Children Mending Hearts

Children Mending Hearts believes empathy is developed early in childhood and is vital to a child's long-term health and success. A student's sense of well-being is increased when they have empathy, and their learning environment is improved as well. The development of empathy in children sets the stage for a long-term understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom and in life. Empathy is transformative. It can reduce the chance of a child being bullied. It can enable world leaders to find peaceful solutions. It can motivate nations to open their doors to families fleeing war and violence. It can inspire future generations of loving and compassionate global citizens. For 15 years, nonprofit Children Mending Hearts has been doing work in Los Angeles and beyond. Our programs geared at elementary-aged students are located in classrooms across the country. Both students and teachers reported an increase in unprompted empathetic actions. 96% of teachers who have utilized our program have reported improved classroom climates by the end of the year. And almost all students report that they feel like they learned something important from CMH. Since 2020, we have been especially focused in the community of Watts, and for the past two years we have powered the Jordan Downs Center. We want to provide opportunities for all members of the community while creating a space of empathy and kindness. The goal is to foster creativity, collaboration, and interaction throughout Jordan Downs.