City of SpokaneMedia Release

www.spokanecity.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2016
Contact:

Karen Stratton
Spokane City Councilmember
509.625.6712

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CITY OF SPOKANE TO BECOME DESIGNATED A
COMPASSIONATE CITY
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City Council has introduced a resolution which calls for the signing of the International
Charter for Compassionate Communities. The Charter for Compassion, crafted by world
leaders under the sponsorship of the TED Prize winner Dr. Karen Armstrong, seeks to
foster compassion, civility and positive civic engagement to communities the world over.
This designation helps to empower the community to get involved in compassionate
work on projects such as the Spokane Gives initiative explains Councilmember Stratton
who has worked closely with community groups like the Spokane Interfaith Council to
craft the resolution. The resolution has also been recommended by the Spokane Human
Rights Commission, and the Mayors Advisory Committee on Multicultural Affairs
Spokane is a compassionate city. We have incredibly active non-profits and dedicated
citizen volunteers who work around-the-clock to make Spokane a better place. We are
committed, as a City, to receive and maintain this designation. I believe our citizens have
earned it says Council President Ben Stuckart.
Currently, 325 cities, counties, states, provinces, and countries are either organizing to
become, or have been recognized as, Compassionate Communities. Thirty U.S. cities
have signed CCIs Charter for Compassion a requirement for being recognized as a
Compassionate Community including Seattle, Lacey and Lake Forest Park in
Washington. To learn more about the Charter for Compassion visit
http://www.charterforcompassion.org/

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