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 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 public education should be funded first and foremost, and we advocate for and participate in campaigns to support fully-funded, equitable education.
We value self-determination and social-emotional development. We believe that progress and health includes every human being understanding their God-given image, realizing and utilizing the strengths within, and obtaining the resources to live truly free. We believe that we are all united by one Creator and are therefore called to radical, compassionate lives involved in community organizing. We closely and boldly mentor our scholars on righteous living, community engagement, and leadership development all within a faith filled, relationship driven life.
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. 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 constructs poverty, upholds the school-to-prison pipeline, and prevents wellbeing in our community. Our organization’s lifestyle is a testimony of anti-bigotry, youth leadership, cultural competency and compassion, and community-led solutions for justice.