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CCARE at Stanford University
The Applied Compassion Training™
An 11-Month Live Online Certificate Program
Become certified as an: Educator, Facilitator, Consultant, Leader
and Ambassador of Applied Compassion

Applied Compassion Capstone Projects
A defining component of the ACT program is the creation and delivery of an Applied Compassion Capstone Project. Each participant is supported, using the principles and practices of the training, to design and deliver a project that brings compassion into their unique real-world setting. This could be a classroom, an office, a health care system, or a community of which they are a part. Here are some of the inspiring Capstone Projects from this year's ACT participants who are bringing compassion into the world in powerful ways.
ACT 2020 Featured Capstone Projects

Click on the picture to read more about these featured capstone projects.
Practicing Mindfulness to Ease Difficult Conversations
Compassion Restores
Self Care for HealthCare
Uplift
Cultivating resilience and resourcefulness
Generous Heart
Reviving the culture of compassion in Islam
"I have found my people. I took this step with both external and internal support, fostered by compassion practice."
- Lakshmi Ganesan, MD MAS
"The capstone project helped me develop a compassion workshop specifically focused on self care for doctors who feel burned out, anxious or under pressure."
- Sharee Johnson, Psychologist Coach, Meditation Teacher, Author
"The fact that ACT empowers participants to design their own workshops on compassion has been the most amazing part for me."
- Atul Veer, MD, Founder, Universal Open Wellbeing Foundation
"Being a student of ACT gave me a natural driving force to cherish the presence of all things that I met, reminding me of interconnectedness and inspiring me to act in humility with every creature." - Elif Aldemir, Meditation and Compassion Teacher

Independent to Interdependent
Compassion As A Spiritual Care Practice
Compassion Cultivation for People with Hypospadias & Epispadias
mindfulness and Compassion Fun
Customizable Learning Program on Compassion for Different Audiences
"What a gift to be on a path of compassionate action and connect with such a diverse and energized group of people doing the same."
- Whitney G. Wilkerson, NBC-HWC, Leadership Coach & Spiritual Care Provider
"My ACT Capstone Project allowed me to tap deeply into my own history and heart to understand the ways I’m uniquely situated to benefit my community. It required me to move beyond ideas about compassion to embodied, relational practice."
- David Hlebain, MSW
"My Capstone Project enabled me to serve those in need by incorporating all the skills, knowledge, and wisdom gained through the valuable lessons of ACT." - Michelle Ting jui Huang, MA, Mindfulness Instructor, Certified Hypnotherapist
"From creating a leadership program for C-suite executives to facilitating webinars for tax professionals, my Capstone let the work flow through me in such a touching way.”- Amaris Vicari, Esq., CEO, The Beneficial Element

The Overlooked Participant:
Specialized Bereavement Assisted Suicide
A Compassionate Approach
to work life balance
"The ACT program and being an Ambassador
required me to actively seek out opportunities and take an active role in being a facilitator and leader." - Ratnesh Sharma, IT Leader
"ACT gave me hope for a better world. Our cohort is a diverse global village with a common desire to elevate humanity through
caring, compassion, and presence."
- Dr. Leslie Jane Aspis
Victoria Amazonica
A Bilingual Podcast
The Center for Compassion and Altruism
at the texas medical ctr.
"ACT challenged me to think differently and my creative river has found a bed." - Lina Cuartas, Author, Artist, Colombia, Brasil, Peru, Amazon Rainforest
"I'm now able to show that compassion creates a better work environment and proven significant health benefits."
- Gaylynn Thomas, RN, BSN, Entrepreneur, Director of Business Development, TMCx
ACT 2020 Celebrated Alumni
and Capstone Projects

Fire Work
Compassionate Action
in Response to Current Events

"I feel prepared, comfortable, qualified and energized to step forward as a leader of compassion. I'm incredibly grateful for this!"
- Masen Ewald
Compassionate Coaching
With individual Clients

"In helping my clients move forward, my own life was changed for the better."
-Adrienne Kernan, RN
Compassion for
Cancer Survivors
"The capstone project pushed me to put my experience and knowledge out there and share it with others." - Amy Jue Wang
Activate Leader
Compassion
"This training deepened my understanding of what compassion is and opened a new perspective into what I'm capable of."
- Chantal Paulson, CEO

Compassion Mountain
workshops with Seniors
Compassionate
Self-Care
Mindfulness & Food
Self-Compassion Training
for people with diabetes
Leading with Compassion
Creating an innovative
and thriving workplace
"I am forever changed by ACT! The trainings, the resources and the guest speakers have been invaluable. What a wealth of knowledge and expertise!"
- Barbara King, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
"I have the choice and voice to share compassion with the world!"
- Bryan Lian MS RD CEDRD-S

"My Capstone Project gave me a profound opportunity to deepen my own compassion practices and embody them
in the world."
- Brooke Cassoff

"Discovering how to embody the principles of compassion
helped me to model and encourage compassionate behavior in the workplace."
-Eli Bauer

