Nurturing the Seed: Inspiring Compassion in Children

Monday, April 14. 12:00pm-1:30pm. Lopez Room.

Description 

What experiences in your youth led you to value compassion? In this workshop, we’ll share our early experiences to encourage an atmosphere that brings us back to the sensitivities of a child, and explores the “work” of the child -- enduring vulnerability, discovering uniqueness, joining community and making meaning. With a personal and profound understanding of a child’s “work”, we can better envision how to provide safe environments, affirm children’s identity, build compassionate communities and help make meaning. Join us to create compassionate communities for children through a process of reflection, learning, and visioning. 

Presenter Bio 

Kristen Poppo, PhD, IslandWood

Over the past 20 years, Kristin has worked in a broad range of educational contexts seeking a deeper understanding of how children become compassionate citizens. This journey was inspired by the belief that compassion begets action to relieve suffering, and the recognition that there is far too much suffering in our world. Kristin believes that children will only develop compassion if their living and learning environments are compassionate. Kristin works with teachers and parents to help them be attentive to four processes she has identified that are fundamental to children’s growth and development. Kristin’s workshops help individuals explore how their own sense of care has evolved and use this knowledge to inform their work with children. Kristin has written about this pedagogy of compassion in Encounter: Education for Meaning and Social Justice, and has taught workshops to both parents and educators. Her work as the Director of IslandWood’s Graduate Residency in Education, Environment and Community speaks directly to helping future educators learn to inspire children to be community and environmental stewards. Prior work as a United Church of Christ minister and teaching at many levels has been grounded in helping others see and respond to the need for compassion in our world. Kristin’s educational background has included study in cultural and environmental studies, religion, and philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Harvard University, Antioch/New England Graduate School, and Colgate University.