Thirty years ago, an innovation began with a simple insight: a baby can help children develop empathy.
This year, Baby Celebrations took place in communities across Canada, Washington State and Washington, DC, and the United Kingdom. But there was something especially meaningful about gathering where it all began in Toronto.
31 of our Tiny Teachers and their families joined educators, Roots of Empathy Instructors, supporters and friends to celebrate 30 years of nurturing empathy in children at the stunning site of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection on June 22nd.
Together, they represented the village that has sustained Roots of Empathy for 30 years. In communities around the world, that village is made up of babies and families, children and teachers, Instructors and schools, partners, donors and funders—all united by a belief that empathy can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
And while not everyone took the microphone that day, the voices we heard—from students, teachers, parents, Instructors and celebrated Olympian Tessa Virtue —spoke to the impact that village makes possible.
These are the voices you helped create:
For one Grade 7 student, the impact was deeply personal:
“Keziah (the Tiny Teacher), Kelsey (the mother) and Jemma (the ROE Instructor) were such big parts of me learning how to become the best version of myself.”
A Grade 8 student offered one of the greatest compliments a volunteer baby, parent and ROE Instructor could receive:
“I wish I could restart the whole program, but it sadly had to come to an end. I also wish many other classes at Market Lane and at every other school could experience such a memorable connection with these babies.”
Joining the celebration was Olympic champion and mental health advocate Tessa Virtue, who reflected on the lessons she is learning from her own children:
“My son has become my greatest teacher. He’s reminding me that emotions aren’t obstacles to overcome. They’re information, they’re connection, they’re what makes us human.”
See her speech here.
Veteran educator Tom Veenstra, who has welcomed Roots of Empathy into his classroom for nearly half of his 25 years of teaching, spoke about the gift babies give adolescents:
“The baby gives them permission to set aside the middle school angst and drama and to really think about all of these emotions.”
Teacher Heather Breau described how the experience transformed her own approach to teaching:
“Now I lead with empathy. Everyone is included. Everyone is valued. There is no need to single out or protect because we all protect and support each other.”
For Ben Schifman, a child and youth care worker and first-year Roots of Empathy Instructor, the lesson came unexpectedly when his students erupted in spontaneous cheers as baby Jack reached a new milestone.
“That spontaneous collective joy at someone else’s achievement—that is empathy,” he said. “My students didn’t need me to teach it to them. They just needed Jack (their Tiny Teacher).”
The experience leaves its mark on volunteer families, too. Parent Heather Abdilla shared:
“Empathy is a skill that can be nurtured and strengthened. By helping children understand and connect with others, we are helping to create kinder schools, stronger communities, and a more empathic future.”
For Mary Gordon, Founder of Roots of Empathy, the day was a reminder of what has sustained the organization for three decades:
“It takes a village, but I can tell you in Roots of Empathy, it takes a baby to raise a village.”
As technology advances and children’s wellbeing and ability to make real friends increasingly hangs in the balance, the need for empathy has never been greater.