The Campaign for Love & Forgiveness, a project of the Fetzer Institute, is a community engagement initiative that encourages people to bring love and forgiveness into the heart of individual and community life. Through facilitated conversations in six cities and our Web site, we offer activities and a variety of curricula. The resources on the site are available for anyone’s use.

• Forgive themselves for mistakes
• Forgive others who are close to them
• Consider offering forgiveness as a response to a difficult situation
• Talk with friends about forgiveness or being more forgiving
• Choose to forgive someone rather than being angry at them

Campaign Partners

Since 2006 the campaign has partnered with public television stations in six cities across the country to organize community activities. The stations have engaged with local community agencies to serve various constituencies including at-risk youth, refugees, cancer survivors, those in the helping professions (caregivers, health care providers, directors of faith-based communities), and the community at large. Topics addressed include racism and racial healing, genocide, high homicide rates for at-risk youth, and religious intolerance.

In another 50 communities, the Fetzer Institute partnered with the American Library Association on their Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness discussion series. In this program, participants explored the themes of love and forgiveness through literature addressing death, the enemy, and wisdom.

Public Television Stations

Six public television stations receive funding from the Fetzer Institute to develop partnerships with local organizations who host conversations and events unique to the communities they serve.

KEET/Eureka, CA An original theatre production on forgiveness, art exhibits, digital storytelling workshops, TV and radio spots, and campaign conversations spread the message of love and forgiveness in this northern California community.

Maryland Public Television Full-day events devoted to reaffirming the power of love and forgiveness punctuated Maryland’s campaign efforts that have included supporting local organizations for conversations, activities, and the dedication of a forgiveness garden.

WGVU/Grand Rapids, MI Through a series of special events—including A Season of Forgiveness—and numerous conversations, love and forgiveness are taking root at Grand Valley State University, local libraries, and elsewhere in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo area.

WXXI/Rochester, NY Videos from young people, conversations, and an exhibition of images and stories of people who found the strength and courage to forgive called "The F Word," are the hallmark of Rochester’s local efforts.

Other Partners

American Library Association In partnership with the campaign, 50 libraries across the country facilitated public discussions on a broad range of books addressing themes of love and forgiveness using the Let’s Talk About It discussion series model.

StoryCorps® is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening.

StoryCorps® is the largest oral history project of its kind, creating a growing portrait of who we really are as Americans. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have interviewed family and friends through StoryCorps®. Millions listen to StoryCorps®’ award-winning broadcasts on NPR's Morning Edition and online.

The campaign features selections from StoryCorps® to illustrate how love and forgiveness is woven into so many aspects of our lives.

Films Funded by this Campaign

The Fetzer Institute is a major sponsor of three public television documentaries about love and forgiveness, each designed to encourage contemplation and spark conversation.

The Power of Forgiveness

This documentary examines the power of forgiveness in alleviating anger and grief caused by the most dramatic transgressions imaginable and those that are more commonplace. The film features families of victims from the tragedy of 9/11 and forgiveness education in Northern Ireland, where unforgiveness has been a way of life for generations. Produced by Journey Films, The Power of Forgiveness received numerous awards, including the Best Documentary Award at the Sun Valley Film Festival, the Religion Communicators Council Wilbur Award, and The Christophers' Christopher Award. The film aired on public television stations in March 2008.

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Unforgivable? (2010)

Unforgivable? will explore in detail the question, Is there any act or atrocity committed against another human being that rises to such a level that it cannot be forgiven? The documentary's dramatic and moving stories introduce real people who have faced a horrific tragedy and have struggled to find it in their hearts to forgive. Produced by Paul Dietrich and Helen Whitney, a 2010 PBS broadcast is anticipated.

The Mystery of Love

Hosted by actor, playwright, and author Anna Deavere Smith, this documentary explores love in marriage, family, community,science, forgiveness, the search for the divine, friendship, and even war. Produced by Independent Production Fund with major funding provided by Fetzer Institute, The Mystery of Love aired on public television stations in December 2006.

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