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Richmond declared a 'City of Compassion'

Posted at 4:46 PM, May 07, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-08 07:45:23-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- Mayor Levar Stoney on Thursday officially declared Richmond a “City of Compassion," joining a global movement dedicate towards leading with compassion and equity.

The international movement 'The Charter for Compassion,' hinges upon treating all people, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or economic status, with dignity and respect.

“This proclamation is also an invitation,” said the mayor. “Compassion is using your gifts and talents to lift up your neighbor, building a stronger community through that service. We can all play a role in this effort.”

The effort was led by Befriend, a new platform that aims to create friendships and connections throughout the city in an effort to recognize and break down socioeconomic barriers between Richmonders. On Monday, the mayor urged individuals and businesses to sign up to serve as a Compassion Connecter.

“Being a Compassionate City is much more than a label,” says Mollie Reinhart, Founder of Befriend. “The proclamation creates a unifying standard around how Richmond legislates, how we live, and how we connect and thrive.

Befriend is represented on the Human Services Cabinet, which is comprised of local experts on basic human needs like food, housing, public health, employment, and education. It also includes experts that serve specific populations like older adults and individuals with highly specialized needs, as well as professionals who specialize in connecting those populations to the services they need.

Virginia Together: The Rebound Richmond campaign is here to help. Find information on who is hiring, investigations into unemployment payment issues, financial advice on making ends meet, and mental health advice on managing the pressures. These stories will be featured often on CBS 6 News and can be found by clicking this link.