Compassionate California holds the vision for a state that is unified in its commitment to effectively preserve healthy, equitable and resilient communities through the methods of cooperation, collaboration and collective impact. Compassionate programs host the space to communicate and share resources and tools that advance compassion and related values and empower stakeholders to put compassion into action. For more information, see their website at: https://www.compassionatecalifornia.org/.

Every city defines their “compassionate” program in the way that works best for their city. La Verne is a unique and powerful community with many resources. The secret to La Verne’s success is not fearing more people and keeping people out, it is welcoming people into a community with clear and explicit values so we have nothing to fear. Compassionate La Verne (“CLV”) is the City of La Verne's version of the compassionate program. We seek to expand the existing spirit of compassion in a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and welcomed to contribute what they can to a city that embraces the value of their existence.

CLV is an all-hands-on-deck project. Our mission will only succeed if the phenomenal government agencies, organizations, businesses, and people who make La Verne the special place that it is participate. There are many resources in the City of La Verne, which positions La Verne to lead the charge in developing innovative approaches to building a compassionate city within the context of its small city charm.

Change is not coming, it is here. Our state, county, and community are undergoing many changes. Cities like La Verne must adapt to these changes in a way that will maintain the beautiful elements of its charming community values and environment in the world we are moving into together.

Absolutely not. There is nothing political about compassion. People from all backgrounds, political ideologies and parties, cultures, and anything else desire to live in a compassionate world free from fear of being a victim of a crime, not being able to make ends meet, living with horrible diseases, and raising happy, healthy families. We can build a community where everyone thrives, but it will require compassion.

The Committee for a Compassionate La Verne (CCLV) is a subcommittee of CASI’s. The goal of the CCLV is to acquire and maintain the compassionate charter of the City of La Verne.

No, but this specific work is. While the compassionate charter will be new, the concept of compassion is far from new in the City of La Verne. We have thriving youth and senior citizen spaces and programs, a robust calendar of community events, beautiful landscaping and parks, and enough nonprofits to cover almost all issues of life. However, many of these resources are not coordinated or connected in a way that will produce the greatest benefit to our community.

Moreover, the city looks to move forward from a history of exclusion and racial discrimination in a way that maintains many of the beautiful elements of the La Verne way of life, with the inclusion of those who themselves or their ancestors may have been historically prohibited from experiencing. We can do both. We can have diversity and maintain the La Verne culture and way of life, but it requires compassion.

The goal is to generate support for the Compassionate Charter from the residents. Once we have brought together a critical mass of residents and resources, we will approach the city council for a charter. The approach to all of this will be decided by the Committee for a Compassionate La Verne (“CCLV”). The CCLV is an open committee, where all La Verne residents and stakeholders are welcomed to contribute. We hold effective and efficient monthly meetings on the 4th Monday of each month at 6 pm via Zoom.