Ever-Growing Partnerships!
Compassionate Austin is a movement! Everyone is a “partner” in creating a more compassionate community. We are grateful for the compassionate actions of many amazing organizations and individuals!
Learn more about the Compassionate Austin Hallmarks and Compassionate Austin Leadership!
We launched the Compassionate Austin Co-op in 2019. Co-op Members (including organizations, businesses, schools, faith-based groups, etc. as well as individuals) assert their commitment to compassionate action in our community.
As part of the Charter for Compassion’s global network of Compassionate Cities, Compassionate Austin collaborates with other Compassionate Cities in Texas, the United States, and other parts of the world.
Follow our Compassionate Austin Facebook page and join our Compassionate Austin Facebook group for ongoing updates and information about our collaborations and partners.
Below are some examples of our partnership activities over time (partnerships are listed in alphabetical order):
Austin ISD- Becker Elementary School (Valerie Borchers, Principal) participated in the Compassion Games throughout the 2015-2016 school year with the help and leadership of the school’s “No Place for Hate” counsellor. Becker Elementary posted stories of student compassionate action on the Compassion Games Report Map.
Austin ISD- Cunningham Elementary School (Amy Lloyd, Principal) received an Ashoka Innovation Grant to support Compassionate Austin in Spring, 2015. The school’s Art Specialist involved students in learning about compassion and commissioned a Compassion Tree sculpture for the school grounds. A teacher assisted with the initial steps of creating the Compassionate Austin website: selecting the theme, designing the script on the header image, and loading the initial content prepared by Compassionate Austin. Cunningham passed the Compassion Torch to Becker Elementary School.
Austin ISD- Rosedale School (Elizabeth Dickey, Principal) participated in the Compassion Games throughout the 2015-2016 school year and posted stories of student compassionate action on the Compassion Games Report Map. Teachers and students also came to City Hall on April 14, 2016 to support the Austin City Council Resolution designating Austin as a Compassionate City.
The Amala Foundation inspires people to grow as individuals and as leaders in service to humanity. They graciously donated their space for David Breaux’s talk on Compassion during his January, 2015 Compassion Tour visit to Austin.
The Austin Public Library: The Austin Public Libraries collaborated to help involve libraries in the Compassionate Austin movement. The Austin Public Library sent a representative to City Hall on April 14, 2016 in support of the Austin City Council Resolution designating Austin as a Compassionate City.
Calder Kamin is the artist who created the Compassion Tree Sculpture for Cunningham Elementary School as part of their Compassion Festival.
David Breaux’s global Compassion Tour brought awareness to compassion. David visited Austin in Jan, 2015, inspiring many collaborations. He recorded with StoryCorps during his visit to Austin.
Earth Day Austin served as a celebration and exposition of environmental sustainability and eco-friendly exhibits and events. Many of the Earth Day Austin individual exhibitors as well as the Earth Day Austin festival (as a whole) particpated in the Earth Week Compassion Games, April, 2016. An Earth Day Austin representative spoke at City Hall, supporting the Austin City Council Resolution designating Austin as a Compassionate City.
Go Love Now– inspires youth to be kind and compassionate. Compassionate Austin has collaborated in some of their school events.
Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) builds healthy relationships between faith communities. In addition to loaning their Red Bench for the Compassionate Austin 2015 MLK event, they donated their Austin American Statesman column and Storycorps recording sessions to help us spread the word about compassion. The Executive Director came to City Hall on April 14, 2016 and spoke in support of the Austin City Council Resolution designating Austin as a Compassionate City. iACT has also participated in the Compassion Games.
KAZI Radio Station: In January, 2015 Kenneth Thompson at KAZI FM invited David Breaux to his morning show, “The Wake Up Call,” to talk about David’s Compassion Tour.
The Kindness Journey activated and spread the word about kindness. Kindness ambassadors Jaden & Amanda Winn visited Austin- Jan-Feb, 2015. They recorded with StoryCorps during their visit.
Love Out Loud Austin TV highlighted Compassionate Austin as making a positive impact in our community. (Here is the Loud Out Loud Austin TV interview of Lesa Walker, Founder of Compassionate Austin- published November 8, 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhTAEhUcei0)
Men’s Fellowship Network (MFN): The MFN launched in April 2012 in Austin, Texas for the purpose of providing a weekly opportunity for men (and women) in the area to have a conversation on various topics that pertain to “male spirituality.” Men and women from over 140 countries have participated. The Founder, Clay Boykin, is part of the Compassionate Austin Leadership.
New Story Festival was held in March, 2019 at Huston-Tillotson University in partnership with Compassionate Austin– celebrating, inspiring, and activating compassionate action and social impact in Austin and surrounding communities. The Festival helped with the formation and growth of the Compassionate Austin Co-op.
Peace Day Austin formed as a collaborative grass roots initiative to explore, express, share, welcome, and celebrate what peace means to each of us as we travel from 9/11, a Day of Remembrance and Service, to 9/21, the United Nations International Day of Peace. Peace Day Austin was represented at City Hall in support of the Compassionate Austin Resolution.
The Raindrop Women’s Association invited Lesa Walker (Founder of the Compassionate Austin Movement) to speak at their February, 2016 Coffee Night event. The Executive Director came to City Hall April 14, 2016 and spoke in support of the Austin City Council Resolution designating Austin as a Compassionate City. The organization also participated in the Compassion Games.
Seton Cove invited Lesa Walker (Founder of the Compassionate Austin Movement) to give a weekly seminar for 3 weeks in August, 2015 as part of the Seton Cove program offerings.
SocialGood.us formed to inspire and recognize social good action in Austin and engaged people in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Compassionate Austin collaborated in some of their events.
Subud International Cultural Association (SICA) inspired Peace Day Austin. Compassionate Austin partnered in Peace Day Austin events.
University of Texas Project on Conflict Resolution (UTPCR)- Moody College of Communication: Global Ethics and Conflict Resolution Summer Symposium- June, 2016. Lesa R. Walker (Founder of the Compassionate Austin Movement) was invited to present about Compassionate Austin and “3D” compassion to high school students attending the symposium.
University of Texas School of Public Health in Austin: Master Degree students at the University of Texas School of Public Health (Austin campus) did service projects in Spring, 2015 to help with the Compassion Assessment of Austin.
Compassionate Austin Affiliations/Memberships:
The Charter for Compassion Compassionate Communities Campaign
Compassionate Austin 