Introduction
This page features a variety of classes and courses offered by the Charter for Compassion in addition to ad hoc projects and urgent calls to action by the Charter for Compassion and its allies.
The Charter for Compassion Education Institute
Compassionate Houston, founded in 2011, 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 for the suffering of all human beings were our aspirational foundation.
We are delighted to share a variety of classes and courses by The Charter for Compassion Education Institute (CEI) with you.
The purpose of the CEI is to provide relevant and timely learning experiences for anyone interested in growing compassion in their lives and their community, locally and globally. With the Charter for Compassion at the heart of all we do, we invite you to join us in making compassion the driving force as we work to alleviate the suffering of our fellow beings and help create a peaceful global community.
All links to individual courses and activities are embedded in their title.
To round up the many offerings, we are sharing selected featured global events and activities by the Charter for Compassion and hope you will find a program you are excited about.
Global Read Series
The Charter’s Global Read program selects books that bring awareness to the theme of compassion. Each month, you will have the opportunity to hear directly from the book's author in a live webinar format and are given the chance to interact with the author and ask questions and/or comment on their book.
Please tell your friends about Global Read - and consider forming your own small group for dialogue (Compassionate Houston is evaluating such an option following the monthly program). Then be sure to register and join the live event.
January 29, 2025 Global Read
Witness
By Ariel Burger
Wednesday, January 29 at 11 AM CDT (9 AM PDT)
Author Ariel Burger, student and friend of Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel invites readers to witness one of the world's greatest thinkers in his own classroom in this instructive and deeply moving read, a National Jewish Book Award–winner.
The world remembers Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) as a Nobel laureate, activist, and author of more than forty books, including Oprah’s Book Club selection Night. Ariel Burger met Wiesel when he was a teenage student, eager to learn Wiesel's life lessons. Witness chronicles the intimate conversations between these two men as Burger sought Wiesel's counsel on matters of intellect, faith, and survival while navigating his own personal journey from boyhood to manhood, from student and assistant to rabbi and teacher. > Learn more and register here.
Signature and On-Demand Courses
CEI’s signature courses are designed to explore the complexities of compassion from various perspectives. On-Demand courses offer you the flexibility to study any time and anywhere at your own speed. All signature courses are currently offered on-demand.
The Essence of Compassion
The Essence of Compassion is intended to take you on a historical and cultural journey of the development of thinking about and acting on compassion.
La Esencia de la Compasión
La Esencia de la Compasión es un curso diseñado para llevarte en un viaje histórico y cultural a través del desarrollo del pensamiento y la acción compasiva.
The Science of Compassion
Take a close look at the motivators of compassion, its physiological and psychological effects when it is utilized.
Charter for Compassion: Compassion in Action
How did the Charter begin under theologian, Karen Armstrong's vision, and what work has evolved throughout the years? Become involved in working towards a more equitable, and peaceful world.
Emotional Intelligence for a Compassionate World
An interactive course with the goal to understand and nurture your own emotions, and to develop your ability to empathize and act with compassion. We can be the change we are looking for.
The course includes text, photos, videos, and written exercises and reflections. You can learn at your own place and pace and within a comfortable time frame, typically 60 to 90 minutes a week for six weeks. It also includes a self-scored assessment of Emotional Intelligence so you can get a confidential assessment of your own EI skills.
How To Become A Compassionate Citizen: Strategies and Tools to Activate your Community Groups
This course provides a systematic way for groups to deepen their experience of compassion and experience its impact on both an individual and community level. It helps people to become acquainted and to establish common ground, and a shared vision.