November 13, 2024 – Fostering Critical Thinking in a Hyperconnected World

This panel delved into the critical role of empathy, creativity, and critical thinking in children’s development within a rapidly evolving tech landscape. The session explored the challenges and opportunities posed by AI, focusing on how to nurture more balanced technology use and empathy in young minds.

As a panelist, Mary Gordon shared a compelling perspective, emphasizing that empathy is essential for child development and cannot be cultivated through screens alone. She observed: “It’s a balance of how much time our children are playing with one another, or with an adult, versus interacting with the screen. And you do not develop empathy interacting with the screen. And it’s core.” Mary  addressed technology’s impact on social skills and the risks of increased loneliness, stressing the importance of real-world interactions, intrinsic motivation, and community-driven approaches over strict bans to manage screen time effectively.

Joining Mary in this thought-provoking discussion were:

• Melissa Cash, CEO & Co-Founder, Pok Pok
• Ben Drury, Co-Founder and CEO, Yoto

The session was moderated by Rebecca Hutson, Editor & Editorial Director at thenewsmovement.com.

Together, the panelists underscored the necessity of teaching children healthy digital habits and constructive digital learning, understanding the implications of screen use, and fostering connections outside of screens to nurture empathy. They highlighted the shared responsibility of parents, educators, and tech developers in creating a balanced approach to technology and types of digital interactions in children’s lives.

The Web Summit brought together over 70,000 attendees, including policymakers, heads of state, and leaders from tech companies and startups, to tackle a pressing question in today’s uncertain times: Where to next?

See the panel discussion here.

Mary, Founder and President of Roots of Empathy, was one of two Thought Leaders invited to address global Ministers of Education in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In her formal presentation, Mary emphasized the role of empathy and relational teaching in strengthening student connections, shaping classrooms where students feel a sense of belonging and inclusivity. This, in turn, promotes greater student engagement—an urgent need as schools contend with rising absenteeism and increased student dysregulation.

Following this, Mary delivered a public talk titled Reach to Teach: Empathy – The Superhighway to Connection, where she spotlighted Roots of Empathy’s vision for education that builds not only academic competencies but also nurtures the empathy needed to foster friendships  – “armour for a child”. Mary observed that schools have a massive influence, it’s not just where children learn but it’s where they become. Learning emotional literacy is state-dependent. Watch Mary’s presentation here.

Mary Gordon, President and Founder, participated as a panelist at “The Transformational Power of Male Compassion online event, speaking on the opening panel. The discussion focused on ‘understanding and celebrating the beauty of males and nurturing boys’ development into healthy men.’ The event, hosted by the Global Compassion Coalition and moderated by Dr. Daniel Ellenberg, also featured Dr. Judy Chu (ROE US Board member) and Dr. Paul Gilbert as panelists. In the first week of release, the panel discussion garnered over 1,000 views.

Mary shared crucial insights on the importance of fostering empathy in boys to address the “male crisis of connection.” She emphasized that nurturing empathy can improve mental health, reduce bullying, and break intergenerational cycles of violence. Roots of Empathy proudly supports the Men and Boys Compassion Institute.

Roots of Empathy Founder and President Mary Gordon  was interviewed for the Power of Love Summit, emphasizing the connection between love and empathy. “To truly love, you must understand and feel with others… Without empathy, there is no glue in relationships,” she stated. The full video, which delves further into these important themes, received 2,000 views in its first two weeks.

Mary Gordon was delighted to be the closing speaker at the 30th Augustana Human Library. Her talk, “Walking a Mile in My Shoes,” delved into the significance of empathy as a cornerstone of building an inclusive society, its impact on children, and the importance of developing empathy early.

The Augustana Human Library has been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2018 University of Alberta Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award. In 2017, it also received the ALA Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects.

Mary Gordon closed the conference  with an inspiring and motivating presentation on the impact of the empathy movement through the global work of Roots of Empathy. Attended by 450 judicial mediators, her talk was followed by an informative Question and Answer session.

Mary Gordon presented at the conference for judicial directors and supervisors. Her presentation on the global work and impact of Roots of Empathy was recorded for the Statewide Conference for Mediators on April 19th.

The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts, the largest court system in the nation. Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of justice. Judicial Council staff help implement the council’s policies.

Mary Gordon was the Keynote speaker at the 5^th Annual Early Learning Conference hosted by the Métis Nation of Ontario in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario. The conference provided an opportunity for 350 attendees and educators from across Ontario, and other provinces to enhance their knowledge of Métis children and how to support Métis children in the classrooms and community. In her presentation Early Literacy Development Requires the Connection of Mind, Hand and Heart,  Mary received spontaneous applause throughout the presentation including when she said, ” I may not have prepared notes, but I have a prepared heart.” She was honoured to receive a standing ovation at the conclusion of the presentation which reviewed the history of Seeds of Empathy in supporting children’s development in early literacy and emotional literacy.