Angela will share a vision of the Compassionate Communities Model of Care — empowering community members to be active participants in caring for one another during times of illness, loss and grief. Drawing upon her experience as a death midwife, she will share how embracing mortality can lead to more conscious living. She will introduce a local volunteer program, Compassionate Presence Project, that provides practical and emotional support for community members experiencing loneliness, isolation and emotional distress due to the impacts of living with serious, chronic illnesses.