CORE VALUES
At GRNC, our community members are made up of different backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Our Core Values unite us in the work that we do. These sets of values make up our essence as an organization.
When making decisions on our offerings, budgets, hiring, structure, trainings, etc, we refer back to our Core Values and commit to operating in alignment with them as much as possible. Regardless of what initiatives we are currently undertaking, our Core Values ensure that we are doing the work that is in alignment with our mission as an organization.
Our Core Values were written in the Fall of 2022 by Board members on our Vision Alignment.
If you are interested in joining our Board of Directors, visit this page.
YOUTH POWER
We believe that young people are inherently powerful and capable of determining, communicating, and addressing their own needs and interests. We commit to prioritizing intergenerational collaboration and holding space for youth to access their power. We facilitate spaces where young people can openly discuss the issues that impact them. We provide tools and resources for youth to build the world they wish to live in.
CREATIVE TRANSFORMATION
We believe in the power of art and creativity to inspire empathy, foster connection, and spark conversation. We believe that art is an accessible and collaborative mode of organizing that enables us to envision and actualize the collective liberation we desire. We commit to fostering a loud and celebratory movement while supporting the artists and creative thinkers who give it shape.
INTERSECTIONAL GENDER JUSTICE
Drawing from Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of Intersectionality, we believe that by centering the liberation of those who are the most marginalized, we can achieve the liberation of all. We ground our actions in the shared understanding that people who face multiple forms of oppression are especially equipped with the tools and wisdom to dismantle these structures. We commit to centering the voices of people most impacted by racism, sexism, cissexism, classism, ableism, colonization, and other forms of systemic oppression as we work towards the liberation of those facing marginalization on the basis of gender.
ADAPTIVE ACCESSIBILITY
We believe that in order for our community to thrive, we must nourish and sustain the individuals who comprise it and the planet that shelters it. We prioritize the wellness of people in our ecosystem above profit and productivity by distributing power, celebrating radical rest, and combatting urgency. We consider the wellness of the planet when making decisions about resources, land use, and environmental impact. We commit to building resilient processes, systems, and programs that can withstand great environmental, societal, and political unrest.
COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY
We believe that everyone should have what they need to thrive and recognize that each individual carries the local expertise to assess and communicate their own needs at any given time. We believe that in order for our work to be effective, it must be physically, financially, and linguistically accessible. We commit to cultivating spaces that are adaptable and intentional – continuously welcoming, meeting, and uplifting the specific, non-static needs of the individuals in our community.
