Local effort responds to polarized world

Compassionate Fernandina

904.310.6286

June 22, 2017 11:30 a.m.

Mayor Robin Letnz presents proclamation to Compassionate Fernandina "one of more than 340 cities around the world with initiatives to promote civility and respect."

On Tuesday, June 20th, the Fernandina Beach City Commissioners endorsed the Charter for Compassion, becoming one of more than 340 cities around the world with initiatives to promote civility and respect. The Charter for Compassion was launched in 2008 to encourage and inspire communities to respond in positive ways to a deeply troubled and polarized world. The Proclamation was presented on behalf of the Fernandina Beach City Commission by Mayor Robin Lentz.

Compassionate Fernandina was launched in 2015 by Dr. Tom Washburn and Jane Holzcamp to acknowledge Fernandina’s already strong network of non-profit organizations and community volunteers and to officially designate Fernandina as a “Compassionate City” with the goal of engaging each member of the community in making the place we live and the world in general a better place.

The international Charter for Compassion states, “Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.”

Individuals may read the Charter for Compassion and affirm its principles online at CharterForCompassion.org. The site also features the 2008 TED Prize presentation by renowned scholar Karen Armstrong, founder of the Charter for Compassion.

(please use link: https://www.charterforcompassion.org/charter/charter-overvew )

Peggie Weeks, president of Compassionate Fernandina, stated, “We are so pleased that the City of Fernandina Beach has endorsed the international Charter for Compassion, committed to making it a standard practice to treat all others as each of us wishes to be treated: with kindness and dignity.” She added, “Simple acts of kindness and civility can transform our world when we each make a commitment to living with compassion when we’re person-to-person, online, or in public forums.”

Compassionate Fernandina is a 501(c) 3 organization. For more information, visit Com-passionateFernandina.org or write CompassionateFernandina@gmail.com.

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