Connected Vallejo is dedicated to bringing Empathy Circles as a central practice in building community. Below is a short background description of Empathy Circles from the Empathy Center Handbook.

Edwin Rutsch, founder of the Empathy Center, recognized the transformative potential of Empathy Circles and placed mutual active listening at their core. His journey began in 2008 during interviews for a documentary on human values, where he was inspired by the work of George Lakoff, Barack Obama’s emphasis on empathy, and teachings from Carl Rogers’ person-centered therapy, Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication and many others.

Drawing on these influences, Edwin developed the Empathy Circle as a practical, accessible process for fostering empathy across diverse contexts. He integrated elements from the World Café, restorative circles and Active listening, creating a format that is both structured and flexible. Since 2011, the practice has grown through numerous training cohorts and community initiatives, with the overarching goal of spreading Empathy Circles and mutual empathy worldwide—contributing to a more caring, connected, and resilient society. 

Our Vision 

We envision a global culture of empathy that is based on the core values of empathy, mutuality, openness and care.  We believe that fostering such a culture will contribute to the greater well being of humanity and the planet.

Our Mission

Our mission is to raise the level of empathy on the planet by training all 8 billion people to be able to take part in, and facilitate, Empathy Circles.

https://www.bestempathytraining.com/

or to: 

https://www.theempathycenter.org/