'The Virtues Project empowers individuals to live more authentic meaningful lives, families to raise children of compassion and integrity, educators to create safe, caring, and high performing learning communities, and leaders to encourage excellence and ethics in the work place. It has inspired and mobilized people worldwide to commit acts of service and generosity, to heal violence with virtues. www.virtuesproject.com
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The Virtues Project was founded in 1991 by Linda Kavelin Popov, Dr. Dan Popov, and John Kavelin. It is a global grassroots initiative that inspires the practice of virtues in everyday life. The Project is active in more than 95 countries and was honored by the United Nations during the International Year of the Family in 1994 as a "model global program for all cultures." When they began work on the materials and programs in 1990, Linda Popov was a psychotherapist designing mental health treatment and disease prevention programs for industry and government, her husband Dr. Dan Popov, a graduate of United States Military Academy at West Point, was a senior scientist consulting on information systems to NASA and clinical pediatric psychotherapist, and her brother John Kavelin was an art director at Walt Disney Imagineering.
The Virtues Project has inspired and mobilized many thousands of families, educators, leaders and employees to commit acts of service and generosity, to heal violence with virtues, and to create safe and caring communities. There are thousands of certified trainers in The Virtues Project in at least 95 countries[1]. Among the more than 30[2] institutions using curricula or materials based on The Virtues Project are: British Columbia Teachers' Federation of Canada, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, the Ministry of Education of the Cook Islands, Montessori Schools, Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute and One Planet International School.
Canada's Vision TV produced a television series Virtues: A Family Affair hosted and executive produced by Linda Kavelin Popov. The Popovs have spent more than a dozen years traveling to cultures, communities and organizations around the world to share the simple practices of the Project.
Strategy 1: Speak the Language of the Virtues Language shapes character. The way we speak, and the words we use, have great power to discourage or to inspire.
Strategy 2: Recognize Teachable Moments Recognizing the gifts and life lessons in our daily challenges helps us to cultivate character in ourselves and others.
Strategy 3: Set Clear Boundaries Virtues-based boundaries focus on respect, restorative justice and reparation to create a climate of peace and safety.
Strategy 4: Honor the Spirit This strategy begins with respect for the dignity of each person and encourages us to make time for reflection, reverence, and beauty.
Strategy 5: Offer Spiritual Companioning By being deeply present and listening with compassion and detachment, we help others 'to empty their cup'.
The original selection of 52 virtues in "The Family Virtues Guide" (Plume/Penguin Books,1997) are:
Among the publications of The Virtues Project by Linda Kavelin Popov are: The Virtues Project Educator's Guide, The Family Virtues Guide, and Sacred Moments.