ISD’s Strong Cities Network meets with the Dalai Lama in India

ISD’s Strong Cities Network meets His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India
Mayors of Louisville and Anaheim join ISD in India to promote cohesive and compassionate communities

Mayor Fischer of Louisville and Mayor Tait of Anaheim joined ISD’s Farah Pandith and Rebecca Skellett for 10-day trip to India, organised by the Strong Cities Network (SCN), which included a meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.

The trip also included meetings with city officials in Mumbai and South Delhi, police, business leaders, educators, civil society, faith communities, media and thought-leaders to discuss approaches to making cities safer and communities stronger amid the rise in violent extremist groups around the globe.

Mayors Fischer and Tait were chosen for the trip because of their focus on compassion, which has been championed by the Dalai Lama. Anaheim’s City of Kindness initiative parallels Louisville Compassionate City efforts.

"Creating cultures of kindness and compassion throughout the world is the key to achieving world peace."

- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Rebecca Skellett, SCN Manager: “We took these two U.S. Mayors to Delhi, Mumbai and Dharamsala -- to share their journeys, inspire Indian cities and policy makers, and learn more about how India’s diverse range of communities live together side by side. We look forward to furthering our work with cities in India over the coming months.”

Mayor Fischer of Louisville: “Visits like this are great opportunities to promote our city. Our focus on compassion is something that resonates worldwide and is so relevant in today’s world.”

Mayor Tait of Anaheim: “As a city, we must always respond to daily needs for public safety and community services. But kindness is our long game. It has the potential for positive change over generations. While cities across the world may face different issues, the impact of kindness is the same. We are honored that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has embraced what we are doing in Anaheim."

About the Strong Cities Network (SCN)

Launched at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, the Strong Cities Network (SCN) is the first and only global network of mayors, municipal-level policy makers, political actors, and practitioners united in building social cohesion and community resilience to counter violent extremism in all its forms.

SCN membership is diverse, including large megacities like London and Mumbai, to smaller municipalities such as Kristiansand and Tripoli. What unites SCN members is their desire to share their experiences, learn from others and build community resilience against the divisive ideologies of hate, division and violence in all its forms.

With over 120 members, SCN trains, connects and empowers cities to safeguard local communities against polarisation, hate and violence on a global scale.

Find out more at www.strongcitiesnetwork.org

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