RESOLUTION NO. RS2013-841

A resolution affirming the Charter for Compassion facilitated by the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities.

WHEREAS, compassion is a purpose, principle, and unifying value that guides and compels people of all backgrounds, perspectives, creeds, and cultures to treat all human beings with justice, equity, and respect; and

WHEREAS, research demonstrates that practicing compassion produces positive benefits in all sectors of civic and community life, including safety, public health, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being; and

WHEREAS, the International Campaign for Compassion Cities is a global movement inspired by the Golden Rule, or Ethic of Reciprocity, which calls on each person to treat others as he or she wishes to be treated; and

WHEREAS, residents of the City of Nashville and Davidson County demonstrate this ethic on a daily basis in their homes, schools, businesses, community organizations and on our streets; and

WHEREAS, Nashville’s compassion was never more powerfully experienced than in the crisis caused by the 1,000 Year Flood of 2010; and

WHEREAS, the response to the flood set Nashville apart and garnered national recognition for its compassionate heart, acts of kindness, and service to those in need, which are qualities that have long knitted together the fabric of civic and community life; and

WHEREAS, Nashville’s Mayor Karl Dean joined six other mayors as co-sponsors of a resolution calling for “Compassion As An Effective Public Policy” that was passed by the 81st Annual Meeting of the U.S Conference of Mayors in June 2013; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ resolution commended cities such as Louisville, KY, for their unique ways of expressing compassion and recommended that all cities “explore the use of compassion as a key component to achieve core objectives in their communities;” and

WHEREAS, many expressions of compassion take place in the Nashville area on a daily basis such as Hands on Nashville projects, Stuff the Bus, and the MLK Day of Service; and

WHEREAS, Nashville and Davidson County continues to strive to advance the quality of life for all of its residents, and in all of its communities, without partisanship, and with the conviction that people can and do have the capacity to improve their lives and make a positive difference in the lives of others; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council has a partner in the Metro Human Relations Commission which has committed to assisting local government and community organizations in understanding and supporting greater acts of compassion as part of the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing and acknowledging that its constituents are modeling behaviors and attitudes that reflect the Golden Rule as expressed in the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities “Charter for Compassion”.

Section 2. For all Nashville and Davidson County residents to prosper, more compassionate action will be needed, as will a reasoned, coordinated, long-range plan for assisting the Metropolitan Government and its communities to create and realize wide-ranging initiatives that foster this goal.

Section 3. The Metropolitan Council accepts the Metro Human Relations Commission’s support, along with the support of other public, private, and community-based organizations that wish to improve the quality of life for all residents of Nashville and Davidson County and to generate compassion action through local initiatives, policies, and programs.

Section 4. The Metropolitan Council hereby affirms the Charter for Compassion and authorizes the city’s registration with the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities through Compassion Action Network International.

Sponsored by: Ronnie Steine, Tim Garrett, Charlie Tygard, Jerry Maynard

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred to:	Rules & Confirmations Committee
Introduced:	September 10, 2013
Adopted:	September 10, 2013
Approved:	September 11, 2013
By: