We maintain a robust and thoughtful focus on our equity-informed mission guided by the Student Bill of Rights. As a team of leaders, our shared values enable us to prioritize our impact and propel us as leaders of the student voice movement.

Communicate

1. Open to Growth: We hold a growth mindset in every scenario and are open to constructive feedback. There is always more to learn.
2. Ask Bold Questions: We give honest and constructive feedback to each other. Sharing visions for new projects and offering feedback about existing programming strengthens our impact.
3. Assume Best Intentions: We assume that others are acting with good intentions to avoid conflict. Everyone has differing knowledge and perspective.
4. Step Up, Step Back: We step up to speak, then step back to hear others.
5. Check Your Ego: We are all in this together. No one is above another’s pay grade or title.
6. Communicate Authentically: We approach team relationships through transparent communication that reduces conflict. We understand accountability is important to remote work.

Strategize

7. Each One, Reach One, Teach One: We empower individuals to become convicted messengers for the movement through courageous conversations.
8. Intersectionality: We strive to include diverse voices, but recognize that one person does not represent a whole group. Inclusive organizing requires ongoing learning, outreach and reflection.
9. Uniqueness: We know education has national themes, but local communities have specific issues that should be respected.
10. Inspire All: We balance the importance of transformational and individual relationships in tandem with large-scale strategic programs.
11. Believe in People Power: We leverage our vast network of coalition organizations to aggregate changemakers and maximize synergy.

Organize

12. Be in the Arena: We believe the best leaders are servant leaders. Servant leaders are “in the arena,” and work alongside the team in triumph and failure.
13. Immersion Builds Empathy: We welcome new stories about other people’s experiences and backgrounds. As outsiders to local communities, we must ask questions to understand their nuances and needs.
14. Local Leaders, Local Change: We empower new leaders, rather than impose agendas or outsider knowledge. Communities are the most well equipped to drive their own organizing.
15. Meet People Where They Are: We tailor our programs to the students’ unique realities. Our vision must be applicable across communities in order to address systemic inequity in education.

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