Newsletter
Your support for Roots of Empathy is transformative. In a world increasingly divided, we are grateful to be invited to influence major policymakers and institutions across the globe with our concept of developing empathy, the best peace pill.
Roots of Empathy is Introducing the Concept of Empathy to Education Globally Through the HundrED Acknowledgements
Roots of Empathy is honoured to be in the prestigious HundrED ‘Hall of Fame’ for education innovation, following five consecutive years (2018-2022) of being chosen from thousands of global entries to be part of HundrED’s annual collection. This Finnish NGO, known for identifying inspiring and scalable educational innovations from JK to Gr.12, continues to celebrate our philosophy and curriculum, which has been translated into 7 different languages.
Our Founder and President was invited to give an opening keynote on the future of education at the very first HundrED gathering in 2018 and again last year to give the opening address at the 2024 HundrED Collection announcements, further solidifying our leadership in the field. ***
Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing: Recognized Solutions for Educators and Students
We are currently shortlisted by HundrED as one of the best programs in the world for wellbeing in schools. This distinction highlights our evidence-based approach to nurturing inclusive and safe learning environments that support both educators and students to flourish in an increasingly anxious stressed-out world.
Roots of Empathy Introduces Emotional Literacy to the United Nations
“Of all the literacies of childhood, emotional literacy is the foundational one,” says our Founder and President. Roots of Empathy has been a pioneer in introducing “emotional literacy” on global platforms, from a 2010 United Nations presentation with Former First Lady Laura Bush to the 2023 World Summit on Literacy at Oxford University. Emotional literacy is the key component to empathy and the Roots of Empathy organization is recognized for promoting understanding of both.
Nurturing Empathy in Boys to Build Empathic Masculinity
In 2023, Mary Gordon spoke as a panelist in Johannesburg, South Africa organized through Equimundo, a global organization promoting healthy manhood and preventing violence. In 2024, Mary Gordon was invited by the Global Compassion Coalition to advance the conversation on nurturing boys’ development into emotionally healthy men. Our insights emphasize how empathy can address the ‘male crisis of connection’ by building emotional literacy. Empathic boys can grow into empathic men, who can experience positive mental health and break intergenerational cycles of violence.
Shaping Global Education Policy: Advocating for Empathy in Schools
Roots of Empathy was selected for Civic-20 (India) to contribute to global education policy presented to the G-20. Our advocacy ensures that empathy is now a critical consideration in education in G-20 countries. This builds on Mary Gordon’s earlier contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #4, where she discussed the role of empathy in education.
Addressing Longevity Through the Development of Empathy Resulting in Warm and Lasting Relationships
Our Founder and President presented at the Ashoka-sponsored New Longevity Summit in Bilbao, Spain, where she highlighted the importance of developing empathy early in life as it provides a base for connection that nurtures relationships throughout the lifespan. Relationships are the secret sauce of longevity.
Saluting Leadership: Our Founder’s Achievements
Our Founder and President is one of Canada’s leading social entrepreneurs, honoured with the Governor General’s Award for Innovation, the Order of Canada, and other prestigious awards. She is a best-selling author, recipient of multiple Honorary Doctorates, and the creator of Canada’s first Parenting and Family Literacy Centres, which are recognized internationally as best practices. Coming up, she is one of two Thought Leaders invited to address global Ministers of Education in Edinburgh, Scotland as part of the ARC Summit.
Cited and Celebrated: Academic Recognition of Roots of Empathy’s Impact
Roots of Empathy and our Founder’s work have been cited in 1,369 pieces of literature across 70 countries and 7 continents. With 34,590 additional citations, our influence spans disciplines from psychology to neuroscience, demonstrating the wide-reaching impact of our programs. Our programs are featured in many textbooks and written about in dozens of books.
Mary Gordon is featured in international documentaries, and has had dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She and Roots of Empathy have been featured in the New York Times, the LA Times, the Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Time Magazine, The Guardian, The Irish Times, The Financial Times, The Independent and the Huffington Post, Japan’s NHK, BBC, CBC, and in features on PBS, CNN, and NBC. She has written many articles, book chapters, children’s books and her book, Roots of Empathy: Changing the World Child by Child, is a Canadian bestseller and is available in multiple languages.
Together, we make our organization Roots of Empathy, a powerful force for empathy changing the world.