In this Summit, empathy activists talk about how we can build the Empathy Movement to make mutual empathy a primary cultural value.

Join this Summit if you are ready to roll up your sleeves and help build the Movement. The Empathy Movement is a transformative force in addressing the growing fragmentation and polarization in modern societies. At its core, the movement seeks to reorient how individuals and groups relate to one another, shifting from transactional, adversarial and authoritarian interactions to ones rooted in mutual listening, deep dialogue, understanding, constructive collaboration and seeing our shared humanity. 

For empathy to become a primary cultural value, it needs sustained, coordinated effort across multiple domains. A movement brings all groups together across the social and political spectrum who support this vision.  It also provides the organizational structure needed for long-term cultural transformation rather than short-lived initiatives. 

Register Now

Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026

Time: 9 am PT to 12:30 pm PT  -  World Times

Location: Zoom https://zoom.us/j/9896109339  
RECORDING:   Part of the event will be recorded and posted to social media for educational and promotional purposes. You have an option of being in a non recorded breakout group. 

INVITE FRIENDS

• LinkedIn Event 

• Facebook Event 

Speakers and Hosting Team
Speakers will have 5 to 15 minutes to speak on some aspect of how to build the empathy movement.

To Be A Speaker
If you would like to be a speaker fill out the Application.
Send a one sentence bio, the title of your proposed talk, a 2 or 3 sentence abstract for consideration,

Program: 

All times are Pacific Time

9:00 am PT  Introduction (5 min)
Host:  

Topic: The Empathy Movement, Needs a Clear and Practical Definition of Empathy  
9:05 am - Speaker: Edwin Rutsch (10 min)

• Bio: Edwin Rutsch is Founding Director of The Empathy Center, and a leading organizer in the global Empathy Movement. He is a creator and long-time advocate of the Empathy Circle practice—a simple yet powerful tool for building understanding and bridging divides.  (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Website)

• Topic: The Empathy Movement, Needs a Clear and Practical Definition of Empathy 

• Abstract:  Every movement needs a foundation—and for the Empathy Movement, that foundation is a clear, shared definition of empathy. Without it, our work risks fragmentation and confusion, which is already the case. People, including empathy critics, are using the same word, but talking past each other. 

In this session, I will lay out a practical, action-oriented definition of empathy rooted in the Empathy Circle practice and the work of Carl Rogers. I’ll show how this framework can unite diverse initiatives, empower communities, and turn empathy from an abstract ideal into a concrete force for social and cultural transformation. This is a call to clarity, coordination, collaboration and shared action. 

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10:00 am PT 
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PENDING

Topic: Empathy Scaled: Mendful as a Vehicle for Making Human-forward Empathy as Close as Our Mobile Devices  
9: am - Speaker:  Jill Nagle  10 min 

• Bio:    (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Website)

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• Abstract:   The digital world is unfortunately accelerating polarization, isolation, and depression. We'd like to turn that around. Mendful will be the first app to provide human, AI-supported on-demand empathy-based conflict resolution. 

 
Empathy Summit: Saturday, January 3, 2026: Links

Website: http://EmpathySummit.com

Event Page: https://www.empathysummit.com/dates/jan-3-2026-movement 

World Times: https://bit.ly/ES2006-01-03 

Registration:   https://forms.gle/GSoPGssEKjAZ6utP8 

Partners: http://EmpathySummit.com/sponsors 

Volunteers: http://EmpathySummit.com/volunteers

LinkedIn Event: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7372729455326191616/ 

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/796200626437739/ 

Feedback: https://forms.gle/zezSGaeuiPKB9A577 

Final Report Location: https://www.empathysummit.com/dates/jan-3-2026-movement