Can Word, Language, and/or Poetry be Possible Pathways to Compassion?

This question is being explored in an event taking place on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. at the Brooks Memorial Library as a part of the Compassionate Brattleboro discussion series.

If we look closely at the words we are bringing together within the title of this discussion, compassion has its Latin roots com- together with + pati to suffer which means suffering together. A poet, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, a poet is: “writer of verse distinguished by particular insight, inspiration, or sensibility, or by remarkable powers of imagination, creativity, or expression…” There are many key words, one of them being sensibility from sensibili or the French etymology, both linking to the senses and feeling.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Goodbye, Martha RIP

Brattleboro Selectboard

With just three members, the Brattleboro Selectboard said farewell and thank you to Martha O’Connor, who passed away earlier this week.

The reduced  board discussed the small issue of rising waters with the Hinsdale Bridge project, the failed search for a marketing firm, and efforts to become more compassionate in town. The Windham and Windsor Housing Trust got the go-ahead for a grant application to help homeowners, a citizen volunteered to shadow the Town Manager at state meetings of VLCT, and the meeting was done by a very reasonable hour.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 3, 2019

The Hinsdale Bridge project inches forward at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. The board will also learn details of the $40k plan to market some aspects of Brattleboro to some other people somewhere.

Compassionate Brattleboro will give an update on their progress, winter heating oil will be bought, grants will be applied for, and more. You can always bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Compassion: Town Government and the Police – A Free Panel Discussion

Join us on at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 24th, at Brooks Memorial Library, as Compassionate Brattleboro brings Brattleboro Town officials together for an FREE, open panel discussion.

Speakers will include: Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell, Police Chief Michael Fitzgerald, a member of the Brattleboro Selectboard, and Doug Cox, moderator. This program is a part of Compassionate Brattleboro’s series of conversations around exploring how to make compassion actionable in Brattleboro.


Compassion and Human Services: A Free Discussion Panel

Join us at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, March 27th, at Brooks Memorial Library, as Compassionate Brattleboro brings speakers from around the community together for an FREE, open panel discussion. Speakers will include: Chloe Learey and Margaret Atkinson of Winston Prouty Center; David Schoales, Moderator.


Compassion, Spiritual Teachings and Their Challenging Practices: A Free Community Conversation on Compassion:

Join us at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, March 13th, at Brooks Memorial Library, for the first of a series of FREE, open panel discussions designed to highlight the compassion issues in our town, responses to date, and priority needs to be addressed. This week’s discussion is: Compassion, Spiritual Teachings and Their Challenging Practices. Speakers will include: Yasmeen Chaudhri (Islam), Dek Fromer (Baha’i), Duncan Hilton (Christianity), Kate Judd (Judaism), moderated by Rev. Scott Couper, Minister of Centre Church.


The Compassionate Friends of Brattleboro

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of Brattleboro, a national self-help organization for families that have had a child die, will hold its next monthly meeting Sunday, June 17th, at 2:00 PM at The West Village Meetinghouse, 29 South Street, West Brattleboro, VT. Meetings are held each month the third Sunday of the month at the same time and location.