Cultivating Compassion: Empathy, Kindness, and Inclusivity in Work Culture

From Nov 13th, 2023 till Nov 16th, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-it-inclusive-moving-forward-together-tickets-689492880767?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1 Focused on disseminating ideas and sharing experiences on how small or big actions of being inclusive, kindness, humility, compassion and empathy in the work culture. These can bring positive results. Empathy and equity, for example are key to creating health and wellbeing and a sustainable, prospering, peaceful, and harmonious climate in a diverse society/workplace.

Welcome Speech by John Pateman (former CEO and chief librarian of the Thunder Bay Public Library, Canada) & Dr. Mike Ghouse (social scientist, public speaker, thinker, newsmaker, and Interfaith Wedding Officiant) John Pateman is a former CEO and chief librarian of the Thunder Bay Public Library. worked in public libraries for 44 years at all levels from library assistant to chief librarian. Was head of libraries in Hackney, Merton and Lincolnshire in the UK Founded information for social change and the Cuban Libraries Solidarity Group. Awarded the Cuban National Culture Award for my work in support of Cuban libraries. My publications include Public Libraries and Social Justice (2010), Developing Community Led Libraries (2013), Managing Cultural Change in Public Libraries (2019) and Public Libraries and Marxism (2021).

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a social scientist, public speaker, thinker, author, newsmaker, and Interfaith Wedding Officiant. He is deeply committed to Pluralism in Religion, Politics, Societies, Human rights, and religious freedom. He is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism, Director at the World Muslim Congress, a think tank, and a wedding officiant at Interfaith Marriages. His new book, American Muslim Agenda, is available on Amazon, and "Standing up for Others" and "Madame President" are coming soon. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to issues of the day. His mission is to open people’s hearts and minds toward fellow humans. More about him at TheGhouseDiary.com

13 Nov. Mediation Skills Training, Panel Session: 11:30-1 PM: Opening Speaker and Moderator: Shahid Akhtar, an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practitioner and President and CEO of Conciliators Without Borders has written “The 7Cs Compass for Conflict Resolution-A Practical Guide for Real ADR” recently published by Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. Panel session on mediation skills training (empathy/humility, and humanity based, religious or secular or humane approach)

• Dr. Jennifer Irwin, Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at W

estern University. She is a multi-award-winning teacher at the Faculty, University, and Provincial levels. Her health promotion research includes interrelated and overlapping streams that centre around health-related behaviours and behaviour change interventions. Her program of research primarily encompasses understanding and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours related to mindfulness, kindness/prosocial practices, resilience, and movement behaviours.

• Manjit Singh, M.Singh Law Professional Corporation

• Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Ph.D., is Commonwealth Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University. He also holds a Faculty Affiliate appointment at the Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University (Human Flourishing Program), and he is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Virginia. He has published over 500 articles and chapters and 45 books on the science of self- and other-forgiveness among other topics, and he has developed the REACH Forgiveness model (see www.EvWorthington-forgiveness.com for free resources), supported in over 30 published randomized controlled trials, and other

practical interventions (e.g., humility, patience, self-forgiveness, positivity) to help people reach their potential.

Panel Topics:

• Why Kindness Matters; Brief Summary: This session will focus on an overview of kindness as an evidence-based approach to supporting wellbeing. by Jennifer D. Irwin, PhD

• Empathy Based Mediation from a Secular Perspective, Manjit Singh, JD

• The Importance of Humility and Forgiveness in Mediated Issues and Interventions to Promote Them. Summary: Humility has four aspects--(1) accurate perception and portrayal of one's strengths and weaknesses; (2) teachability to correct weaknesses; (3) modest self-perception; and (4) an other-orientation to elevate others and not put them down. It can show up as general humility (i.e., dispositional), spiritual humility (i.e., before the Sacred) or a state of humility, or intellectual humility (negotiating religious, political, and ideological differences with com

mitted civility)--all require general humility as a launching pad. Humility is a foundational virtue that also empowers decisional and emotional forgiveness, which depend on empathy, humility, gratitude (for having been a recipient of forgiveness), and generosity of spirit. I will examine what different types of forgiveness are and how one's perceived degree of injustice experienced affects forgiveness and physical and mental health, relational quality, and spirituality. The "injustice gap" can be affected by participants in mediation, making forgiveness and reconciliation more or less achievable. Humility and forgiveness are keys to mediation by Prof. Everett Worthington Jr.

Humility, Kindness intervention session [Professional ways (spiritual or psychiatric perspectives)], workshop or hands-on

Workshops confirmed 14 Nov. Forgiveness

• John A. Moran, Ph.D. on psychological interventions to promote forgiveness.

• Vanda Vitali, Ph.D. on museum practice

• Bruce Ally , PhD

15 Nov. Moving Forward Together Webinar1: 2 PM EST. Workshop (75 minutes)? A Discussion with experts on the state of religious, secular, and spiritual equity Lessons on Critical Religious Engagement in Higher Education: A Discussion with experts on the state of religious, secular, and spiritual equity

Sponsored by Convergence Strategies, an international organization focused on religious, secular, and spiritual identities (RSSIs) at the intersections of anti-racism and decolonization, this panel discussion will be mc’d by Executive Director Dr. J. Cody Nielsen and bring together expert scholars and practitioners who will help participants encounter issue related to Christian privilege, hegemony, and supremacy alongside the larger concerns of religious equity. Panelists, including Dr. Jenny Small, Dr. Simran Kaur Colbert, and Dr. Amer Ahmed, will speak to the dynamic interplay of religious equity and racism on campuses and how lessons from the academy can be applied throughout society. Webinar 2

• Peter Mousaferiadis, CEO, Cultural Infusion’s Keynote: Moving Forward Together:

WORKSHOP1: The role of Mutuality in building inclusion, wellbeing and safety in a Digital World WORKSHOP2: The role of Mutuality in building inclusion, wellbeing and safety in a Digital World

Michael Rashid Taylor’s workshop on Inclusion Safety and Wellbeing in a Digital World

Facilitator: Michael Rashid Taylor has experience that spans 30 years of frontline spiritual, mental health work 16 Nov. Walk a Day in My Shoes Cultivating Cross-Cultural Understanding through Digital Literacy in Classrooms around the globePresenter: Lane W. Clarke Ed. D. is an Associate Professor of Education at University of New England (USA).

Manjit Singh, JD Topic: Empathy Based Mediation from a Secular Perspective Manjit is a litigator practicing law since he was called to the Ontario Bar in 2008. Manjit's law practice focuses primarily on commercial, civil and estate litigation, both international and domestic. In 2020, he founded his own law firm: M. Singh Law. He has also expanded his practice to include mediation and arbitration services, calling on his extensive litigation experience earned over a decade of practice. In 2022, Manjit was designated a Qualified Mediator by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada. SummaryThoughts on engaging in empathetic dialogue from a secular perspective in order to facilitate dispute resolution.