ROOTS OF EMPATHY

Ilene stated the mission of Roots of Empathy as promulgating emotional and cognitive growth through loving connections.  This program is used in grade school throughout Britain and all of its Commonwealth Nations, as well as Switzerland.  Recently, the program spread to Seattle and is also being piloted in  Oakland (18 schools this year) and San Francisco (5 schools). 

Roots of Empathy uses mostly volunteer aides and mothers with their babies to introduce the program.  At the beginning of the school year and each week thereafter, a 45-minute classroom unit  is presented wherein mothers bring a 2-4 month old baby to class.  The children’s awareness of the baby’s needs and how they are expressed provide a platform for the students to learn the importance of emotional expression.  They also learn about human development and child safety, observing the growth of the baby from around 2 to 4 months of age to 9-12 months. 

Research has shown that students who go through the Roots of Empathy program show an increase in pro-social behavior and decreased aggression toward their peers.  It has also demonstrated a "whole school" effect, whereby students at the school who do not participate in Roots of Empathy are influenced by the positive behavior of the students who do and begin to show less aggression, as well.

Roots of Empathy in recruiting volunteers for their programs in Oakland and San Francisco. Volunteers need not be educators, but those comfotable in the classroom are preferred. They will help teach the class nine themed lessons covering temperament, perspective, emotional literacy, bullying and comforting.

Ilene’s presentation was well received with many Rotarians taking folders of information to learn more about volunteering.  If you forgot to gather pamphlets at the meeting Ilene  can be reached at ifortune@rootsofempathy.org Their address is 360 Grand Ave, Suite 155, Oakland 94610.