Compassion is instinctive to us, but it is not always easy to develop and apply correctly and sincerely in particular and unusual circumstances. Nevertheless, provided it is cultivated carefully and deliberately, it is not only essential to our humanity but also ensures the well-being of our society today.
~Karen Armstrong, from her recent reflection and writing on compassion
This November, the Charter for Compassion enters a new era. On November 12, we launch Charter for Compassion 2.0, a renewal of Karen Armstrong’s timeless vision — now grounded in a practical, participatory framework designed for action in our time. And on November 15, we gather for our Eighth Annual Karen Armstrong Humanitarian Awards Gala, honoring four extraordinary individuals whose lives illuminate how compassion, when cultivated deliberately, becomes a transformative force in the world.
The Compassion 2.0 Launch — November 12
Fifteen years after the unveiling of the original Charter, Charter for Compassion 2.0 invites us to move from belief to practice, from aspiration to embodiment.
Rooted in the wisdom of global traditions and the African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — Charter for Compassion 2.0 recognizes that compassion is not a sentiment but a system: one that can guide how we educate, heal, govern, innovate, and build community.It calls us to:
- Integrate compassion into every pillar of life — Education, Health, Arts, Environment, Play and Innovation, Justice, and Spirituality.
- Replace silos with solidarity, nurturing collaboration across cultures and disciplines.
- Practice compassion as a skill and structure — through reflection, listening, and courageous action.
To accompany this new framework, the Charter is introducing The Practical Guide to Compassion 2.0 — a living manual for individuals, communities, and organizations who wish to turn compassion into measurable, lasting change.
The Guide helps us ask: How do we lead with compassion? How do we organize with empathy? How do we measure what matters most — human wellbeing, dignity, and connection?
Charter for Compassion 2.0 is not a new document — it is a new movement.
Register Here
The Karen Armstrong Humanitarian Awards Gala — Saturday, November 15
The Karen Armstrong Humanitarian Award honors those who embody deliberate compassion — who make empathy actionable, who transform love into leadership.
This year’s honorees invite us to expand our moral imagination and join them in reshaping the world through compassion, courage, and care.
Satish Kumar – Ecological Wisdom and Peace with the Earth
Former Jain monk, peace pilgrim, and editor emeritus of Resurgence & Ecologist, Satish Kumar has walked the earth for peace — literally. His life’s message is simple yet profound: reverence for life begins with reverence for the planet. Through his teachings and Schumacher College, which he founded, he models how spiritual ecology, mindfulness, and sustainability unite to form the moral foundation of a compassionate civilization.
“The soil, the soul, and society are one continuum.”
Rainn Wilson – The Search for Spiritual Wholeness in a Divided World
Actor, author, and co-founder of SoulPancake, Rainn Wilson, has dedicated his post-Hollywood journey to exploring the sacred in everyday life. Through his writings (Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution) and creative activism, he brings humor, humility, and insight to the spiritual dimensions of social healing — challenging us to find purpose beyond ego and success. His compassion is expressed through the courage to make inner transformations into a public conversation.
“The next great revolution will be a spiritual one — grounded in compassion.”
Dr. Lyla June Johnston – Restoring Indigenous Wisdom and Interbeing
Poet, scholar, musician, activist, and environmental scientist Lyla June Johnston, of Diné and Cheyenne descent, bridges ancient Indigenous knowledge with contemporary ecological renewal. Through her activism and artistry, she embodies compassion as restoration — healing the bonds between people, land, and spirit. Her music, often sung in both English and Diné, calls us to return to a reverence that is both ancestral and universal.
“Compassion is not passive. It is the active remembering of our kinship with all that lives.”
Dr. Lobsang Tenzin Negi, – Cultivating Compassion as a Trainable Skill
As founder of Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) and co-founder of the Emory-Tibet Partnership, Dr. Lobsang Negi has brought Tibetan contemplative practice into dialogue with Western science. His work has made compassion a measurable, teachable human capacity — applied in education, healthcare, and conflict resolution. Through his leadership, compassion is no longer a distant virtue but a daily discipline.
“When compassion becomes a habit of the heart, it transforms not just the self, but society.”
A Gala that Stirs the Heart and Strengthens the Will
This year’s Gala will not only celebrate these luminaries — it will invite you into their journey. Through music, story, and reflection, we will explore how compassion, when practiced deliberately, can reshape the moral architecture of our time.
Together, we will honor the vision of Karen Armstrong, whose call for compassion ignited a global movement that now spans nearly 600 cities in 55 countries — a movement that continues to grow, evolve, and deepen.
The evening will feature stirring performances, reflections from our awardees, and a special invitation to live out Charter for Compassion 2.0 — not as an idea, but as a practice.
This will be an evening of gratitude, awakening, and renewal — one that broadens our vision and reinforces our shared commitment to the compassionate world we are building together.
Join Us
November 12 – Charter for Compassion 2.0 Launch
A global online gathering celebrating the renewal of our mission.
Register Here
November 15 – The Karen Armstrong Humanitarian Awards Gala
Recognizing those who heal, uplift, and unite humanity.
Register Here
Together, these events mark both a culmination and a new beginning. We invite you to be part of this living movement — to learn, to celebrate, and to act--because compassion is not an emotion to be felt —it is a practice to be lived.
With warmest regards,
Marilyn
