OUR VALUES
At VIP, We Are…
The communities we serve
We are survivors. We are multi-racial, national and lingual. We are immigrants. We are parents. We are caregivers. We are disabled. We know/have known poverty. We are queer. We have been involved in legal systems. We have received social services. We have experienced police brutality. We have survived and continue to survive many forms of oppression. Because we embody these - and so many more - complex identities, it is important that we are the ones doing this work.
Interconnected
We care for one another. Building genuine relationships, inclusive teams, partnerships and networks is central to our work. We need each other. When we link our skills and efforts together, we can achieve greater impact and make greater progress towards our mission. Uplifting one of us uplifts all of us.
Here to learn
We know that there is undeniable power in knowledge. If we collectively remain open to active listening, reflection and change, we make this a place for all to thrive. We acknowledge that making mistakes is part of our learning process. We nurture a compassionate learning environment by practicing humility and being non-judgmental.
Changemakers
We show up. We are inspired to act on what we learn and what we believe by connecting with each other, organizing, communicating, advocating and challenging the status quo. This happens on the micro level (individual support to survivors and/or one another) and on the macro (amplifying survivors voices for policy change). All levels of change are critical, from crisis response to narrative change to policy change and everything adjacent.
Healing as a path towards justice
We believe that acknowledging and working through trauma is a transformative way to achieve peace and (re)gain power. We believe that this is critical for both people who have suffered abuse and violence and those that have caused it. When all members of community are actively engaged in healing, we are stronger and safer. Healing is a way to transform ourselves and our communities.
