Empathy Impact

Westfield Women Share Stories of Strength & Kindness in New Book

Empathy. Weakness or superpower?

It was just that ambiguity that helped inspire “Empathy Impact: The Wild Effects of Kindness in Action,” a book that united 15 women with vastly different perspectives to explore the concept together.

Michelle Merritt and Danyele Easterhaus, both of Westfield, became engaged in the project through a chance connection Merritt made at a conference. She met the founder and CEO of SULIT Press, who told her about her concept of a collection of true stories that would show empathy not as a weakness, but rather as a strength that shapes leadership, community and personal resilience.

“That framing stopped me in my tracks,” Merritt says. “Empathy as a strength — something actionable and powerful, not soft or shrinking.”

As a chief strategy officer who guides senior leaders in their career journeys, her spark for a story was ignited, drawing from her grandfathers’ influence and professional experiences.

Weaving A Tapestry Of Stories Together

As the project took shape, Merritt immediately thought of Easterhaus, whose guidance and support as a nonprofit and community leader she deeply admired. Merritt suggested she contribute a chapter, and what followed was an experience both women found unexpectedly meaningful.

A sense of trust and purpose quickly grew among the group, built on respect for each woman’s voice. Authors’ stories range from deeply personal experiences to reflections related to business or leadership.

“What emerged was a beautiful tapestry,” Easterhaus says. “Each author brought her own expertise and lived experience, but we all listened to one another. You could still feel everyone’s ‘why’ when it came together.”

Two Dynamic Stories Emerge

Recently retired, Easterhaus was already immersed in her next phase of life. She had founded a consulting business and started two books. But the empathy topic instantly resonated with her. A former nonprofit executive, mom of four, longtime foster parent and community leader, she had a lot of experience to draw from. She soon realized the story that needed to be told.

“My story had to be about adopting my daughter, and learning how to truly meet people where they are,” she says.

She walked through that journey alongside her daughter’s 14-year-old birth mother, who was treated with disdain everywhere she went.

“People deserve dignity,” Easterhaus writes, “especially kids in grown-up storms.”

She became her champion and friend, gaining new clarity about the injustice of assumptions people make every day.

Merritt’s chapter looks back to her childhood, which was shaped by two special grandfathers who modeled empathy in unexpected ways. One demonstrated a strategic research approach to life’s transactions to ensure fairness, and the other showed her steadfast optimism and relationship-building in the face of challenges.

That influence shows up both personally and professionally. She writes, “It’s not enough to see different perspectives. Real empathy means working to create more equitable outcomes.”

Sharing Empathy In Action

“Empathy Impact” shares a deeper take on kindness in real, relatable stories. Each author reflects on a challenge she has overcome, focusing on hard lessons learned in the trenches of life. Empathy is the common thread — how it shapes experiences and ripples out to families, businesses and communities.

“The world needs a reminder of what true empathy looks like in everyday life,” Easterhaus says. Merritt agrees and adds, “Empathy is a superpower, not a weakness. Being present is better than being perfect.”

Both Merritt and Easterhaus see empathy and collaboration at work in the Westfield community. Easterhaus describes a growing network of nonprofit and business leaders, educators, city partners, volunteers, parents and community advocates who help the city thrive.

“I’ve seen a consistent effort to bring people together to improve daily life — seeing, hearing and supporting people who need it most,” she says.

In a culture that equates polished perfection with success, this poignant book offers something quietly radical: proof that empathy, lived out in the messiness of life, can be a lasting catalyst for change.

The proceeds from “Empathy Impact: The Wild Effects of Kindness in Action” go to an organization that provides services and resources to victims of sexual assault.

“Empathy Impact: The Wild Effects of Kindness in Action” can be found on Amazon.