Ridgefield has begun a very exciting journey to become a "City of Compassion", under the auspices of the Charter for Compassion, initiated by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama
Ridgefield’s Team Compassion, a group of community members that includes principals, clergy and First Selectman, Rudy Marconi gathered this morning at Town Hall where they spoke via Skype to a member of the Charter for Compassion, Education Director, Marilyn Turkovich, about our current town-wide movement and mission to be deemed a "City of Compassion".
Following a global initiative anchored by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Charter of Compassion, a nonprofit organization, was born in 2008 when Karen Armstrong won the TED Prize and made a wish: for help creating, launching and propagating a Charter for Compassion. Here at home, our mission is to encourage and promote programs and initiatives that foster and maintain a culture of compassionate success in Ridgefield.
With the support of The Charter, as well as Founding Director of the Center for Compassion Dr. Chris Kukk, a professor of Political Science at WCSU who penned "The Compassionate Achiever”, Ridgefield is garnering a systematic approach, through tried and true principles and concrete action, toward celebrating the people and organizations that bring compassion to life in our community. Turkovich and Kukk will work alongside Team Compassion as we roll out this important initiative in our community.
On the heels of hosting Ridgefield’s World Cafe event at The Lounsbury House, Team Compassion is gearing up for the Compassionate Ridgefield Retreat which will be held on Saturday, June 9 from 3 to 6pm at Scotts Ridge Middle School. Interested community members are invited to attend where they can learn more and participate in the Compassionate Ridgefield initiative. To receive details regarding the upcoming retreat, please contact Sara Sved via email sarasved@aol.com.
Over 70 cities globally, including Milford, Berlin, and Danbury, right here in Connecticut, have affirmed the Charter for Compassion through city, community councils or other government entities. Affirming the Charter means that a community has identified issues on which they are working, and committed to a multi-year action plan.
Read more about what it means to be a City of Compassion here.
Follow Compassionate Ridgefield on Facebook here.
