Gun Violence Awareness
Rais was invited to The White House to share his testimony, coinciding with Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s advisory declaring gun violence a national public-health crisis.
Programs & projects
Empathy, taught as a life skill.
Four bodies of work: the signature Empathy Ambassadors Leadership Training, the Empathy Ambassadors school program, the documentary Pain and Peace and its dialogue series, and advocacy at the policy level.
01 · Signature program
Empathy Ambassadors Leadership Training
Covers
- Forgiveness & compassion
- Social-emotional intelligence
- Conflict resolution
- Bias & equity
- Adaptive leadership
- Public narrative
- Allyship
Format
Customizable 1–3 day workshops, facilitated by Founder Rais Bhuiyan with teaching artists in storytelling, music therapy, and restorative justice.
Who
Open to all — educators, students, faith and community leaders, social workers, and health professionals across three continents.
Logistics
Year-round, worldwide — facilitators travel to you. Custom pricing, group rates, and scholarships available.
0%
Found the training “very impactful.”
2018 evaluation
0%
Gained valuable new skills.
2018 evaluation
02 · Empathy Ambassadors
We teach empathy as a critical life skill.
Our research and our founder's personal experience show that education about empathy, compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness provides the tools to build a kinder, healthier society. Through the Empathy Ambassadors program, we invest in shaping the generations who will lead our country and the world.
Program overview
A newly enhanced version of the signature program: two lessons using a dialogic learning approach with the latest empathy-developing techniques — including VR content, with 38 pairs of goggles donated by Meta.
Program design
- 01 — Building the empathy muscle.
- 02 — Turning empathy into action.
Two 90-minute workshops; grades 7 through adulthood; 30–35 participants each.
From Home to School: Nurturing Empathy in Children — read the post →
2 × 90 min
Workshop length
30–35
Participants each
7th grade +
Through adulthood
38 pairs
VR goggles donated by Meta
For more information, contact Maggie Kase, Program Director at maggie@worldwithouthate.org.
Program request form →03 · Documentary & dialogue
Pain and Peace
“A survivor of a brutal hate crime embarks on a journey exploring the causes of hatred and the depths of forgiveness — a story of hope and healing.”
Partnering with multi-Emmy-winning filmmaker Mark Feijo, the film is hosted and co-produced by Rais Bhuiyan. Built on empathy, mercy, and forgiveness as antidotes to hate-fueled violence, it is screening at festivals, schools, and communities across North America.
Host a screening + talkback →Screenings & news
Mar 2024 — Feb 2026UNAFF at Stanford
United Nations Association Film Festival.
Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival
Festival screening and talkback.
Cinequest
Followed by a long standing ovation.
Buffalo History Museum
Sponsored by the Buffalo Jewish Federation & Community Foundation.
Doris Duke Foundation
Screening and dialogue with staff and guests.
Austin College
Campus screening and student talkback.
John Jay College
Hosted with the NY State Division of Human Rights.
KING 5 Seattle Evening
Broadcast feature on the film.
Buffalo News · WBFO
Press coverage of the Buffalo screening.
Production team
- Mark Feijo — Producer / Director
- Rais Bhuiyan — Executive Producer
- Jessica C. Bhuiyan — Executive Producer
- Thomas McGurk — Composer
- Laura Grody — Editor / Writer
Supported by
Doris Duke FoundationCarnivalProliance Surgeons FoundationCenter for Arab-American PhilanthropyInterfaith NY
Support the film with a tax-deductible contribution, or mail a check to 140 Lakeside Ave., Suite A-31, Seattle, WA 98122.
Donate to the filmBonus short documentary
The Rohingya minority in Myanmar — Rais's December 2017 visit to the Cox's Bazar refugee camp.
04 · Advocacy
Policy work
Testimony, legislation, and coalition work carrying the same message into rooms where policy is made.
White House Listening Session on Islamophobia
Rais joined a delegation on May 2, 2023 at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Second Gentleman Douglas EmhoffAmbassador Susan RiceAmbassador Rashad HussainJoshua GeltzerStephen Benjamin
House Resolution 662
A resolution to honor and support the victims and survivors of 9/11 hate.
Rep. Andre Carson (IN-7)Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)
Urge your member of Congress to sponsor.
Washington Bias Response Hotline
WWH was invited by ADL Seattle to advocate for SB 5427 / HB 1410, which advanced through the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee for a 2025 vote.
“It is high time for us to denounce ignorance and hate, to work together to create the world we all deserve.”
Rais Bhuiyan · Founder & President