Day of Empathy:
Fifth Annual KLI Student Leadership Conference

Save the Date: March 6th 2013

Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Anita Nowak, McGill University
Noon, Kirby Ballroom

“On the heels of the inconceivable mass killings that took place in Norway and Newtown, in response to man-made suffering happening across the globe in countries such as Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in reaction to climate disasters brought on by our insatiable and unsustainable over- consumption, and as an antidote to the unprecedented levels of illness in our society, which include depression, anxiety and addiction, I believe we are desperate for a different way of being in the world.

As Integrating Director of the Social Economy Initiative at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, my aim is to integrate social entrepreneurship and social innovation into the faculty’s teaching, research and outreach. I take this role very seriously because I believe there’s a tidal wave of social change on the horizon and we need to develop a strong pipeline of global citizens committed to putting their energy and talent towards solving the world’s most pressing challenges such as climate change, human trafficking and slave labor, poverty, malnutrition and hunger, etc.”    --Dr. Nowak



Non violent communication skills workshops with Ann Harrington and many additional sessions throughout the day. Registration and complete schedule of events coming soon!

Students, you will receive 2 KLI workshop credits for each hour you attend Day of Empathy presentations and workshops.

Why Study Empathy?

An immediate concern and the second goal of UMD’s Strategic Plan is the creation of “a positive and inclusive campus climate for all by advancing equity, diversity, and social justice.” We believe cultivating empathy in our lives and learning skills such as nonviolent communication are action steps towards realizing a welcoming campus community for all.

“A citizen of the world in the fullest sense --is one whose vision and culture gave him a deep empathy with fellow human beings of every creed and color.”

   --Kofi Annan

Highly effective people solve social and emotional issues as well as intellectual problems. And effective participants in civic life participate with their whole being. Empathy, then, is one’s ability to realize one’s own feelings and needs, as well as the feelings and needs of others, and act in the way that is most conducive to building productive personal and professional relationships.

"We need empathy to create a new kind of revolution. .. a radical revolution in human relationships. We can cultivate empathy throughout our lives, and use it as a radical force for social transformation.”

   --Roman Krznaric, The Six Habits of Highly Empathic People

Day of Empathy is sponsored by these UMD partners:

Chancellor's Office
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Writing Studies
Kirby Leadership Institute
Instructional Development Service
UMD Library