Full Summit

Zoom Meeting summary for Edwin Rutsch's Personal Meeting Room (01/04/2025)

Quick recap

Felicia Darling discussed the implementation of empathy circles in higher education institutions to promote inclusion and equity, while Yehuda introduced the concept of methodical empathy and its application in various fields. The meeting also featured discussions on the importance of empathy in business, the use of empathetic reflection in personal and professional settings, and the transformative qualities of empathy circles. Lastly, the team shared their experiences from the previous Empathy Circles and discussed plans for improving the structure and timing management for future sessions.

Next steps

Summary

Empathy Circles in Higher Education

Felicia Darling, a math educator and researcher, discussed the implementation of empathy circles in higher education institutions to promote inclusion and equity. She shared her experience with Hillary Zarate, focusing on creating a culture of belonging and using empathy circles as a tool to tackle larger systemic inequities. Felicia also introduced her book, "Empathy Unchained," and her work on teaching social justice and precalculus at UC Berkeley and Santa Rosa Junior College. She emphasized the importance of slowing down conversations and practicing reflective listening in empathy circles, and shared her plans to give away free empathy cards to organizations interested in using them for conversations around inclusion and equity.

Origins and Evolution of Empathy

In the meeting, Yehuda discussed the origins of empathy, tracing it back to the 5th century BC in Greece, and its evolution into a skill over time. He emphasized the importance of empathy in modern psychology and its application in various fields, including counseling and psychotherapy. Yehuda also introduced the concept of methodical empathy, which he teaches professionally in schools of empathy based in Slovakia, the UK, Czech Republic, China, and South Africa. Minter then shared his experience with the empathy circle, a practice he has been using for about 10 years in business seminars. He explained how he adapts the empathy circle to suit the needs of his audience, which includes CEOs and entrepreneurs. Minter also discussed the importance of empathy in business, emphasizing the need for self-awareness, permission to not be empathic all the time, and focusing empathy on strategic priorities. He concluded by discussing the inside-out model for creating a more empathic culture in business.

Empathetic Reflection and Brain Connection

Cara explained how empathetic reflection, actively listening and mirroring back someone's feelings, activates mirror neurons in the brain to promote connection, trust, and understanding. She uses this technique with her son to help him articulate emotions, in family meetings to create psychological safety, and when coaching leaders to build cohesion in their teams. Empathetic reflection rewires the brain for collaboration by calming the amygdala and enhancing cognitive processing. Ruth was inspired to become an empathy circle facilitator after experiencing the impact of authentically listening and sharing hardships. She expressed gratitude for the Empathy Center, its volunteers, and the Foundation for the Development of Compassion and Wisdom for spreading empathy practices.

Empathy Circles for Deeper Connections

Ruth discussed the importance of empathy circles in fostering deeper connections and understanding among individuals. She emphasized the need for authenticity, vulnerability, and trust in these circles, highlighting the potential for personal growth and community strengthening. Ruth also addressed the challenges of vulnerability, such as fear of judgment and emotional overwhelm, and stressed the importance of clear guidelines and boundaries in empathy circles. She concluded by encouraging participants to reflect on their own listening practices and to strive for deeper connections in their daily interactions.

Hosting Empathy Circle House Parties

Edwin introduced the next speaker, Zak, who shared his experiences as an Empathy Circle Facilitator Trainer and founder of PotluckAction.com. Zak discussed the importance of hosting Empathy Circle house parties, emphasizing that they are a great way to invite friends, family, and neighbors to participate in empathy circles. He also highlighted the benefits of hosting a house party series for forming a chapter organization and the potential for fundraising. Zak shared a guide on hosting house parties, which includes steps such as choosing a facilitator, setting a date, and confirming RSVPs. He also mentioned the possibility of hosting fundraisers and playing the Empathy Circle Game. The conversation ended with Edwin expressing appreciation for Zak's insights and encouraging everyone to host their own house parties to build the empathy movement.

