Ferndalians Contemplate Signing on to Compassionate Cities

Ferndalians Contemplate Signing on to Compassionate Cities
(Jacki Smith, June 25, 2014)
On June 24^th Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter hosted an informative discussion about the International Compassionate Cities Initiative and how Ferndale can become a part of this grass roots movement that is connecting cities and groups all over the world.
Mayor Coulter invited Jim Lee, the minister at Renaissance Unity in Warren, MI to explain what the Compassionate Cities Initiative in and share his inspiring experience at the Compassionate Cities Conference in Louisville, KY in 2012. Jim Lee started his presentation by telling the story of how Louisville, KY City Council adopted the Charter for Compassionate Cities in November of 2011 and within months created a city wide, week-long event called “Give a Day”. The original goal was to generate 65,000 hours of volunteer service and they surpassed 90,000 hours in that campaign and they did this without using any city finances.   There have been many other effort of creating compassion since then and these efforts honored them in being named the Most Compassionate City by Forbes Magazine and the Compassionate Action Network International Institution, being recognized for their compassion by the Dali Lama and through their outreach to the rest of the country, inspired the US Conference of Mayors to Adopt the Compassionate Cities Charter.
Lee attended this conference with 30 city officials from all over the world; Charlotte, Winnipeg, and even Australia. When he mentioned his Detroit origins the room went silent. Could Detroit, with its international reputation of decay and violence become a Compassionate City? Lee decided he would bring this mission home and help put Detroit on the compassion map.   With help from his congregation at Renaissance Unity Jim Lee founded the Metro Detroit Compassionate Cities Network as a grass roots, person by person, entity to grow compassion in our tri-county communities.   Lee explained this was recognize, support and network the ongoing compassionate organizations already in the area and hopefully inspire cities to adopt this charter.
The Compassionate Cities Charter is a simple commitment to being a compassionate city and the city government’s commitment to facilitating and supporting this compassion it its residents.   Lee clearly explained that this is not a charter driven by religion or politics, but driven by human compassion. The Compassionate Cities Charter was original envisioned by bestselling author and TED talk award winner Karen Armstrong. At the 2008 Seeds of Compassion Conference in Seattle, WA the Dali Lama, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu amongst other spiritual leaders, innovators and visionaries from around the world.  The Charter is about human rights, freedoms and respect.
After Jim Lee led everyone in reading the charter aloud he invited Barbara Markham from Westland to talk about the experience of Westland becoming a Compassionate City. She also talked about their upcoming events.
Mayor Coulter invited Kat Bruner James to speak about how Citizens for Fair Ferndale and the Good Neighbor Civility Pledge dovetails right into Compassionate City Charter.   He also asked all attendees their input on how Ferndale would receive this initiative and if this would be a good fit for the community.   The group cited many of the things that Ferndale has done in the past year in the name of compassion; Good Neighbor Awards, Ferndale Pride, the Love Ritual as Affirmations, the Ferndale Forum on Facebook, The Ferndale Community Foundation events and grants.   There was a consensus that this is a good fit for Ferndale and that Mayor Coulter will be looking for a committee of residents to see how the Compassionate Cities Charter can fit into Ferndale.
Jacki Smith is a local Ferndalian, mom, author and partner at Candle Wick Shop in Downtown Ferndale and Coventry Creations (also in Ferndale) where she makes her candles.
LINKS: http://charterforcompassion.org/
http://www.louisvilleky.gov/compassionatecity/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Metro-Detroit-Compassionate-Cities-Network/668429939858425
http://compassionateaction.org/
Challenge for Compassion in Westland http://www.cityofwestland.com/live/compassionate-city-
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https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/02/ferndalians-channel-leaders-past-spread-love-in-hopes-for-equality-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/09/12/ferndale-good-neighbors-group-wants-you-to-sign-the-civility-pledge-at-diy/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/05/11/good-neighbors-gather-to-celebrate-ferndale-gnas/
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https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/01/23/citizens-for-fair-ferndale-recognized-by-county-commission-video/


 

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