Creating Compassionate Cities

How does a city get ‘Compassionate City’ status?

1. The government/city council signs the Charter for Compassion and issues a public proclamation and/or resolution.
2.  A minimum of a one year action plan is drafted and submitted to CAN at the time of the proclamation/resolution is made*
3. The City joins the global compassion movement and is listed by the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities.

*If city organizers wish to draft a longer plan e.g., 3-5 years – this is welcomed. To retain ‘Compassionate City’ status as part of the CAN network we encourage each city to review, draft, and submit their new plan at the end of their outlined plan term.  

How do I start?

1. Join the Community
2. Find a Resource
3. Share your Story

Find more information by clicking on the tabs on the left of this page.

The core idea for the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities came from a UN initiative that explored how knowledge networks are integrated at the global, national, and local level. A foundational insight was that mayors, because of their direct involvement with their constituencies as well as their position at the intersection of crucial sectors of society, are among the most influential change agents in world. 

In April 2008, Seattle hosted an unprecedented event: Seeds of Compassion, an historic series of public gatherings, discussions, and workshops that galvanized individuals, networks, and organizations around the world. Over 154,000 people participated in the 5-day event, and more than 7 million viewed the event online. Anchored by the deep wisdom of the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and other luminaries, this community-focused event celebrated and explored the relationships, programs, and tools that nurture and empower children, families, and communities to be compassionate members of society.

The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
at the Seeds of Compassion event in Seattle.

Later in 2008 the Charter for Compassion was conceived. The global outreach project, ‘Charter for Compassion’ is inspired by renowned religious historian and author Karen Armstrong, author of more than 20 books on faith and the major world religions, studying what Islam, Judaism, and Christianity have in common, and how our faiths shape world history and current events. After being awarded the TED Prize in 2008, (www.ted.com), 150,000 people of all nations, all faiths, and all backgrounds submitted their views on what a ‘Charter’ for compassion should contain. These contributions were then reviewed by a council of conscience and incorporated into the final document. The Charter for Compassion calls on everyone to activate the Golden Rule: “treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves” a principle found in all of the major world religions “making compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world.”

The Compassionate Action Network International (CAN International) was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the spring of 2009, and the Charter for Compassion was formally launched in the fall of 2009. The International Campaign for Compassionate Cities was launched in 2010, and Seattle, Washington became the first city in the world to formally sign the Charter and declare itself a Compassionate City. Seattle was soon folowwed by a long list of other cities.

The mission of CAN International is to build a global movement that brings the Charter for Compassion to life.

Map compliments of Initiative for Compassion Saint Augustine, FL, USA

Signed the Charter for Compassion

• Appleton, Wisconsin USA
• Basalt, Colorado USA
• Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
• Gaziantep, Turkey
• Groningen, Netherlands
• Houston, Texas USA
• Lake County, California USA
• Lake Forest Park, WA USA
• Leiden, Netherlands
• London, Ontario Canada
• Louisville, Kentucky USA
• Millbrae, California USA
• Nanaimo, Canada
• Parksville, BC, Canada
• Powell River, BC, Canada
• Seattle, WA, USA

Actively organizing to become compassionate cities