empathy council
in june 2026 we founded finland’s first empathy council! set in the kymenlaakso region in southeast finland where i grew up, the empathy council is a think tank made of local city and municipal councillors, youth councillors and civil servants. together the leaders of today and tomorrow consider ways to increase collaboration, cohesion and sense of community in the region by creating new models for future decision-making.
“the empathy council is important in the current global situation. public discourse often states that empathy doesn’t belong in decisionmaking. i think the opposite – empathy must absolutely be a part of decisionmaking. all decisions should be based on humanity and meeting each other as people.”
sinishash nio, chair, kouvola youth council
created and led by me, the empathy council is a multiyear participatory art project funded and first envisioned by the finnish cultural foundation’s kymenlaakso regional fund. the project launched in january 2025 and continues until june 2027.
the empathy council functions as a think tank, where kymenlaakso’s current and future leaders come together to consider the role and need of empathy in local decision-making and culture of dialogue. the council will also develop new models and tools for increasing empathy and collaboration that will remain with local councils, cities and municipalities for their continued use. led by me, the council’s focus evolves through through will use different artistic approaches and ways of working.
“the empathy council feels especially vital at this moment in time, when the economy is being tightened and people are getting older and fewer, highlighting the importance of children and young people. decision-making must first and foremost consider the full picture instead of letting the economy always take priority.”
reino pietikäinen, chair, miehikkälä municipal council
