Empathy & Compassion
We work together to foster a positive and inclusive environment. We value empathy by respecting diverse perspectives and taking the time to understand and appreciate our colleagues' and clients' experiences and emotions. We strive to create a culture of kindness and compassion where everyone feels heard.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
We strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We are committed to building a workplace that values and respects all unique perspectives and experiences. We recognize that diversity of thought, background, and identity drives innovation, creativity, and excellence. We believe everyone deserves fair and equitable treatment, and we actively work to remove barriers and promote DEIA at all levels of our organization.
Trauma-Informed
We believe in creating a safe and supportive environment for all and understand that trauma can impact a person's behavior, emotions, and overall well-being. We approach all interactions with compassion and understanding, recognizing that trauma can manifest differently. We avoid making assumptions about individuals and their behaviors. We believe in empowering individuals and giving them autonomy over their own experiences. We provide ongoing trauma-informed training for our staff and volunteers to help them recognize and respond to trauma sensitively and appropriately. We ensure that our policies and practices align with trauma-informed principles.
Integrity
We believe honesty, trustworthiness, and transparency are essential in building strong relationships. We act with integrity in everything, from respecting confidential information to fulfilling commitments to our stakeholders. We are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and doing what is right. We take responsibility for our mistakes, seeking to learn from them and improve. We encourage open communication and a willingness to speak up when something is not right. We believe everyone is responsible for upholding the organization's integrity and playing a role in creating a culture of trust and respect.
Self-Care
We recognize that taking care of oneself and one's family is a priority that should not be compromised. We encourage all to prioritize their physical, emotional, and mental health. We provide flexible work arrangements that allow team members to balance their work and family responsibilities. We encourage staff and volunteers to share their needs and concerns with their colleagues and work together to find solutions that meet those needs. By prioritizing self-care, we believe our team members will be happier, healthier, and more productive.
Innovation
We value innovation to drive growth and meet our community's ever-evolving needs. We encourage our team members to ask questions, explore new ideas, and challenge the status quo. We encourage cross-functional collaboration and create opportunities for team members to share their knowledge and expertise. We encourage team members to take calculated risks, try new things, and learn from their successes and failures. We strive to be agile, embracing change and responding quickly to new opportunities and challenges.
Collaboration
We believe that working together can achieve more than we could alone. We encourage our team to share their ideas, expertise, and knowledge and to collaborate on projects and initiatives. By fostering a culture of collaboration, we can create a supportive, innovative, and high-performing organization that makes a positive change in our community.
Hope
We believe hope is a powerful force that inspires and motivates us to achieve our goals. To us, hope means having faith in the possibility of a better future and taking action to make that future a reality. It means believing in ourselves and the families we serve - never giving up in the face of challenges or setbacks.
We encourage our team to approach their work with a positive attitude and a sense of optimism. We celebrate small victories and milestones along the way, knowing they are steps toward achieving our larger goals. We also recognize the importance of hope in our interactions with the families we serve. We strive to instill hope in them, to help them believe that their goals are achievable, and to provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed.
Ultimately, at our organization, hope is not just a word but a guiding principle that informs our daily actions and decisions. Embodying this value creates a positive, resilient, and successful organization.
How We Operate in Our Values
Approved by the Board of Directors on Tuesday, March 21st
We work together to foster a positive and inclusive environment. We value empathy by respecting diverse perspectives and taking the time to understand and appreciate our colleagues' and clients' experiences and emotions. We strive to create a culture of kindness and compassion where everyone feels heard.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
We strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We are committed to building a workplace that values and respects all unique perspectives and experiences. We recognize that diversity of thought, background, and identity drives innovation, creativity, and excellence. We believe everyone deserves fair and equitable treatment, and we actively work to remove barriers and promote DEIA at all levels of our organization.
Trauma-Informed
We believe in creating a safe and supportive environment for all and understand that trauma can impact a person's behavior, emotions, and overall well-being. We approach all interactions with compassion and understanding, recognizing that trauma can manifest differently. We avoid making assumptions about individuals and their behaviors. We believe in empowering individuals and giving them autonomy over their own experiences. We provide ongoing trauma-informed training for our staff and volunteers to help them recognize and respond to trauma sensitively and appropriately. We ensure that our policies and practices align with trauma-informed principles.
Integrity
We believe honesty, trustworthiness, and transparency are essential in building strong relationships. We act with integrity in everything, from respecting confidential information to fulfilling commitments to our stakeholders. We are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and doing what is right. We take responsibility for our mistakes, seeking to learn from them and improve. We encourage open communication and a willingness to speak up when something is not right. We believe everyone is responsible for upholding the organization's integrity and playing a role in creating a culture of trust and respect.
Self-Care
We recognize that taking care of oneself and one's family is a priority that should not be compromised. We encourage all to prioritize their physical, emotional, and mental health. We provide flexible work arrangements that allow team members to balance their work and family responsibilities. We encourage staff and volunteers to share their needs and concerns with their colleagues and work together to find solutions that meet those needs. By prioritizing self-care, we believe our team members will be happier, healthier, and more productive.
Innovation
We value innovation to drive growth and meet our community's ever-evolving needs. We encourage our team members to ask questions, explore new ideas, and challenge the status quo. We encourage cross-functional collaboration and create opportunities for team members to share their knowledge and expertise. We encourage team members to take calculated risks, try new things, and learn from their successes and failures. We strive to be agile, embracing change and responding quickly to new opportunities and challenges.
Collaboration
We believe that working together can achieve more than we could alone. We encourage our team to share their ideas, expertise, and knowledge and to collaborate on projects and initiatives. By fostering a culture of collaboration, we can create a supportive, innovative, and high-performing organization that makes a positive change in our community.
Hope
We believe hope is a powerful force that inspires and motivates us to achieve our goals. To us, hope means having faith in the possibility of a better future and taking action to make that future a reality. It means believing in ourselves and the families we serve - never giving up in the face of challenges or setbacks.
We encourage our team to approach their work with a positive attitude and a sense of optimism. We celebrate small victories and milestones along the way, knowing they are steps toward achieving our larger goals. We also recognize the importance of hope in our interactions with the families we serve. We strive to instill hope in them, to help them believe that their goals are achievable, and to provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed.
Ultimately, at our organization, hope is not just a word but a guiding principle that informs our daily actions and decisions. Embodying this value creates a positive, resilient, and successful organization.
How We Operate in Our Values
- We assume positive intent.
- We take space and make space.
- We speak from our own experience.
- We are conscious of our nonverbal cues.
- We recognize and account for the difference between intent and impact.
- We ensure confidentiality.
- We share concerns with the whole group and avoid side conversations.
- We listen with an open mind.
- We are respectful of each other's time and space.
- We actively develop conflict resolution skills.
Approved by the Board of Directors on Tuesday, March 21st