Stephanie Diaz

Grateful for the opportunity to have a voice and to gain hours towards the overall requirement.

Brings me great joy to contribute to the happiness of little ones and to be able to meet my sevice commitment for graduation. I'm truly grateful for the opportunities UIW has presented to give back, in SO many ways. Thank you and enjoy the sweet treats!!!

@TheIntersection for civic & faith-based leaders advertised the NAMI walk to promote mental health awareness. On Sat, 10/, we all united at the SA Zoo. It was truly beautiful to witness the support and love from our city, our community, and numerous organizations who care enough to make a difference and show the community you are not alone, you are supported. Wonderful collaborative and expression of compassion. Grateful to be a part.

Our final week prepared us for exemplifying compassion through systems and the importance of people working together and how we are all connected, in one way or another. We cannot survive without the efforts of another. There is importance in understanding and being aware that we each only see part of the big picture (epistemic hu.mility). We learned rhe four steps to engaging in discernment: 1) motivation with others in mind, 2) consideration to interdependence, 3) broader understanding and choices available, 4) actions to promote the least harm and greatest well-being Compassion and discernment promote collaboration and overall collective well-being.
As many would agree this course came along at the perfect time. It strengthened my understanding and consciousness, and brought a sense of connection to our community. I will miss these wonderful people that have enriched my soul; but look forward to continued ollaboration within our community. Wonderful wonderful course. Thank you all!

An abundance of gratitude for being introduced to this opportunity to collaborate with civic and faith-based leaders for out community. "Collaboration allows us to grow, develop, and heal" - Rev. Ann Helmke. This morning presented with even more wonderful ways to collaborate and make a difference. The collaborative on Executive Book Review was shared how it was formed and an emphasis on it's impact to our human existence and how we are all executives of our own life. I am looking forward to participating in their next event 20 OCT and to hear from our Mayor next. Such an honor to be a part of such a wonderful mission.

This week we explored what it really means to show compassion. Three areas to be considered in expressing compassion are noticing needs and suffering of others, empathetic concern or caring for others, and a sense of agency, which reflects by a sense of motivation to do something to help eliminate the suffering. There are three levels of compassion:
1) Wishing compassion
2) Aspiring Compassion
3) Engaged compassion

I feel we all engage in one or the other at any given time in our life with a goal to be fully functioning engaged compassionate members of society. We learned that some of the thinking traps to be mindful of are compassion as weakness, not seeing common humanity, powerlessness. I feel compassion is a practice a mindful effort. We are all human and really a work in progress, self and others. Something to remember.

This course and the civic opportunities it has presented has truly enriched my soul. It also restores a little fauth in humanity I really feel I needed. It has really touched my life and the lives of those around me. I look forward to learning more. There is a seed that has been planted that will continue to grow. I have found myself more aware of compassion exchange and even in times I would have reacted otherwise. Very grateful. #Gratitude
#Compassion

This week we talked about Empathy. Empathy, to understand and resonated with the emotions, thoughts, and motivation of others. We discussed scenarios in which we would express empathy for those with different situations. We learned that cognitive empathy is using reason to understand another's feelings and thoughts. Thinking traps can also interfere with our ability to show empathy. In-group bias, envy, and jealousy can affect how we feel about others and their feelings. We discussed empathic distress (overwhelmed with empathy for those suffering) vs empathic concern (others focused). We must show self-compassion to ensure we do not overwhelm ourselves but still be mindful of others ans what they are going through. I really am so thankful for this class. It has actually helped me so.much, in times when I steered to an unpleasant self. Thank you for helping me be a better person and to others.

No better way to feel connected to the community and to learn not only what pur civic and faith-based leaders are doing for it, but also to learn how tou can contribute. This collaborative group has really come together for the greater good, from car repairs and maintenance education to mental health awareness and promotion efforts (NAMI Walk). Such a beautiful illustration of humanity. Thank you for the introduction to the group and for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful mission.