History of CCC
Although Creating Compassionate Cultures officially came into being in 2012, the idea behind CCC began in the 1970's, when Lama Yeshe, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher, shared his ideas about a "universal education" that would expand the philosophies of compassion and mindfulness found in contemplative traditions so they could benefit people of different backgrounds and faiths all over the world.
When Pamela Cayton, a student of Lama Yeshe, moved to the United States with her young family after living in Nepal for many years, she found that the educational options in the area did not embody essential qualities she felt were needed to educate the whole child. Remembering Lama Yeshe’s vision for a universal education, Cayton was inspired and then challenged to develop educational methods that blended the practical approach to learning and acquiring scientific knowledge of the West with the depth of logic, wisdom, and compassion of the East. As a result, Cayton opened Tara Preschool in 1989 and in 1996 opened Tara Redwood School, a PreK through 3rd grade school.
In 2009, in response to the strong interest of educators, counselors, and parents, Cayton started to offer workshops around the world on the curriculum and materials she had developed at Tara Redwood School. She named the educational program, The Seven Steps to Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion, with the goal of developing mindfulness and compassion in children and youth. In 2012, Creating Compassionate Cultures formed as a nonprofit organization so it could provide programs for youth of all ages both in the United States and around the world.
When Pamela Cayton, a student of Lama Yeshe, moved to the United States with her young family after living in Nepal for many years, she found that the educational options in the area did not embody essential qualities she felt were needed to educate the whole child. Remembering Lama Yeshe’s vision for a universal education, Cayton was inspired and then challenged to develop educational methods that blended the practical approach to learning and acquiring scientific knowledge of the West with the depth of logic, wisdom, and compassion of the East. As a result, Cayton opened Tara Preschool in 1989 and in 1996 opened Tara Redwood School, a PreK through 3rd grade school.
In 2009, in response to the strong interest of educators, counselors, and parents, Cayton started to offer workshops around the world on the curriculum and materials she had developed at Tara Redwood School. She named the educational program, The Seven Steps to Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion, with the goal of developing mindfulness and compassion in children and youth. In 2012, Creating Compassionate Cultures formed as a nonprofit organization so it could provide programs for youth of all ages both in the United States and around the world.