The Compassionate Civilization Collaborative (C3) and the Movement of Movements (MoM)
From a single program base on the West Side of Chicago in the early 1960’s to a global movement of Those Who Care that spans every timezone, the Institutes have been instrumental in turning common passion into concerted efforts. Some of the residue of this effort is now fostering a MOVEMENT OF MOVEMENTS.
The Compassionate Civilization Collaborative (C3) began in August 2017 with the publication of Robertson Work’s book, A Compassionate Civilization: The Urgency of Sustainable Development and Mindful Activism. The mission of C3 is to strengthen the movement of movements (MoM) that is catalyzing a compassionate-ecological community, nation, and world. MoM is related in concept to the EI/ICA’s spirit movement of those who care, the Charter for Compassion’s network of networks, and Paul Hawkins Big Movement.
MoM is comprised of individuals, organizations, and movements around the world in numerous thematic areas. Six critical movements promote 1) climate change mitigation and ecological regeneration; 2) gender equality; 3) socioeconomic justice; 4) participatory governance; 5) cultural tolerance; and 6) peace and nonviolence. The MoM can be further strengthened by cultivating understanding and goodwill among the various movements, collaborative communication, actions, initiatives and projects, common leadership training and strategic planning, and collaborative websites and social media postings.
The transformation of a gravel pit into a community sustainability hub, known as Abbey Gardens, began in 2008 and now features local food shopping, interpretive hiking trails, a craft brewery, a restaurant patio, and program spaces providing ecological, educational, and economic benefits to the Haliburton Highlands.
Video: “Where Gravel Grows”
Abbey North is a continuation of John and Thea Patterson’s lifelong commitment to international community and leadership development. Prior to returning to Canada to establish their Haliburton initiatives, they spent over 30 years living and working abroad through organizations like the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), focused heavily on grassroots social change, including extensive village development work, literacy programs, and teacher training in India and Hong Kong.
Abbey Gardens is a transformation of a 300-acre gravel pit into a sustainable initiative that revitalizes industrial land through permaculture, local food production, and ecological restoration projects like the Miyawaki forest and tallgrass prairies. The Abbey Retreat Centre provides supportive, whole-person care for cancer patients and their caregivers at no cost. Overall, the project portrays a holistic vision of environmental stewardship and compassionate community service. Today, Abbey Gardens operates as a thriving not-for-profit charity and “living laboratory”.