Compassionate Cities Campaign

Cities around the globe – from Louisville to Gaziantep, Turkey -- are choosing compassion. It’s making a difference.

Why is compassionate business vital to our global economy?

"If we don't behave in a more compassionate way, treating all people as we would want to be treated, we're not going to have a viable, sustainable world." -- Karen Armstrong

Quotes:

"It's time for greatness -- not for greed. It's a time for idealism -- not ideology. It is a time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate action." - Marian Wright Edelman, b 1939, American activist for the rights of children ...
"Our task must be to widen our circle of compassion, to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. " - Albert Einstein; Theoretical Physicist, Philosopher, Nobel Prize Winner ...
“That best portion of a good man's life; His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” - Williams Wordsworth; Poet ...
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." - John Wesley; Theologian ...
"It's not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts." - Mother Teresa; (1910-1997) ...
"Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things that renew humanity." - Buddha ...
"Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer." - Rachel Joy Scott (1981-1999); Student, First Victim Of The Columbine High School Massacre ...
"I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go." - Rachel Joy Scott (1981-1999); Student, First Victim Of The Columbine High School Massacre ...
“I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” - Albert Schweitzer; Philosopher, Physician, Nobel Peace Prize Winner ...
"Wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him." - Albert Schweitzer; Philosopher, Physician, Nobel Peace Prize Winner ...
"Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone.” - Hafsat Abiola, Nigerian Human Rights & Democracy Activist ...
"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace." - Albert Schweitzer; Philosopher, Physician, Nobel Peace Prize Winner ...
A Blessing of Love and Compassion - "May you be free from hostility, may you be free from affliction, may you be free from distress, may you have ease of well-being, may you be free from suffering." ...
"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." - The 14th Dalai Lama ...
"Compassion for myself is the most powerful healer of them all." - Theodore Isaac Rubin; Psychiatrist, Author ...
"Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation." - Henry Ward Beecher; Clergyman, Social Reformer ...
"Fear grows out of the things we think; it lives in our minds. Compassion grows out of the things we are, and lives in our hearts." - Barbara Garrison, Author ...
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all of these." - George Washington Carver ...
"Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things." - Thomas Merton; Theologian, Author ...
"The functions of the intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy." - Dean Koontz, Author ...
"Give children at least as many chances to show compassion as they have to be competitive." - Erica Layman; Mother, Advocate ...
“If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” - William Penn ...
"The highest form of love is the love that allows for intimacy without the annihilation of difference." - Parker J. Palmer, The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life ...
"Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too." - Frederick Buechner, American Clergyman, Author ...
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." - Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935); the 14th Dalai Lama ...

Who We Are

Compassionate Action Network International (CAN International) is a worldwide network of individuals, organizations, and cities that have affirmed the Charter for Compassion and who are working in diverse ways to create cultures of compassion locally and globally.

Our Mission

CAN International partners with cities to grow a global movement of compassion.

Compassion Is

Compassion is the recognition that all beings are profoundly interconnected, such that the joys and sufferings of one are the joys and sufferings of all, with a corresponding commitment to appreciate and treat with respect all individuals as we ourselves would want to be treated – even and especially when we find it difficult to do so – and to alleviate suffering when and where we encounter it.

What We Do

We supply information and communication that helps create networks of cities and other organizations working to build compassionate responses in the world. We invite cities to share information and experiences on many issues that touch the work of compassion. We offer resources useful to organizations working to build compassion.

CAN International Institute supports the cities campaign by providing:

Educational opportunities for learning what is involved in creating a culture of compassion, including opportunities for sharing learning and the results of research throughout the network
An incubator for model programs

CAN International's partners in compassion —