|  |  | Pink is More than a Shirt: It's a Display of Empathy Pink Shirt Day started with one act of solidarity—a group of students in Nova Scotia wore pink to support a Grade 9 boy who was bullied for doing the same*. That small gesture sparked a movement, an important reminder in these polarized times that empathic actions have the power to shift cultures. There is more to be done. Statistics Canada reports that 7 in 10 Canadian youth experience some form of bullying!* It doesn’t have to be this way. There is a solution. I’ve spent my life watching empathy take root in children. When they recognize each other’s vulnerability, they don’t just stop bullying—they stand up for one another. In Roots of Empathy, a baby leads children to understand our shared humanity, helping them to find themselves in the other and to feel the other in themselves - empathy. Decades of research confirm that Roots of Empathy reduces bullying and aggression while nurturing empathy and prosocial behaviour—key skills that strengthen both personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around us. Our impact has been recognized globally, including being selected as one of the world's leading education innovations for HundrED’s 2025 Wellbeing in Schools Spotlight—a testament to the urgent need for evidence-based solutions to the children’s mental health crisis. The United Nations reminds us that bullying has lasting consequences on wellbeing*, but we know that empathy can change that story. So today, let’s wear pink—not just as a colour, but as a commitment to an empathic world. Kind regards, Mary Gordon Founder/President/CEO |
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| | An Instructor's Heartfelt Moment My heartfelt moment happened with a child outside of the Roots of Empathy session. I was in a Mentor meeting with a boy who was doing Roots of Empathy. He has some anger and aggression issues. He had been involved in an incident in the school yard and had kicked and hit another student, so we were chatting about what happened in our meeting. I asked him... |
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| | | A Powerful Literacy Message For the World Mary Gordon will take the stage at Oxford’s World Literacy Summit, the largest global gathering of literacy specialists. With 500 attendees and 40,000 online views from 85+ countries, this event unites educators, researchers, policymakers, and learners to address the global literacy crisis. In 2023, Mary introduced a powerful idea to the gathering: Emotional literacy is the first and most essential literacy for helping children thrive. |
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| This year, she will build on that message, emphasizing how teachers, by recognizing students’ emotions and vulnerabilities, create a safe, supportive environment where children feel understood and ready to learn. Relationships are the superhighway to learning. These principles are embedded into our Roots of Empathy programs, which were recently honoured in HundrED's Spotlight on Wellbeing in Schools. |
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| | | Explore Children's Art on Courage Through art, children in the Roots of Empathy program show what it means to have the courage to stand up for someone being bullied. Their drawings go beyond images—they tell stories of speaking up, stepping in, and showing support when it matters most. Civil society requires moral courage - it doesn't just appear - it is seeded in childhood. In the Roots of Empathy classroom, moral courage is understood as being brave by choosing to do what’s right, even when it’s difficult. |
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| | | Parenting: Video Guide Insights Parenting comes with challenges - navigating key aspects of development can make an important difference. In this insightful video series, Mary Gordon explores seven essential topics: building resilience, fostering intrinsic motivation, managing expectations, the importance of free play, embracing the “not yet” philosophy, your role as the child's first teacher, and navigating conversations about racism. |
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| | | Check out these career opportunities! Roots of Empathy Canada Charitable No. 89643 4818 RR0001. Stichting Roots of Empathy Netherlands: Tax Number: RSIN 85842346. Roots of Empathy New Zealand registered charity number: CC54266. Roots of Empathy UK registered charity number: 1170754. Roots of Empathy USA is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN# 981017743). Roots of Empathy Switzerland Charitable No. CHE-193.295.852. Roots of Empathy
250 Dundas St. W., Suite 802 | Toronto, Ontario M5T 2Z5
416-944-3001 | mail@rootsofempathy.org |
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