or drop in when you can.
September Meditate & Connect:
Date: Thursday, September 10 | 12-12:30 PM.
Led by Stuart Nelson, Institute for Spirituality and Health.
Registration closes on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:00 PM.
Houston Reaffirms Its Commitment as a Compassionate City
On May 5, 2026, Compassionate Houston received its third proclamation from the City of Houston, reaffirming Houston as a Compassionate City. Board President Pam Lewis addressed Mayor Whitmire, CM Ramirez, and City Council with gratitude on behalf of our board, partners, and volunteers.
We’re honored to continue this work in the most diverse large city in the nation — a city where compassion is both a value and a daily practice. Read Pam’s full remarks →
charter for compassion 2.0
On November 12, the Charter for Compassion unveiled the Charter 2.0, a renewal of Karen Armstrong’s timeless vision, sixteen years after the original Charter for Compassion launched in 2009. Rooted in the wisdom of global traditions and the African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — Charter for Compassion 2.0 invites us to move from belief to practice, from aspiration to embodiment.
To accompany this new framework, the Charter is introducing The Practical Guide to Compassion 2.0 — a living manual for individuals, communities, and organizations who wish to turn compassion into measurable, lasting change.
Charter for Compassion 2.0 is not a new document — it is a new movement. Click below to learn more about Charter 2.0 and the global launch, read the full text and download the Charter 2.0 Guidebook.
Sign the Charter for Compassion
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.
How can you get started, where do you find information, how do you stay connected so you can become one of our trailblazers?
Grow With Us
Tell us how we can support you and collaborate to grow the compassionate culture of Houston through awareness, education, community, and service.
Throughout the year, we are launching programs, opportunities, and service projects that address Compassionate Houston’s main objectives. We want to connect most effectively with you and your needs. Please fill out our survey by clicking on the button “Individual Survey.”
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”