Action Items for adding to Definition Presentation

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Meeting  Agenda Template

1. ( ) Turn on Recording

2. ( ) Turn on  Zoom AI

3. ( ) Vision and Intention: Build the Empathy Movement to make mutual empathy a core cultural value.

4. ( ) Intention for the Definition Study Team: Develop and document the Wholistic Empathy Definition Model

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This Meeting

1. ( ) Review Edwin's Project TO DO - discuss

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Post Meeting

1. ( ) Document Meeting 

2. ( ) Post Zoom AI Report

3. ( ) Upload Video to Otter.AI, create transcript and Summary, post to this page.

4. ( ) Upload Video to YouTube

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2025-04-29 - Defining Empathy

Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/RC2kGcfjV_QNQIFf__B6MeHr26A?view=summary

Edwin Rutsch and Jodie Jenson discussed scheduling conflicts due to Jodie's busy semester and upcoming sports camp. They agreed to meet every other week on Fridays at 12 PM Pacific Time starting May 9. Edwin emphasized the importance of defining empathy within the empathy circle, highlighting Carl Rogers' framework. They explored basic, self, and imaginative empathy, and holistic empathy, which involves empathizing with oneself, others, and the group. Edwin plans to ground criticisms of empathy in the empathy circle model and will present at the May 24 empathy conference, where Jodie will facilitate an empathy circle.

Action Items

• [ ] Submit an abstract for the October Summit that frames empathy as part of a larger "empathy movement".

• [ ] Participate in an online empathy circle to demonstrate the practice to a critic who was previously opposed to empathy.

• [ ] Explore incorporating visual models and graphics to illustrate the different components of empathy (basic, self, imaginative, holistic) within the empathy circle framework.

• [ ] Determine the specific time for the empathy circle session at the May 24th event and confirm Jodie Jenson's participation as a facilitator.

Fathom Impromptu Zoom Meeting - April 29

VIEW RECORDING - 57 mins (No highlights)

Meeting Purpose

Discuss scheduling changes and empathy-related topics, including an upcoming presentation on defining empathy.

Key Takeaways

• Meetings rescheduled to Fridays at 12pm Pacific on May 9th and 23rd due to Jodie's schedule conflicts

• Edwin developing presentation on defining empathy in context of Empathy Circles for May 24th conference

• Discussed nuances of empathizing, including avoiding taking spotlight when listening to others' struggles

• Explored concepts of basic, self, imaginative, and holistic empathy for presentation framework

Topics

Schedule Changes

• Jodie facing time constraints with new semester, sports camp, and family health issues

• Agreed to meet every other Friday at 12pm Pacific on May 9th and 23rd

• Will resume normal schedule in June after sports camp ends May 30-31

Empathy Experience Reflection

• Jodie shared recent experience empathizing with grieving neighbor

• Discussed importance of listening without shifting focus to one's own experiences

• Explored nuances of sharing own experiences to show understanding vs. taking spotlight

Empathy Presentation Development

• Edwin developing 30-minute presentation on defining empathy for May 24th conference

• Framework includes basic empathy, self-empathy, imaginative empathy, and holistic empathy

• Aims to ground abstract empathy concepts in concrete Empathy Circle practice

• Plans to address criticisms of empathy by mapping them to Empathy Circle framework

Empathy Circle Facilitation

• Discussed strategies for facilitating when participants struggle with reflective listening

• Options include asking if speaker feels heard, having speaker repeat until satisfied

• Facilitator can model reflection if needed, but aims to keep participants in practice

Affective vs Cognitive Empathy

• Explored how traditional affective/cognitive model maps onto Empathy Circle framework

• Discussed limitations of affective empathy as reactive/contagious vs. intentional listening

• Noted cognitive empathy's focus on understanding, but potential for projection without careful listening

Next Steps

• Edwin to add slides comparing affective/cognitive model to Empathy Circle framework

• Consider adding visual diagrams to illustrate empathy concepts in presentation

• Jodie tentatively added as potential facilitator for May 24th conference Empathy Circle (pending free admission for facilitators)

• Edwin to send Jodie exact time for May 24th event (likely 7pm Pacific)

• Jodie to update abstract for October summit, emphasizing empathy movement concept

Action Items

• Update abstract for Oct summit - include "empathy movement" in title/abstract, make it about bigger picture movement (couple sentences) - WATCH (5 secs)

• Participate in online empathy circle w/ Kevin from Northwestern (await Edwin's scheduling) - WATCH (5 secs)

• Send Jodie exact time for May 24th empathy circle (7pm Pacific) - WATCH (5 secs)

• Add slides on affective/cognitive empathy to presentation, map onto empathy circle model - WATCH (5 secs)

• Confirm w/ event organizer if Jodie can facilitate May 24th empathy circle for free - WATCH (5 secs)