PLEASE REVIEW THESE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS FIELD GUIDE

THE A2A MODEL

• The A2A Model emerged from both lived experience and scientific research.
• The model draws on four growing fields of study: adversity, empathy, purpose, and resilience.
• The model is built on the following principles:
  • Adversity creates empathy
  • Empathy drives service
  • Service provides purpose
  • Purpose builds resilience
• Together, these principles offer a framework for understanding the power of adversity-driven advocacy and why “we help ourselves by helping others.”

EMPATHY

• Empathy is more than understanding another person’s experience—it is feeling with them.
• Empathy combines:
  • Perspective-taking (seeing through another person’s eyes)
  • Emotional connection (feeling with others)
  • Motivation to help
  • Healthy boundaries and self-awareness
• Empathy is distinct from sympathy and compassion, though all three are closely related.
• Research shows that adversity can deepen our capacity for empathy.
• Empathy can be strengthened through intentional practice and training.

SERVICE

• Service is empathy put into action.
• Research suggests that human beings are biologically wired for cooperation, caregiving, and social connection.
• Service can take many forms, from small acts of kindness to large-scale advocacy efforts.
• Sharing our stories can reduce isolation and foster healing.
• Service transforms personal experience into a source of contribution.

PURPOSE

• Purpose derives from acts of service and provides a deeper sense of meaning and direction.
• Purpose helps answer the question, “How can my experiences make a difference?”
• Purpose often grows from using our challenges to benefit others.
• Research shows that purpose contributes to motivation, hope, and overall well-being.

RESILIENCE

• Resilience is more than toughness or the ability to “bounce back.”
• Research suggests that resilience is deeply connected to meaning, purpose, and human connection.
• Service and purpose can positively influence both psychological and physical well-being.
• Resilience can be strengthened and cultivated over time.
• Resilience is not the absence of hardship—it is the ability to continue growing, adapting, and contributing despite it.