We value the arts and creativity as not only crucial elements of an equitable community, but necessary agents for social change. We passionately create and consume art that is culturally relevant, challenging to the status quo, and uplifting to the marginalized. We design and facilitate bold, vibrant arts learning and educational experiences. We leverage the arts to empower each other to build sustainable, creative lives. We invest in honest, devoted artists to facilitate meaningful arts experiences. We use creative expression to heal our communities and confront oppressive systems.
We know that the school to prison pipeline is a reality for our scholars and that academic institutions are often places of oppression and bigotry. We know that succeeding in the classroom is crucial to succeeding in life. We are constantly refining our pedagogy in order to equip our scholars to be highly literate, independent thinkers who love learning and are academically strong. We work with our scholars to ensure they earn their high school diploma, develop a love for learning and philosophy of education, and never succumb to intellectual colonization.
We believe that progress means every human being understands their God-given image and value, realizes and utilizes the power and abilities within, and obtains the resources to live truly free. Advancing and growing goes beyond arts and academics and requires us all to humble ourselves towards spiritual transformation and health. We faithfully do life with our scholars as they are the agents of change our society needs. We believe that we are all united by one Creator and are therefore called to radical, compassionate service and growth. We are an interfaith community, fully welcoming and inclusive, and do not attempt to convert staff or scholars to our foundational Christian beliefs.
We value equitable access to resources for all children and their families. We believe that “it takes a village” to do anything of value, and a village requires resources. We gather and move resources and strengthen our village to equip and empower our scholars to achieve their goals and be true leaders in our organization and community. We create spaces that are well-resourced sanctuaries where youth can safely learn, create, and grow. We are dedicated to correcting oppressive systems that are responsible for preventing equal access to all of God’s people, from the private sector to the fascist government.
We value quality advocacy in which our people, starting with the youth, are centered as coproducers of our reciprocal programming. We listen to our youth and their families as they express needs and goals, amplifying their voices and responding to their desires to lead campaigns and communities. We show up for our youth in their schools, neighborhoods, and wherever else they invite us. We forge meaningful relationships with other organizations who do the same, and who also refuse to sacrifice integrity or people for fame or profit. We focus on moving resources, shifting power, and working for justice. We stand together interdependently during trials, always assuming the best of one another, and always defending one another’s dignity, internally and externally.
We value true, Divine equality. Our organization’s lifestyle is a testimony of anti-bigotry, education equity, youth leadership, cultural competency and compassion, and community-led solutions for justice. With our roots in anti-racism, we acknowledge that white supremacy is threaded into the fabric of this country and it enforces the system of poverty preventing Black, Brown, Indigenous, Queer, and Trans youth from being heard, nurtured, housed, healthy, and protected. In all of our practices, we strive to challenge and dismantle racism, classism, sexism, capitalism, and all forms of bigotry so often found in youth educational spaces. We stand in direct opposition to the systems of capitalism and racism that construct poverty, uphold the school-to-prison pipeline, and prevent wellbeing in our community. We imagine and work to boldly create a vibrant community that does not need the police, prisons, or punishment of any kind, but is instead harmoniously built on safety, repair, and equity.