Stories of Truth and Transformation

Join us as we explore and question how we educators recognize our individual stories, engage in educational practices that will help our students realize their own human dignity, their “sacred stories,” help them listen to the stories of others, stories of earth, and compassionately embrace civic engagement for equity and justice, creating new stories? Let’s gather across campuses, across cultures, across the city. Please click on the tabs at the top to see the speakers and schedule.

Am I a victim, a survivor, a hero transforming the challenges into wisdom and compassion?

Our city has the dubious distinction of the highest percentage of people living in poverty among the 25 largest U.S. cities and of being one of the most economically segregated cities with huge gaps in neighborhoods, education, job opportunities, housing and, medical care availability. The pandemic magnified this reality and news sources around the world showed 10,000 families lined up waiting for food when people had not been able to work for a few weeks. Emphasis on independence, in contrast to interdependence, can hold us back from sustainable development.

This project seeks to transform us—the educators, the learners, the staff, and the administrators that we may recognize the structures of inequity, segregation and co-create a just “City of Compassion” through sharing stories and listening to stories.

Register here.

Speakers here.

Listen to Earth, to Black people, to Girls, to Latinx people, Differently Abled people, to LGBTQ people . . . stories of truth, stories of transformation

Stories can reveal, stories can heal. Stories can be windows, mirrors, or sliding glass doors. “We cannot be indifferent to suffering; we cannot allow anyone to go through life as an outcast. Instead, we should feel indignant, challenged to emerge from our comfortable isolation and to be changed by our contact with human suffering. That is the meaning of dignity” (No. 68)” writes Pope Francis in “Fratelli Tutti.” Considering the story of the Good Samaritan, Pope Francis continues, “The decision to include or exclude those lying wounded along the roadside can serve as a criterion for judging every economic, political, social and religious project.” (No. 69).

Learn of “Compassionate Integrity Training” furthering our “City of Compassion” and consider joining the next series. Information here “The City encourages San Antonio’s institutions of learning to have all ages explore and teach compassion, based on the understanding that extensive research and resources validate the full spectrum of the benefits of compassion, from being good for the bottom line of business to being a part of the human DNA” Read an overview of the growing interest in the Charter for Compassion in San Antonio since 2009.

Let us know if you would like to help plan, assist, publicize, and/or possibly present. Please sign up here.

College and university educators will work with civic engagement centers to co-create service learning to transform our city.

Educators from the University of the Incarnate may apply for a small stipend for participating and using content in their classes. More details available soon.

This carries forward the 2020-2021 academic year series for San Antonio Educators “Critical Thinking, Compassion, Paths to Civic Engagement.” Learn, listen, and see resources from that here.

“Stories of Truth and Transformation” is a part of the Compassion Movement in San Antonio, Texas, which has committed itself to be a “City of Compassion.” Learn of that here. Learn a little about the development of the Charter for Compassion movement in San Antonio since 2009 in “Tears Are Washing Our Eyes, Teaching in San Antonio, a City of Compassion.”

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Sponsored by

University of the Incarnate Word Center for Teaching and Learning

College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Compassionate San Antonio

Faith-Based Initiative, City of San Antonio

Interfaith San Antonio Alliance

Justice, Peace, and Creation Committee of the Sisters of Charity of

the Incarnate Word

Raindrop Foundation San Antonio

SoL (Source of Light) Center