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Empowering #BelovedCommunity

Empowering #BelovedCommunityEmpowering #BelovedCommunityEmpowering #BelovedCommunity

We envision 30 million Compassionate Citizens, empowering Compassionate Communities across America, by July 4, 2026.  

The VISION

A compassionate, inclusive World that Works for ALL

Co-created by #CompassionateCitizens 

Thy Kin-dom Come...

America is deeply divided, ecologically unsustainable, and economically inequitable. It need not be.


Most Americans would like to see an America that works for ALL.  What if we could mobilize that majority, and politically empower our collective wisdom and compassion, to co-create an America that works for ALL, as a beacon for a world that works for ALL?  


We think that we can.


We share Pope Francis' belief that we can create a #BetterKindOfPolitics.


We believe that empowering Deliberative Democracy  in the U.S. is an important step towards a Politics of Communion, and towards the co-creation of an America (and ultimately, a world) that works for ALL (i.e., an Economy of Communion).


We are a growing, informal network of leaders in America who are committed to empowering #BelovedCommunity, with a focus on uniting and funding four aligned movements:


1.  The #CaringCulture movement (e.g., Karen Armstong's vision for Compassionate Communities;  Bobby Austin's #PublicKinship vision; The USCCB's call for Loving Our Neighbor through Dialogue);


2.  The Ecological Civilization movement (e.g., Cobb Institute, Institute for Ecological Civilization, National Religious Partners for the Environment; Catholic Climate Covenant).


3.  The movement for an "Economy of Well Being" (WIN Network; Healthcare Anchor Network), and the aligned Asset Based Community Development movement (e.g., Christian Community Development Association, Parish Collective, ABCD Institute)


4. The Focolare Movement's vision for a Spirituality, Politics and Economy of Communion (which we denote #CaringCulture, #WiserDemocracy, #CaringEconomy). 


Pope Francis' Oct 3, 2020 encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, is a powerful exhortation for Public Kinship and a #CaringCulture: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html


Civilize It  is a Catholic led movement centered on "Loving Our Neighbor Through Dialogue", and on "Building a Better Kind of Politics". It embraces Fratelli Tutti.


The (&) Campaign is a Protestant led movement to catalyze faithful civic engagement.


Integrating those two Faithful Citizenship movements into an inclusive Compassionate Citizenship movement is the #CaringCulture plank of our mission.


There are already thousands of organizations working on cultural, political and economic transformation, including over 500 organizations who are affiliated with the following three hubs (the first two of which are actively engaged with the Partnership for American Democracy):


1. #CaringCulture: #ListenFirst Coalition

2. #WiserDemocracy: Bridge Alliance Network

3. #CaringEconomy: New Economy Coalition


Because so much of our deeply divided nation is related to the divide within the Christian Church (with which 65% of Americans identify), there is an ecumenical dimension of our mission, which centers on inviting all the participating communions at Christian Churches Together (representing around 110 million "Unity Christians")  to "empower #BelovedCommunity" in their neighborhoods.


Inviting Christians to come together, across political and theological divisions, to pursue the Common Good reflects our commitment to Missional Ecumenism, a movement to unite Christians who believe that "the love of Jesus might exceed all divisions".


Our vision is #BelovedCommunity, globally.

Our mission is #BelovedCommunity in America.

Our invitation is to ALL Americans, to co-create an America that works for ALL.



About Us

Co-Leadership Team

Bobby Austin

President, Neighborhood Associates


Bradly Johnson

Build Chicago

Co-organizer, 

Compassionate Westside Chicago


Andy Swindler

Co-founder, FeelReal


Andrew Szilva, PhD

Co-founder, FairVote Illinois


LaQuisha Heath-Waheed

Founder, There Is Hope CDC


June Klees

Co-founder, Compassionate America



Charles Randall Paul

Founder and President,

Foundation For Religious Diplomacy


John Morehead

Director, Evangelical Chapter,

Foundation For Religious Diplomacy 


Steve Bhaerman

Co-author, Spontaneous Evolution


Bill Shireman

Co-founder, In This Together

CEO, Future 500


Julie Nichols

Director, Texas DFLA


Howard Pepper

Director, Ecumenical Outreach


Norlyn Dimmitt

Director, #CompassionateRealtors


===============================================

Advisors

ASSET BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Committee


Dan Duncan

Chair of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD)


Cormac Russell

Managing Director, Nurture Development


Jay Van Groningen

==================================================================

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE Committee


Mike Ghouse

Founder of Center For Pluralism


Edwina Cowell

Founder, Spiritual Playdate


=======================================================


AT LARGE advisors


Clifford Cobb

Editor, American Journal of Economics and Sociology


David Lapp

Braver Angels


Brigitte Perreault

Founder, The Global Lead


Brione LaThrop

Global Ambassador at Charter For Compassion International


Bryan Welch

Author, Beautiful and Abundant


Rev. Dr. William Flippin, Jr. 


Guy Burgess

Beyond Intractability


John Steiner

Transpartisan Meshweaver

Keep in Touch

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Contact Us

Norlyn Dimmitt text/cell: (630) 362-4663

1702 South 3rd Place, Saint Charles, Illinois 60174, United States

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