Empathy

• We listen first.

• We do not value anyone’s experience or pain as greater or lesser than our own.

• We assume the best intentions of others and give people the benefit of the doubt.

• We operate from a place of curiosity instead of judgement.

• We understand that people make mistakes and we are all human.

• We practice self-compassion.

• We recognize that each person has a life outside of the organization.

• We support the mental health of our staff and volunteers by prioritizing self-care.

• We express appreciation often, and we intentionally make space to celebrate accomplishments.

Inclusivity

• We create a welcoming space for everyone. We strive to build an environment where people of any race, ethnicity, class, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, or country of origin feel welcome and seen.

• We acknowledge each other's presence.

• We create opportunities for meaningful connections among people.

• We take time to get to know each other as individuals.

• We find fun in our work and have a sense of humor.

• We are present with one another in group settings (e.g., not checking phones, laptops, etc. during meetings), and communicate clearly if we need to be less present.

• We connect with people of all backgrounds and recognize that mental health affects all of us in different ways.

• We create environments that encourage quieter voices to speak up

Integrity

• We put our passion into action and do what we say we will do.

• We do our work with our values in mind.

• We give constructive feedback directly, respectfully, compassionately, and with a focus on solutions.

• We communicate needs and expectations openly, and do not get angry if others do not meet expectations that we did not clearly set.

• We take responsibility for our mistakes, and learn from them.

• We actively participate.

• We say “no” to requests that we do not have the capacity to fulfill on time and with high quality.

• We support each other to learn and grow.

• We actively cultivate an environment of trust and honesty.

• We acknowledge that everyone has strengths and unique ways of thinking, and do not assume that the ways we do things are the only correct way to do things.

• We push ourselves to get beyond “we’ve always done it that way” as a reason for a process and are open to change.