After two years of our summer book readings, we have decided to expand and offer FOUR seasonal book studies throughout the year. We are pleased to introduce our amazing book study champion and dedicated Compassionate Houston volunteer, Marlin Murdock, who will be facilitating these enlightening discussions.
Our first book study will be an exploration of David Brooks' latest book: How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply.
Meditate & Connect with Marci - A new lunchtime program beginning January 18 from 12-12:30 PM via Zoom.
Compassionate Houston is excited to announce a new monthly lunchtime program series with our partner Marci Sharif. Marci will present a virtual meditation and connection circle once each month, during the lunch hour, for connecting with compassion. Use part of your lunch break to center, meditate and connect.
Meet our newest partner, Prana: Essence of Life, a non-profit organization focusing on conscious living through practices that take us close to nature.
Here’s Deeblena Banerji's introduction:
All-pervading life-force (i.e. Prana) is the binding thread of the universe and is all for us to experience and explore in our lifetime. Our goal is to experience Prana in every moment of our conscious existence through various nature activities such as: earth-living, responsible food-practices, conservation of soil and natural resources, open-air performing arts, Yoga, and mindful health practices. Such experiences of Prana will enhance the quality of life leading to self-discovery and self-love.
A brand-new website is coming soon. In the meantime, follow Prana on Facebook > here.
Exciting News Alert! On November 13, ABC13 Houston shared a story that truly warmed our hearts. They kicked off their pm program with a live feature by highlighting World Kindness Day and introduced our very own initiative, "PROJECT KINDNESS." This beautiful project brings together seniors aged 65+ and bright HCC Honor College freshman students. Can you imagine the magic that happens when these two generations unite to explore kindness over ten weeks of weekly meetings? Read about Project Kindness here.
The spotlight was on a senior volunteer who has been part of this journey for three whole years. Their dedication and compassion were truly inspiring. And let's not forget about the HCC freshman student who was featured alongside them. They perfectly summed up the project's mission, showcasing the power of kindness across generations.
We couldn't be more proud of Project Kindness and the profound impact all participants are making in our community.
Let's continue to spread kindness and make a difference together!
We are excited to announce our latest fundraising campaign, aimed at raising $10,000 for Compassionate Houston. Our goal is simple: to ask 100 people to donate $100 each by the end of the year.
That's right, just $100 can make a huge difference in amplifying a unified commitment to compassion in Houston. Your generous contribution will be used to provide impactful programming, organize special events, and strengthen our communication channels. Can’t give $100, but you like to be part of the campaign? Everyone can make a difference! You can be one of the 100 donors, make a donation of your choice, or donate beyond the 100 x $100 level. Gifts of gratitude are offered for donations at each level.
We are excited to extend a warm welcome to the newest partner of Compassionate Houston, Marci Sharif, a familiar face to many as a former Houston Chronicle columnist. Marci dedicated her final column for "Feeling Matters" to Project Kindness and our dedicated board president, Pam Lewis. Click here for Marci’s article.
Meet Marci, a self-love columnist and coach.
Through her website Marcisharif.com, she offers ongoing programs, personal coaching, and weekly inspiration, all aimed at building mindfulness skills and authentic self-care. Her weekly column, Feeling Matters, ran in the Houston Chronicle for four years.
She now focuses on actively shepherding people through this work, both individually and in groups, because extending love and compassion in the world starts as a dedicated inside job.
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Purple Songs Can Fly – in partnership with Unity Houston and Compassionate Houston – presents “Hope Can Happen.” This one-act musical written as a sequel to “Journey to Hope” follows nurse Hope Powers on her first day on the job at a Pediatric Hospital as she works through her uncertainties with the help of the ‘unlikely angel’ Sera. This musical features former American Idol contestant and cancer-survivor Christian Spear as Hope, Carol Younkin as Sera, and an original Musical score by Phillip Hall of Phillip Hall Singers and Anita Kruse, Purple Songs Can Fly founder and Executive Director.
We are excited to share the final installment of Marci Sharif’s FEELING MATTERS column, published in the Houston Chronicle and on Marci's website. We are thrilled that Marci chose to dedicate her last column to none other than our very own PROJECT KINDNESS and the exceptional efforts put forth by our board chair, Pam Lewis.
Remembering and honoring the incredible legacy of our beloved founder, the late Rev. Betty Adam on the one-year anniversary of her passing. Her vision, passion, and unwavering commitment to compassion continue to inspire us every day. As we reflect on her wisdom, we share her view on compassion, recorded in the summer of 2021.
This summer we will offer two different book discussions, one in July on Karen Armstrong’s book Sacred Nature, and a one in August in partnership with Insight Meditation Houston on Sharon Salzberg’s Real Life. The book studies will take place on Zoom over four Thursday evenings in July and August. Learn more on our Summer Book Club page.
We are thrilled to welcome new partner organization Divergent Spirit! Divergent Spirit’s mission is to empower young neurodivergent minds to identify and advocate for their own unique values, strengths, and goals by sharing radical wisdom based storytelling, play, art, and belonging. Divergent Spirit was founded by Rev. Alisha Mills, an interfaith minister, chaplain, and spiritual formation leader.
Starting this year, it will be easy to remember the week and plan to attend offered activities as we decided to always launch around World Kindness Day, November 13 to further the ripple effect of kindness. Additionally, a fixed date supports our partner organizations with their annual program planning.
For Random Acts of Kindness Day, members of our Board shared their past, present, and upcoming kind acts and grateful moments via simple sticky notes gifted to others. Thank you to The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation’s comprehensive website with tons of ideas to “make kindness the norm,” on those special days and every single day of a year.
Lovescaping and We Practice Life have joined our mission to spread compassion throughout Houston and beyond! We Practice Life is a mother and son team cofounded by Brooke and Chase Summers-Perry, and facilitates engaging programs that aim to shift core beliefs, break unhealthy cycles, and transform systems through practice. Lovescaping is an Educational System Rooted in Practicing Love in Action, with the goal of making the world a better, more loving place.
Compassionate Houston participated in the NAMIWalks Your Way Houston on May 21, 2022 and joined our partner, the Institute for Spirituality and Health, at the fantastic Via Colori festival on April 2&3, 2022.
