About Us
Colors of Compassion
A Few Words
from the Co-Founder
Colors of Compassion grew out of a lifelong passion for advocacy. It all started when Vic Lantion (now passed on) and I were fighting for student rights through our college newspaper back in the Philippines. As medical students, we carried that drive into building healthier, stronger communities at the grassroots level – training and organizing health workers. When we became doctors, our work expanded even more—tackling issues like gender equity and social justice. That same spirit lives on today through Colors of Compassion—a movement rooted in optimism, compassion, and the belief that a better world is always within reach.
But it’s not just our story, it’s the story of our Board too. Dolly, co-founded Babae, empowering Filipino women in Calgary. Adanech has dedicated herself to supporting Ethiopian and Eritrean newcomers, founding the Immigrant Outreach Society. Eric co-founded MissionPH to uplift Filipinos in Calgary and back home. And Milleth spent over a decade helping Filipino migrants in Cambodia—work she proudly continues here in Calgary.
All of us including its members have been committed to community service long before we set foot in Canada.
Filipinos and other immigrants bring something powerful to our communities—their spirit of coming together. They form small self-help groups where they connect, support each other, share laughter, and turn dreams into reality. Their collective strength and resilience show that when individuals unite, they create a force greater than the sum of their parts. This force drives equity, ensuring no one falls through the cracks of injustice. It empowers communities to advocate for themselves, shifting from passive recipients to active changemakers.
The founding of Colors of Compassion is simply a continuation of that lifelong work—a way to stay connected, to celebrate the strengths of our communities, and to help them build bright, thriving futures right here in Calgary.
Its founding is a burst of color, each one fueled by compassion, hope, the power of community, and an unstoppable drive to make a difference.
Aurelio Camilo “Jun” Naraval, MD, MSc
Co-Founder
Our Vision, Mission, and Core Values
Vision
Fosters well-being*
*Well-being is a positive state experienced by individuals and societies. Similar to health, it is a resource for daily life and is determined by social, economic and environmental conditions. Well-being encompasses quality of life and the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose. Focusing on well being supports the tracking of the equitable distribution of resources, overall thriving and sustainability. A society’s well-being can be determined by the extent to which they are resilient, build capacity for action, and are prepared to transcend challenges (Glossary of Terms 2021). (WHO Promoting well-being (who.int)
Mission
In solidarity with immigrant communities, grassroots organizations, and equity-seeking groups, we strive to be:
- A Connector of ethno-cultural community members, facilitating relationships and networks that celebrate diversity.
- A Capacity Builder for immigrants, newcomers, and refugees, empowering them with the skills and resources needed to succeed.
- A Field Catalyst for systems change, advocating for policies and practices that promote equity and social justice.
- An Amplifier of immigrants’ voices, ensuring that their stories and experiences are heard and valued.
Core Values
We are committed to upholding the following core values:
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Accountability
- Rights-Based Approach
Get involved now!
Thank you for taking the time to learn about our mission at Colors of Compassion.
We invite you to join us on this journey toward building a more inclusive and equitable community. Together, we can celebrate the rich diversity of our communities, empower those in need, and amplify the voices that deserve to be heard.