Can compassion truly shape public policy? Can civic leadership be both bold and empathetic? In this compelling episode of Cultivating Civility, your host Diane Kalen-Sukra sits down with Mayor Ron Nirenberg, a leader who has made compassion the bedrock of his governance in San Antonio, Texas.

From his very first act in office—signing a resolution affirming San Antonio as a Compassionate City—to groundbreaking policies on equity-based budgeting and community-wide compassion training, Mayor Nirenberg has demonstrated how civic leaders can operationalize compassion to create tangible change.

At a time when incivility and division dominate public discourse, this conversation is a breath of fresh air. Mayor Nirenberg shares his personal and political journey, revealing why compassion isn’t just a virtue—it’s a leadership imperative. You’ll hear about:

✔️ How San Antonio became a model for compassionate governance
✔️ The power of actionable compassion versus passive empathy
✔️ The Ready to Work initiative, which breaks cycles of generational poverty
✔️ How to build a culture of shared understanding and mutual respect in civic life
✔️ Why long-term cultural transformation matters more than short-term political wins

If you're a civic leader, engaged citizen, or simply someone who believes in the power of people-first leadership, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired to cultivate civility in your own community!

For more practical strategies on renewing civic culture, explore the Cultivating Civility Masterclass: https://KalenAcademy.com/civilitymasterclass.

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