Empathy Circles: Personal Experiences

In the meeting, Edwin introduced the next speaker, Arno, who shared his personal experiences with empathy circles. Arno, a retired immigration attorney, discussed how he learned to practice empathy with his clients and how it helped him connect with them on a deeper level. He also shared his experiences of taking empathy circle facilitator training sessions in Santa Barbara and how he has organized weekly empathy circles in the community. Arno emphasized the transformative qualities of empathy circles, highlighting how they allow individuals to go deeper than they thought possible and create a space for mutual empathy and understanding. He also discussed the importance of silent listeners in empathy circles and how they hold the circle together. The conversation ended with a transition to the empathy circle practice, facilitated by Jenna.

Ashok Joins Late, Misses Presentations

Ashok, a psychiatrist, joined the meeting late due to urgent issues at his clinic. He was informed by Jonathan that the meeting had split into empathy circles after presentations by the speakers. Ashok was relieved to learn that the presentations were recorded and he could catch up later. Jonathan agreed to mention Ashok's name to Edwin, the founder of Building a Culture.

Empathy Circle Practice Experiences

In this meeting segment, participants share their experiences after practicing empathy circles. Ashok, a published author on empathy, emphasizes the importance of empathy and discusses his book on the topic. Jonathan, the facilitator, expresses his appreciation for practicing empathy circles with new people. Towards the end, the host invites participants to share their experiences from the empathy circle practice in 30 seconds each, suggesting it will conclude with closing remarks from Edwin.

Empathy Summit and Circle Reflections

Participants shared their positive experiences from attending the empathy summit and participating in the empathy circle. Many expressed appreciation for the community, speakers, and opportunity to connect with others around the practice of empathy. Veronica was inspired to be present, while Wenonah saw connections between empathy and solving societal issues. Daniel reflected on the powerful parallel between empathy circles and music in facilitating authentic relating. Ruth thanked the organizer Edwin for making the gathering possible. Overall, participants felt uplifted and energized by the empathy-focused event.

Empathy Circles for Democratic Processes

The meeting focused on discussing empathy circles as a way to promote democracy and democratic processes. Zak highlighted that empathy circles alone cannot fix democracy, but provide a simple approach for people to participate more comfortably and sustainably in democratic processes. He expressed hope for continuing to establish more democratic systems in various areas over the next 20-30 years. Cara noted the 27 attendees actively engaging in spreading empathy gives her hope, even if there are differences in approaches. Bill appreciated the international attendees joining despite potential language barriers, finding the empathy circles help counter negative media narratives. Jonathan reminded everyone to save the chat containing valuable links. Edwin emphasized empathy circles worldwide, upcoming training opportunities, and encouraged attendees to join as speakers for future summits to share personal stories and insights related to empathy circles.

Improving Empathy Circles and Roles

In the meeting, Ruth, Jonathan, Kara, Bill, Edwin, and Ruth discussed their experiences and suggestions for improving the Empathy Circles. They agreed on the need for better timing management, assigning specific roles for spotlighting, posting to chat, and cutting and pasting, and the importance of having a backup for technical roles. They also discussed the potential for having a Q&A session if there's extra time and the need for everyone to keep an eye on their mics during the sessions. The team also shared their experiences from the previous Empathy Circles, with Ruth expressing gratitude for the opportunity to speak despite her short practice time. The team ended the conversation with plans to set up the structure for the next Empathy Circles and to discuss further in the next meeting.

OTTER.AI
2025-01-04 - Empathy Summit

The Empathy Summit, led by Ruth and Edwin Rutsch, emphasized the importance of empathy circles in fostering mutual understanding and connection. Edwin Rutsch discussed the need for a clear definition of empathy, proposing "holistic empathy" comprising basic, self, and imaginative empathy. Minter Dial highlighted using empathy circles in business settings to enhance listening skills and create empathic cultures.

