Compassionate Houston

Building a more compassionate culture across Greater Houston

Who They Are

Compassionate Houston is a volunteer-led nonprofit dedicated to fostering empathy, unity, and social connection across Houston’s diverse communities. Founded in 2011 and inspired by the global Charter for Compassion, the organization promotes compassion as a practical tool for individual well-being and civic renewal. Through programs in education, the arts, mindfulness, and community service, they invite Houstonians to live compassionately in public and private life.

What They Do

• Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT)
  A 10-week, evidence-based course that helps individuals build emotional resilience, increase empathy, and cultivate systems-level compassion.

• Compassion Week
  An annual city-wide celebration featuring interactive events, storytelling, meditations, and artistic expressions of compassion.

• Book Circles & Meditate + Connect
  Seasonal group learning experiences, including guided discussions and contemplative practices centered on works like Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle.

• Compassion Through the Arts
  A creative platform that honors artists whose work uplifts compassion and provides grants to continue their practice.

• Project Kindness
  An intergenerational volunteer program connecting students and elders to co-create small acts of kindness throughout the community.

Why They Matter

In a city as large and complex as Houston, Compassionate Houston serves as a connective thread—offering practices that help neighbors see, hear, and support one another. Their work exemplifies how local civic life can be transformed by intentional relationship-building, cross-cultural understanding, and emotional intelligence.

Connection to The Change Lab

The Change Lab and Compassionate Houston share a commitment to deepening belonging and social cohesion through practical, human-centered engagement. Their programs provide replicable models for strengthening community from the inside out—and demonstrate how compassion can serve as both a personal practice and a civic tool.