Compassionate conversations
De-escalating Conflict

"I am finally doing exactly what I’ve been searching and training for most of my life. I am most excited and grateful that I was able to participate in ACT!"
-Vivienne Gabrielle Antal
Compassion Talks:
Self-Care and
Social Work

"Applying Compassion in the workplace, for loved ones, for strangers, for the sake of humanity is a heart-filled mission."
- LaShelle Natsuko Burch, LCSW
Compassion Practices for Emerging Leaders

"Being in this program has helped me to feel I'm a part of a community of like-minded people. In short, I feel less alone, which is life changing." - Daisy Swan
Applied Compassion Trainings 2020

"ACT allowed me to fortify
my compassion, deepen my knowledge and learn more tools and practices. I’ve become a more confident, loving and empowered Ambassador of Compassion"
-Tom Fandre

Volunteers in Medicine bringing compassion into
a free healthcare clinic

"The ACA Capstone Project has helped me to appreciate the basic principles of compassion. Compassion is now a primary filter of my personal experience."
- Gard Jameson
Applying Compassion To Retrouvaille Couples
Love in the Time
of Covid
Online workshops
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"I learned how to be a compassionate leader."
- Adriana Medeiros,
Executive Director CafeKind

"By learning to love and heal ourselves first, we can love and heal our spouse. Through ACT I've made friendships that will last the rest of my life, priceless!" - Eliana Reeves
Compassionate Listening
community support through listening

"I am now able to apply my training as an Ambassador of Compassion allowing me to view the world and others through a clearer more loving lens."
- Nina Y. Mesina

Us, Them and Me
increasing our circle of
"us" within healthcare

"My eyes have been opened to endless opportunities to impact, influence, and inspire others to embody compassion. There is no compassion without action!"
- Elena Jensen
The Connection Cure: Compassion through community
Mindful Compassion
While Living
With Cancer
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"I've experienced the power of opening our circles of belonging, creating brave space for vulnerable connection and reciprocity with and between others. "
- Lisa Daron Grossman
"I've become more open-hearted and full of gratitude for the opportunity to share compassion with my
community."
- Karen A. Mott, BSN, RN, OCN
Developing Compassion-based Mindfulness

"Wow! This has been the most uplifting course of my life! It has helped me to challenge the way I live my life. I am finding my courage to be ready and willing to act."
- Dr. Maureen Wilks, Author, and Professor

Compassion with Colleagues

"This program has given me the framework to launch a consulting business. I’m truly inspired and grateful."
- Marisa Lascher
Compassionate Leadership in Action

"The ACA Capstone Project pushed me to learn more, experience more, and distill more to create a product that would help others in need."
- Danna Hoshino
Contemplating Peace and Social Justice

"Neelama, Monica, and Robert's way of guiding and facilitating has inspired me as a practitioner and as a teacher, but more than that, as a human being."
- Donna J. McInnis
Guiding High School Students in Mindfulness

"This project has helped me become an Ambassador of Compassion. It provided the opportunity to turn my dreams into action!"
- Liya Bromberg

The Serenity Lounge
online connection

"Participating in ACT has allowed me to see our shared humanity."
- Andrea Ayala Roche
Thought Virus:
Self-Worth, Worthiness
and Unworthiness

"My capstone project allowed me to dive deeper and explore the concept of worthiness and unworthiness as the greatest stumbling block to compassion."
- Gabriele Hilberg,Ph.D., MFT
Cultivate
Humility Blog
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"My Capstone Project was a personal journey into the exploration of compassion. I grew as the blog grew and was able to fully grasp and embody the principles of compassion."
- Luan M. Wilfong
A Compassionate Response to COVID-19

"My intention with ACA was to embody compassion in all aspects of my life. Now I feel honored to spread the love."
-Lee Elizabeth Sowles

Self Compassion
for Healthcare Providers
Cultivating Mindfulness and Compassion in Design Higher Education
The Serenity Lounge
Are You A Considerate Supervisor?

"ACT has profoundly changed my life. I see my project and role as an Ambassador of Compassion as the pebble dropped in a pond, creating ripples of opportunity for self compassion principles to be shared." -Lynn Chiarello

"I found a little corner of the world that knows how essential, transformative and impactful compassion is. I felt the ease and creativity to put the practice back into the world without doubt or hesitation. This course was the perfect fit for where I am in my life."
-Christina Worsing

"ACT is an enriching journey
of growth and transformation. The family-like affinity I feel towards my cohort members
is truly extraordinary."
-Christina Tan

"This training has transformed my approach to disruptive behavior in the workplace. To focus on applied compassion is to build a better culture at work. I designed a capstone aligned with my life’s intentions.”
- Michelle Carlstrom

Compassion
in Action
Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living

"My capstone project moved me into action. The ACT training has shown me that compassion can happen everyday in small amounts, and that compassion IS unconditional!"
- Isabel Vega Montilla

"This program will introduce you to a welcoming community of likeminded professionals
that you can learn from, collaborate with, and grow alongside as you make your journey into the arena of becoming an Ambassador of Applied Compassion. "
- Yvonne Tally
Author, Inspirational Speaker
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