Hillary Zarate focused on equity and inclusion in higher education through empathy circles. Yahuda emphasized the historical and theatrical roots of empathy. Kara Jean Wilson and Ruth underscored the power of empathetic reflection in personal and professional contexts, advocating for authentic listening and connection. The Empathy Summit emphasized the importance of hosting empathy circles, particularly in small, intimate settings like homes, to foster meaningful connections. Key steps for hosting include choosing a facilitator, setting a date, creating an itinerary, and personally inviting guests. The summit highlighted the benefits of confirming RSVPs to ensure attendance and discussed the potential for fundraising through empathy circles. Personal experiences shared by participants underscored the transformative power of empathy circles in fostering self-awareness, improving relationships, and promoting a culture of empathy.

 The summit concluded with a live empathy circle, reinforcing the practical application and impact of these practices. The Empathy Summit featured participants from diverse regions, including Pakistan, Mexico, and Central Europe, expressing their experiences and hopes for empathy. Key points included the importance of empathy circles in fostering connection and understanding, with 27 attendees actively promoting empathy globally. 

The summit highlighted the role of music in building relationships and the need for empathy in democratic processes. Practical steps were discussed, such as saving chat links, completing feedback forms, and participating in future summits and training sessions. The next summit is scheduled for April 15, 2025, with ongoing series focusing on empathy circles as a practice.

Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/XkQtJjznxWG0aelR-s60n1dQwbk?view=transcript

Action Items

• [ ] Define empathy within the context of the empathy circle practice.

• [ ] Explore hosting empathy circle house parties to introduce the practice to more people.

• [ ] Contact Zach to receive free empathy discussion cards to use with organizations.

• [ ] Fill out the empathy summit feedback form.

• [ ] Attend the next empathy summit on April 15.

• [ ] Consider becoming a future speaker at an empathy summit.

Outline

Welcoming Remarks and Introduction to Empathy Summit

• Speaker 1 (Ruth) welcomes everyone to the Empathy Summit, mentions the recording for educational and promotional purposes, and encourages feedback via a form in the chat.

• Ruth introduces herself as an empathy facilitator and trainer, thanking participants, speakers, and Empathy Center ambassadors.

• She explains the mission of the Empathy Center to build the empathy movement and raise mutual empathy through education and community initiatives.

• Ruth invites organizations to partner and sponsor the Empathy Center, expresses gratitude to sponsors and volunteers, and highlights the transformative impact of the Empathy Summit.

Edwin Rutsch's Introduction to Empathy Circles

• Edwin Rutsch is introduced as the founding director of the Empathy Center and developer of the Empathy Circle practice.

• Edwin discusses the vision of building an empathy movement to make mutual empathy a primary personal and social value.

• He highlights the focus of the Empathy Summit on the Empathy Circle as a foundational practice and mentions the plan to hold summits every three or four months.

• Edwin addresses the confusion and criticisms around empathy, mentioning various books that criticize empathy and the lack of clear definitions.

Defining Empathy and Holistic Empathy

• Edwin presents his project to define empathy, emphasizing the need for a clear and practical definition for building an empathy movement.

• He introduces the concept of holistic empathy, which includes basic empathy, self empathy, and imaginative empathy.

• Edwin explains the roles in an Empathy Circle: speaker, active listener, silent listener, and facilitator.

• He references Carl Rogers' definition of empathy as the listener's effort to hear the other person deeply, accurately, and non-judgmentally.

Exploring Different Aspects of Empathy

• Edwin elaborates on self empathy, where the speaker senses into their own experience, referencing Rogers' work.

• He discusses imaginative empathy, involving role-playing and taking on different roles to feel and imagine into others' perspectives.

• Edwin introduces the concept of holistic empathy, which involves sensing into the whole community experience and creating a feeling of mutual empathy.

• He concludes his presentation, mentioning that the project to define empathy will be ongoing and hopes to write a book on the topic.

Minter Dial's Empathy Circles in Business Context

• Minter Dial is introduced as a professional speaker, history fanatic, and founder of Digital Proof Consultancy.

• Minter discusses his use of Empathy Circles in business seminars focused on creating a more empathic culture.

• He mentions his work with the APM (French organization) and the state of empathic AI, exploring the humanization of AI.

• Minter shares his experience with technical difficulties during the summit and the importance of empathy in business settings.

