Here is the text of the Charter as it has developed:

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. 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 indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.

There are cries for more civil discourse. There are cries for better diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. There are cries for better regulations for weapons. But the change that needs to come is the change each of us can make. We are all a part of the problem when we forget that the good of a community might well come before the good of the individual. We are to blame when we use the language of hate that turns people into objects rather than the daughters and sons and mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles and grandparents they really are.  In a moment of national tragedy we have a chance to become different. Let us commit ourselves to making a change toward more a more compassionate future for all people. We are committed to that at CEM. How about you?

Imagine it is happening to you. What would you do? Where would you turn for help? I would you overcome the feeling of panic or failure that might overcome you as the reality of your situation sinks in? It happens to people in our community and they often turn to the Loaves & Fishes Dining Room our the Potter’s Pantry for assistance. It is hard to swallow one’s pride and ask for help. It is hard to set one’s foot in the door not knowing what kind of reception one might receive. But people have to do it every day. And they come to CEM. We listen to their stories, provide some assistance, give them some phone numbers and ideas about what to do next and send them on their way. Sometimes we hear from them. Sometimes we don’t. But always we know they are grateful for the opportunity to tell their story and take some action on the road to recovery from the crisis they are facing.

I really had a faith in something bigger than myself. So I always knew from the time I was about 4 years old that the life I was living in rural Mississippi with my grandmother was not going to be my future.

Don’t ask me how I knew. I wasn’t a dreamer as much as I was a reader. That allowed me to see from an early, early age that there was a world beyond my backyard, literally – there was a world bigger than I could imagine. I’d never been anywhere any farther than the church that was down the road, which you could see from the front porch. I guess where the words took me was to let my imagination flow. When I was reading, that was my escape.  –  Oprah Winfrey

Education is the key that unlocks a world of choice for each of us. Whether it is through reading, learning about adding and subtracting, listening to music, playing ball with a team, discovering the properties of soil, speaking in front of other people, leading a group of kids through a difficult exercise or finding one’s way through a series of puzzles, education unlocks the hidden potential in each of us. Millions of children around the world miss out on going to school. They lack the resources necessary to attend school.

Children here are more fortunate. Children in our community have schools to attend. But they need more. They needs supports to maximize their education experience. They need tutoring. They need help with their homework. They need encouragement to explore new ideas at their own pace. They need more than they can get from the public schools. CEM operates a program for kids during out of school hours. Here the kids  get to explore who they are, make friends, get help with adding and subtracting, reading and spelling. They have fun while doing this and begin to develop a dedication to and love for learning.

Think about your own education. Has it ever ended or are you still learning? I know I am. Let’s support kids in our community on their journey to becoming life-long learners.

I remember talking with a long-term volunteer at CEM while she was in the hospital shortly before she died. She had worked with kids teaching the crafts and games. She had worked in the soup kitchen, serving up food and raising money. She had led the seniors on trips and is games and activities for many years. By the time we had this conversation she had already lived and long and full life. And she asked the question, “Why am I still here?” Her search for meaning continued even as she faced her imminent death.  I was struck in that moment that once we start looking for meaning and purpose in life, it becomes a lifelong journey. This great friend of CEM is a shining example of what happens when a person becomes connected to a community beyond the self. I hope that when I am facing death, that I too will embrace the questions of life and meaning with such curiosity and grace. May we all join the journey of life with such enthusiasm and vigor!

Can you remember the last time you got a new pair of sneakers? The extra bounce it gave to your step the first day you wore them just seemed to make the day better. When I was young, a person with clean new sneaks was likely to hear about how white they were and jump in the first available puddle to mess them up a bit. But now, they are more of a fashion statement. A person is usually a clean sneaker person or a dirty sneaker person. Some people have different pairs for different days of the week.

This is not the case with many of the kids in our program. You know from your own experience with kids how fast they can grow out of their shoes. One day last winter, one of the kids from our program had missed the school bus. She knew her mom would be mad if she went home, so instead she walked over to our building. When I got to my office, I found her crying in the lobby. Her feet hurt; she was cold, and she was in trouble. Her feet hurt because she was wearing shoes that were much smaller than her feet. I asked her about them and they were the only ones she had. We scrounged around through the donations that come our way and came up with another pair for her. Then we got her to school and a day that had started out looking bad turned out okay. With the donation of new sneaks for the kids our program, the Buffalo Bills are helping them all have better days ahead. Thanks!

The race provides support for the dining room, a free lunch program in the heart of the Elmwood Village.

Thanks for visiting us and our new site! Please make sure to check back often for news on upcoming events and as always, information on how to lend a hand in your community.

Thank you!