News - Local News

POSTED: Monday, Aug. 31, 2009

Bellingham group plans 'compassion week'

If you were intrigued by the Dalai Lama's visit to Seattle last year, get ready for the first Bellingham Compassion Week.

Beginning Sept. 13, eight events involving different aspects of compassion will be presented by the Bellingham Compassion Movement.

Maureen Romain, 59, a licensed mental health counselor in Bellingham and general coordinator of the week's events, talked about the new organization.

Question: How did this begin?

Answer: This all started with a group of five Bellingham woman who went to Seattle last year to participate in the Dalai Lama's visit with the Seeds of Compassion group there. They were inspired when his holiness presented a focus of peace and compassion and encouraged folks to return to their home communities and start spreading seeds of compassion.

Q: Then what?

A: One of the group from Bellingham who saw him, Susan Bradbury, asked me if I'd be interesting in joining and invited me to a meeting. There are some 10 of us now actively involved in what we call the Bellingham Compassion Movement.

Q: What is the group's approach?

A: One prong is Bellingham Compassion Week ... which we hope will be an annual event.

The second is celebrating the equinox and solstice through sharing via community art, music dance, and storytelling of different cultures. They've already had two of these events earlier this year, coordinated by Doug Banner, a noted local storyteller.

The third prong is called young global leaders, a group of college students and young adults coordinated by Joleen Kelleher and Susan Bradbury. This group has created a community garden on 32nd Street not far from the famous Joe's Garden. One example of showing compassion is helping to feed a local homeless woman, who in turn weeds the garden.

Q: It seems the spirit of compassion and your career match up pretty well.

A: In my work as a psychotherapist, a lot of it actually is helping people to learn to develop compassion for themselves. Everyone can find ways to involve compassion in many ways in their lives.

BELLINGHAM COMPASION WEEK SCHEDULE

Sept. 13: Art show, 3:30 to 6 p.m., igallery, 1107 N. State St.

Sept. 14: Panel discussion on "compassion in a challenging world," led by David Ryan, 6:30 to 8 p.m., igallery.

Sept. 15: Workshop on parenting by Joleen Kelleher and Maureen Romain, 6 to 8 p.m., igallery.

Sept. 16: Showing compassion for the Earth, 6 to 8 p.m., igallery.

Sept. 17: How community nonprofits demonstrate compassion in action, 6 to 7:30 p.m., old foundary building, Cornwall Avenue and Maple Street.

Sept. 18: Buddhist meditation and teachings on compassion, the Rev. Nomon Tim Burnett, 7 to 9 p.m., Red Cedar Dharma Hall, 1021 N. Forest St. Also, storytelling on compassion, 7 p.m., Bellingham Public Library.

Sept. 20: "Singing Home the Salmon, Honoring Our Place in the Web of Life," with songs, poems and prayers, led by Kelly Kelsey, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Maritime Heritage Park.

More: All events are free and open to the public. See bellinghamcompassion.org.