Hillary Zarate's Inclusive Empathy Circles in Education

• Hillary Zarate introduces herself as a social justice educator and researcher, focusing on equity and inclusion in higher education.

• She discusses the use of inclusive empathy circles to tackle systemic inequities in education institutions.

• Hillary highlights the challenges of slowing down conversations in higher education and the importance of reflective listening.

• She shares her book "Empathy Unchained" and offers free empathy cards to organizations interested in creating a culture of belonging.

Yahuda's Historical and Theatrical Perspective on Empathy

• Yahuda is introduced as an Australian, South African, Central and European counselor, psychotherapist, and founder of psycho phonetics.

• Yahuda discusses the historical origins of empathy, noting that the term was officially invented by Carl Rogers in 1951.

• He shares his journey from theater to developing empathy as a professional skill, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge in empathy.

• Yahuda introduces the concept of methodical empathy, which involves reflective, imaginative, and inspirative empathy, and its application in professional training.

Minter Dial's Empathy Circles in Business Continued

• Minter Dial resumes his presentation, discussing the importance of self-awareness and listening skills in empathy.

• He shares his survey results showing that most people believe they have above-average empathy and listening skills.

• Minter explains the art of reformulation in business and its connection to empathy circles.

• He outlines the structure of his business seminars, including the 30-minute empathy circle exercise and the debriefing process.

Cara Jean Wilson's Empathetic Reflection in Personal and Professional Life

• Kara Jean Wilson introduces herself as an empathy circle facilitator and executive coach, focusing on empathetic reflection.

• She explains the neuroscience behind empathetic reflection, activating mirror neurons and promoting connection and trust.

• Kara shares her personal and professional experiences using empathetic reflection in parenting, family conversations, and leadership coaching.

• She emphasizes the importance of reflecting emotions and feelings to create a safe space and foster emotional intelligence.

Ruth's Exploration of Authenticity and Listening in Empathy Circles

• Ruth discusses the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in empathy circles, sharing her personal experience at a previous summit.

• She highlights the benefits of revealing vulnerabilities, including fostering mutual understanding, personal growth, and community trust.

• Ruth addresses the challenges of vulnerability, such as the fear of being misunderstood or judged, and the importance of self-awareness and setting boundaries.

• She emphasizes the role of trust and clear guidelines in creating a safe space for authentic connection in empathy circles.

Zach's Guide to Hosting Empathy Circle House Parties

• Zach introduces the concept of hosting empathy circle house parties as a fun and effective way to invite friends and family to participate in empathy circles.

• He shares his background in organizing grassroots political campaigns and the importance of warm invitations for people to try empathy circles.

• Zach provides a guide to hosting house parties, including practical tips and worksheets available in a Google Doc.

• He emphasizes the fun and interesting nature of empathy circles and the need for invitations from peers to encourage participation.

Hosting Empathy Circles and House Parties

• Speaker 26 emphasizes that hosting empathy circles can be done in various settings, including small apartments, cafes, and workplaces.

• The importance of inviting peers to make the first empathy circle experience more meaningful is highlighted.

• Speaker 26 reassures that hosting a house party with peers benefits both the host and the guests, even if the host is new to facilitating.

• The potential for forming a chapter organization through house party series is discussed, with guidance on fundraisers and political candidate events provided in the guide.

Steps for Hosting a Successful House Party

• Choose a facilitator for every three to five attendees, and keep the party small if you are the only facilitator.

• Set a date for the party and decide on the itinerary, with examples provided in the guide.

• Make a list of invitees, including friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues, and personally call or text them.

• Confirm RSVPs a day or two before the event to ensure attendance, despite initial anxieties about seeming forced.

Importance of Confirmations and Event Day Preparations

• Speaker 26 stresses the importance of confirming RSVPs to minimize no-shows, noting that up to half of RSVPs may flake without confirmations.

• The significance of confirmations in building trust and ensuring a successful event is emphasized.

• Speaker 26 shares a personal experience of receiving an email that made their day, highlighting the positive impact of confirmations.

• The basic itinerary for a house party is outlined, including welcoming guests, introducing the empathy circle process, and scheduling future events.

