I am an urban planner and Asian American urban historian who is concerned about how we can all live together as an inclusive, respectful, and egalitarian multicultural society. Having been born and raised in Los Angeles, I have witnessed the many changes over the decades as our city has become more diverse as well as unequal. I have grappled with issues of unequal treatment in the juvenile justice system, racialized gang violence, and the gentrification of communities of color. In all of these areas, empathy, I examine how empathy and kindness are critical aspects to solving such intractable problems.