Building the Dignity Movement through Valued Partnerships

There are many ways to describe the Dignity Index. Easy-to-use. Impactful. Research-based. For Chi Kim, it’s all of that and so much more: “It has the beauty of a sophisticated tool,” she said. “It’s universal and appealing. You can put it in any context and it just makes sense.” 

Even in its earliest days, the emerging Dignity Index’s clarity and coherence captivated Chi’s imagination. And those same qualities continue to drive her personal and institutional commitment, a passion backed by the financial support of grants that have been invaluable over the years to the Dignity Index’s growth and development. 

“Chi is one of the most wonderful souls on Earth,” Tim Shriver, our co-creator, says. “I treasure her friendship, and our entire movement owes a debt of gratitude to her kindness and foresight.”

Chi Kim is the CEO of Pure Edge, Inc., a foundation dedicated to giving educators and scholars strategies to achieve success through mindful movement and social, emotional, and academic development. She’s been a classroom teacher, a school superintendent, a softball player, a leadership coach. She’s someone who believes that planting school gardens supports heart health. She’s a mother of three daughters, two in college and the youngest still at home. 

And even though she lives in the Boston area, she teaches an in-person class every week at the University of Virginia. She volunteers her time for more causes than we have space to list and serves on several boards and national advisory councils. Significantly, she is also the Board Chair of Ibis Group, a non-profit organization that invests in leaders and organizations that promote literacy, civics, and good citizenship.  

Chi is purpose personified, and we are beyond grateful for her ongoing relationship with us. 

Our team member Tami Pyfer happened to be presenting in Chi's class at UVA on the day of the fatal shooting of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk on the UVU campus in Utah. Shortly after Tami's lecture, during the class break, students turned on their phones and were stunned to learn of the assassination. Chi and Tami supported the students in expressing an array of emotions while the country as a whole began to convulse in shock, anger, and grief.

"To be meeting with college students while all of this was unfolding was surreal," reported Tami. "I was stunned, and was approached by several students who were also trying to absorb the news. It was so reassuring to have Chi there to help process this event with us–bringing her skills, compassion, and heart into that difficult and heavy conversation." 

Chi grew up in California after arriving in America at age three from Korea. 

“One thing that drives me is: how do we solve problems?” Chi said. “How do you make the world better? Help solve a problem.”

How did Chi come to help the Dignity Index solve problems? 

It all started about ten years ago. Chi was on the board of CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, and Tim Shriver happened to be (and still is) the Board Chair. Over several casual conversations, Tim told Chi about his ideas around dignity. He eventually introduced her to his friends and co-creators, and shared their early research. 

“The more they were talking, the more I thought, ‘This is really going to be great,’” Chi said, reminiscing about early conversations with Tim, Tami, and Tom, as they began building the Index’s eight-point scale. 

More interactions followed: Chi invited Tim to speak to the students in her UVA class, Innovations in Education. He went deeper on the subject of contemptuous speech, social media, and how algorithms work. He challenged the students to do things that would make our complicated world a better place. 

The professor was as intrigued as the students.

“Being around Tim, it’s hard not to be inspired!” Chi laughed. 

Add Tami and Tom to the mix, and “there’s a trifecta of experience and inspiration that makes it magical,” she said. “The three of them together are really compelling. You’ve got all aspects of what makes a great leadership team.”

When Chi and her colleagues vet worthy projects to fund with gifts, they go beyond the standard criteria. “We try to find great leaders with great ideas and a history of success,” she said. Beyond that, “at some point in time, you have to take a risk outside of the norm, see the potential of a big idea.”

And that’s what the Dignity Index was, before it was even called the Dignity Index. A big idea. 

Chi was instrumental in providing the early financial foundation that allowed the idea to grow beyond infancy. Since then, she has provided continual feedback, guidance and inspiration. And the Ibis Group–with Chi as Board Chair–has provided grants that have ensured stability and expansion.

“I’m super excited about the future,” she said. Because so far, “it’s been an amazing commitment and journey.”

Susan

Tami presenting with Chi Kim and meeting with Dean Ian Solomon from UVA's Batten School of Public Policy.

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Dignity in Action

Preston, Tami, and Alexa spent time at Utah Valley University presenting to staff from the Social Impact Centers at UVU and BYU. The mission of these centers is to "develop compassionate community members who collaborate on strategic social impact," and to "increase human flourishing and reduce human suffering." Members of the workshop discussed the central role of dignity in their critical work, and plans for future engagement with the Dignity Index. 

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Madeleine joined over 100 organizations at the Listen First Coalition’s Bridge-Building conference at Mt. Vernon, where she learned insights from many presenters, including our partners More in Common. One highlight of the conference was a breakout with New York teachers developing innovative resources to strengthen civics and social studies education. Another session focused on social media—showcasing what’s being done to reduce polarization online while still protecting freedom of speech and avoiding censorship. From lawyers, researchers, politicians, counselors, teachers, etc. It was energizing to gather with bridge-builders from across the country, share lessons, and learn how each of us can play a role in easing divisions in America. 

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