Community Organizing and Fundraising with Empathy Circles

• House parties are identified as effective activities for community organizing and engaging in democracies.

• Fundraising is discussed as a key activity for chapter organizations, with two types of fundraisers: crowd fundraisers and dedicated fundraisers.

• The process of hosting a crowd fundraiser, including creating a bingo-like card for causes and collecting small monetary pledges during empathy circles, is explained.

• The benefits of donating to multiple causes and the impact of new donors on organizations are highlighted.

Personal Experiences and Benefits of Empathy Circles

• Arno Jaffe shares his journey of learning empathy through facilitator training and personal experiences with clients and his son.

• The transformative power of empathy circles in fostering deep, insightful, and inspiring conversations is emphasized.

• Arno describes the magic and intimacy experienced in empathy circles, where strangers become intimate in a short period.

• The importance of being heard and the role of silent listeners in creating a supportive and loving environment is discussed.

Empathy Circle Process and Facilitation

• Speaker 4 introduces the empathy circle process, explaining the roles of facilitator, speaker, active listener, and silent listener.

• The importance of mutuality and equal time for speaking and listening is highlighted.

• The process of reflective listening and the role of the facilitator in keeping time and ensuring the process flows smoothly is explained.

• Participants are guided to breakout rooms for smaller empathy circles, with facilitators present to ensure smooth facilitation.

Empathy Circle Practice and Reflections

• Participants share their experiences and reflections on the empathy circle practice, with many expressing gratitude and appreciation for the experience.

• The impact of empathy circles on personal growth and relationships is discussed, with participants sharing personal stories and insights.

• The importance of self-empathy and the role of empathy circles in fostering self-awareness and compassion is emphasized.

• Participants express their commitment to continuing their empathy practice and sharing it with others in their communities.

Closing Remarks and Future Directions

• Edwin Rutsch thanks the speakers and participants, emphasizing the importance of building an empathy movement through house parties and other activities.

• The potential for empathy circles to transform communities and foster deeper connections is highlighted.

• Participants are encouraged to continue practicing empathy and sharing their experiences to build a culture of empathy.

• The summit concludes with a sense of mutual gratitude and commitment to the empathy movement.

Empathy Summit Opening Remarks

• Unknown Speaker welcomes participants and inquires about their origins, with responses from Pakistan, Mexico, and Central Europe.

• Speaker 15 expresses joy and shares three expressions: "A New Hope, new energy, new life."

• Speaker 24 from Central Europe expresses concern about the situation in America but finds hope in the empathy circles, thanking everyone for their contributions.

• Speaker 4 thanks Maureen for her presentation and acknowledges the presence of Edtina.

Reflections on Empathy Circles

• Speaker 3 appreciates the opportunity to share space with everyone and reflects on the challenge of understanding another person's perspective.

• Ingrid Hirtz expresses love for the community and the importance of empathy as a common denominator.

• Speaker 18 draws a parallel between music and empathy circles, emphasizing the structured form of relating and connecting authentically.

• Speaker 1 highlights the role of Edwin Rush in bringing everyone together and the strong presence in the empathy circle room.

Community Support and Future Steps

• Speaker 27 shares the positive impact of empathy circles in Santa Barbara and expresses gratitude for the community.

• Speaker 26 discusses the role of empathy circles in supporting democracy and outlines concrete steps for the next 20 years.

• Speaker 25 echoes the hope of spreading empathy and acknowledges the diversity in approaches to empathy.

• Bill Filler expresses gratitude for participants from other countries and the enriching experience of the empathy circle.

Closing Remarks and Next Steps

• Jonathan Gordon reminds everyone to save the chat for valuable links and thanks the participants for their contributions.

• Edwin Rutsch shares his hope for a more empathic society and outlines the next steps, including saving links, filling out feedback forms, and becoming future speakers.

• Bill Filler mentions the upcoming empathy circle facilitation training and encourages participants to join.

• Edwin Rutsch provides information on adding events to the global empathy circle calendar and invites participants to contact him for further details.