OUR VALUES
We practice these values but understand we may not follow them perfectly. Yet, we hold them as core values into which we live. Our values hold us to a higher standard and help us speak a common language internally.
RELATIONSHIPS.We invest in our relationships – both inside and outside the organization - with time and attention. We are sensitive to what others are experiencing, and we care about how our behavior affects others. We practice hospitality – we’re in your court, even though we may not always agree with you. We offer the same respect and civility for a homeless person as for the CEO of a major corporation. We collaborate, building strong alliances that increase our effectiveness and that of our partners.
INCLUSIVENESS. All of our lives are about giving and receiving: everyone brings something to contribute and benefits from the contributions of others. We embrace, celebrate, and are enriched by diversity. Attention to design, technology, and attitude can create environments in which everyone can contribute and share. We seek to be mindful about these elements in our own environment and share ideas with others about how to make our communities more inclusive.
INTEGRITY. Integrity requires awareness about what makes us tick along with a commitment to be accountable for doing the right thing. Integrity means we aspire to align our everyday behavior with our core values. We are thoughtful and intentional about these values, and we hire and retain employees who practice them. We make our values public to be accountable to ourselves and our stakeholders.
INTENTIONALITY. Every day, every moment, we have choices about how to use our time and resources. Intentionality requires a strategic approach, disciplined work, and actions aligned to achieve our vision. Intentionality assumes a strong work ethic – we are highly motivated, confident, and hardwired for the job.
IMAGINATION. Sure, we’re analytical and strategic, but we’re also intuitive and creative. We have an insatiable curiosity and a desire to learn. We have a vision for the future of our communities and ideas about the small and large steps it will take to get there together.
OWNERSHIP. We come to work, arrive at a meeting, place a phone call. But showing up or connecting is just the first step. Believing each of us is responsible for the quality of our lives, we want more from ourselves, our partners, and our customers. We seek active engagement, responsibility, commitment, and openness to being changed by our experiences. Practicing ownership in these ways builds both individual and community power.
COURAGE. Sometimes we audaciously say “yes” to seemingly impossible tasks. But because we are called to be social architects of full humanity in our communities, we have the courage to try. Often we hear ourselves say, “If we don’t do this, who will?” or “If not now, when?” Courage requires optimism – belief that we can do it, that we can do it better, that we can be better. Saying “no” requires courage, too; we limit our work to areas in which we are uniquely gifted and can have the greatest impact. These limits also help us live balanced lives - physically, spiritually, vocationally, and relationally.
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