Compassion Corps

Barbara offered the CBCT training to government employees working on the front lines of public service—many of whom face high levels of stress, emotional labor, and limited access to resilience-building and compassion tools, including police, fire, justice system staff, librarians, victim advocates, sanitation, and public works professionals.

Pre-service teachers and college seniors (ages ~19–25) enrolled in the GIFT Teacher Residency at Georgia Gwinnett College. The majority identify as people of color, many are Pell Grant recipients, and several have caregiving responsibilities. Participants are early-career educators working in under-resourced schools and communities experiencing social and political strain.

Graduate social work students (SWRK 220 cohort) at Fresno State. The group includes approximately 20 MSW students from the Central Valley, many of whom are latinos, first-generation college students, parents, frontline workers, and individuals balancing full-time work, family responsibilities, and generational trauma while training to serve others.

Educators working in demanding educational environments, experiencing high emotional load, chronic stress, time pressure, and responsibility toward students and families. Participants showed strong vocational commitment alongside emotional fatigue and limited opportunities for self-care and reflection.

Personal de salud de un hospital público de alta demanda en Lima, incluyendo médicos residentes, médicos de emergencia, oncología y cuidados paliativos, enfermeras y psicólogos. Profesionales en contacto continuo con el sufrimiento, la enfermedad y la muerte, expuestos a sobrecarga laboral, desgaste emocional, falta de recursos institucionales y alto riesgo de burnout.

Adults living with chronic pain conditions (such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, and neuropathic pain), primarily from low-income backgrounds in Santiago, Chile. The program served individuals experiencing physical limitations, emotional distress, and limited access to health and therapeutic resources, offering free and inclusive support through mindfulness and compassion-based practices.

Healthcare professionals affiliated with Fundación CARE Chile, working in diverse clinical and care settings across the country. The program served professionals exposed to high emotional demands related to chronic illness, pain, fragility, and end-of-life care, many of whom experience stress, emotional exhaustion, and limited access to structured self-care spaces. The community sought tools for emotional regulation, self-compassion, resilience, and sustainable well-being in both their personal and professional roles.

Primarily female teachers from various regions of Azerbaijan, working in demanding educational environments with high emotional and relational demands. The program served educators experiencing stress, emotional overload, and limited institutional support, many of whom struggle with self-compassion despite deeply caring for their students. Participants sought emotional resilience, community connection, and practical compassion-based tools to support both their personal well-being and their work in the classroom.

Volunteer community counselors, counseling interns, and grassroots mental health workers from Kiandutu Slum and surrounding areas in Thika, Kiambu County. The program served individuals providing free psychosocial support, counseling, and community-based assistance to vulnerable populations, many of whom face high exposure to trauma, poverty-related stress, and compassion fatigue. Participants came from diverse educational and linguistic backgrounds and sought practical self-compassion tools to support both their own well-being and the sustainability of their community service work.

Brazilian youth (ages 18–29) from historically marginalized communities (BIPOC and low-income backgrounds), engaged in activism and social action. Many access higher education through scholarships and financial aid but have limited exposure to alternative or spiritually integrated educational spaces. Participants often face systemic hardship, mental health challenges, burnout, and lack of developmental support for emotional and spiritual growth. The program served young leaders seeking deeper purpose, resilience, and compassionate grounding to sustain their work in social change.