Compassion UNITES us

Julian Abel became a consultant in palliative care 2001, working initially at a district general hospital and a hospice. Over the last 10 years he has become increasingly involved in finding ways of building compassionate communities around people as they reach the end of life.

Julian was one of the leads with Frome Medical Practice in Somerset, developing a new model of primary care combined with compassionate communities. The health outcomes of this model have been dramatic. 

Along with Professor Kellehear and Catherine Millington-Sanders, he has formed Compassionate Communities UK. The charity has been formed to develop the broader roll out of ‘Compassionate Communities’ in both primary care and end-of-life care. Projects are underway in multiple areas in the UK, and several international projects are under development.

 Camila  is an Anthropologist with a masters in urban development and candidate for Public and Urban Policy PhD. Ample experience in the nonprofit sector promoting civic engagement and participatory strategies in different countries and topics to achieve social capital and wellbeing.

Currently the Executive Director of Keralty Compassionate Communities in the US and Fundacion Keralty in Colombia, nonprofit focused on developing models and interventions that empower communities to achieve better health and wellbeing while also working with the healthcare sector to connect them to the true needs of their communities and to transform the way healthcare is provided. We lead the implementation of Compassionate Healthcare and Compassionate communities, impacting health and wellbeing outcomes. We are currently implementing our strategies in Colombia and in Florida, Tennessee and the US Virgin Islands.

Greg Kutcher, MD is a family doctor and former CEO of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Minnesota, with decades of experience in patient care and healthcare leadership. His work as a hospice medical director taught him the profound value of partnership and compassion in care. Now, Greg is co-leading the Journey Guide Project with Kami Noland and MaryAnn Boe, advocating for a healthcare model rooted in empathy, resilience, and deep connection 

Claudia Martinez - BSN

Is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 15 years of experience in nursing within the healthcare sector. Throughout her career, she has specialized in patient care, community health, and administrative support, with a particular focus on developing high-quality healthcare protocols, directly addressing patient challenges, and promoting seamless communication across all levels of healthcare teams. Driven by a strong spirit of collaboration, she works closely with her colleagues to achieve extraordinary health outcomes that enhance both the patient experience and the healthcare system as a whole. Every day, Claudia embraces the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of others.

Claudia will share her expertise in nursing and healthcare administration, focusing on enhancing patient care through effective communication, collaboration, and community engagement, while highlighting the importance of a community-based approach and the impact of loneliness and isolation on patient health outcomes. 

Dr. Julie Moore-Felux
Learning and Development Lead, San Antonio Peace Center

Dr. Julie Moore-Felux, PhD, is a dedicated peacebuilder, educator, and the lead curriculum developer for the CompassionateUSA project. With over 20 years of experience in higher education and a background in Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Moore-Felux empowers individuals to cultivate compassion, justice, and authenticity in both personal and professional settings. She facilitates various communities of practice, including Racial Healing Circles and Compassion Circles, creating safe spaces for healing and connection. Based in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Moore-Felux brings her commitment to social transformation to her work with educational, healthcare, and faith communities.

Chuck Watts embraced science-based communication of progressivism with cognitive scientist Dr. George Lakoff in 2004 after reading Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate. He joined Lakoff’s Rockridge Nation online community board of advisors in 2005. When Rockridge closed for lack of top-down funding, Chuck pivoted in 2009 to launch Empathy Surplus, a membership-driven effort to carry on Dr. Lakoff's science-based communication education collective to make empathy central to constant public discourse. Chuck earned his BS in business from Mississippi State University in 1972 and his MDiv degree from The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, in 1977. A social entrepreneur at heart and active in the public square, Chuck is most proud of serving on the board that established the first licensed daycare center for black children in Mississippi in 1971. Ordained in The Episcopal Church in 1979, he made his living secularly, mainly as a financial advisor with Edward Jones, retiring as a limited partner in 2020. Chuck has one daughter and five grandchildren and lives with his wife in Wilmington, Ohio. Email him at chuck@empathysurplus.com or call 833-672-8487 Ext 700. Here is a 2022 interview with Chuck on The Path Podcast. Find Chuck on Threads @charles_m_watts@threads.net.

Peace and love. Pro-empathy freedom voters in and out of office are the political and moral solution for a caring society.

Marilyn joined the Charter for Compassion in 2013 as Education Director and has since taken on multiple roles. With a background in higher education, she previously led teacher training and chaired Columbia College Chicago’s master’s program in multicultural education. An experienced curriculum writer, she has collaborated with NPR, BBC, and Australian Broadcasting, specializing in instructional design, strategic planning, and training on race and social justice.

Sister Martha Ann Kirk has taught art in every grade from first through university. She invites you to encourage young people to create and to share their work in the Artistic Bridges project Artistic Bridges (charterforcompassion.org) reaching out in over a hundred languages. 

She holds a Th.D. in Theology and the Arts from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, has been a professor of Religious Studies and of the Arts at University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, teaching over 7,000 students, writing six books, and visiting 32 countries often leading students.  She is active in CompassionateUSA  and  Peace on Earth by 2030.

Bob Schlehuber is the founder of Peacebuilding Connections, an organization that has produced numerous events aimed at fostering social change, including concerts, parades, marches, and theater productions. With a background as an artist, producer, and organizer, he brings a passion for building diverse community-based coalitions through artistic and peaceful means.