By Charlie Barker
By strongly supporting its local community grassroots organizations that have affirmed the Charter for Compassion, Richardson, Texas has been designated by CompassionateDFW as “Compassionate Richardson.”
At its April 20th Council meeting, Richardson’s Mayor Laura Maczka and City Council members looked on approvingly as Assistant City Manager, Mr. Don Magner, presented background information on the Charter, showed the “now famous” video of the Charter for Compassion to those present, and then introduced Chairperson Reverend Debra Hobbs-Mason of Richardson Interfaith Alliance (RIA) and Immediate Past President Jeff Thomas of Helping Agencies Support Richardson (HASR) to share their experience thus far with the Charter.
Both organizations unanimously affirmed the Charter and are currently implementing strategic plans. RIA represents all religious faith traditions, while HASR is a coalition of community social service agencies. Each expressed great excitement about what the Charter can mean for their organization and the potential for Richardson and the surrounding metroplex. Mr. Magner titled his presentation “Compassionate Richardson.”
After the presentation, Dr. Charlie Barker, representing CompassionateDFW, presented Mayor Maczka and Mayor ProTem Bob Townsend a CompassionateDFW commemorative Compassion Challenge Coin, thus designating Richardson “Compassionate Richardson.” This was the second coin presented in the metroplex. The first coin was presented to Compassionate Fort Worth’s Mayor Betsy Price at an informational luncheon meeting for DFW area Mayors at the Dallas Country Club November last year. Mayor Price and Council unanimously affirmed the Charter at its August 5, 2014 meeting.
Next steps for Compassionate Richardson include continuing to encourage individuals and other organizations to affirm the Charter, and like Fort Worth, to foster stronger unification, enhanced volunteerism, and sharing the community’s abundance. Plans are being considered for an annual day of volunteerism, for a compassion conference later in the year, and perhaps participation in the September Compassion Games.
Our CompassionateDFW grassroots leadership steering committee members Mr. Jack Youngkin, the Reverend Jack Ernest, Mr. Bill Maxwell, Mr. Ron Bemis, Reverend Deanna Hollis, Reverend Lil Smith Mrs. Conoly Barker and Dr. Charles Barker, look forward to other DFW area city mayors and councils joining Richardson and Fort Worth to affirm the International Charter for Compassion and become designated Compassionate Cities, making DFW the first Compassionate Metroplex in the nation. Please go to our website CompassionateDFW – Communities Sector and the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities website for more information. If you are interested in helping with a campaign in your community, please contact us.
