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Guiding Principles

Our core values are the compass we follow to ensure we are all heading in the same direction to effectively create brighter futures.

View and download CAN's Core Values

Statement on Anti-Racism

Community Action Network (CAN) envisions the closing of socio-economic gaps through supportive programs & services and advocacy. Racism is embedded into our society's structure, policies, and systems, and we must audit these structures using an anti-racist lens.

 

Our Guiding Principles are what drive our objective to both “build strong communities” now and to fix our eyes on “boldly realizing a greater future.” 

 

To live out our organization’s core values, we must:
 

  • Represent and reflect the communities with whom we partner,

  • Prioritize diversity of professional and personal lived experience, and

  • Empower the voices and experiences of the families with whom we partner to actively build an anti-racist future.

 

We believe BIPOC Lives Matter and it is our daily obligation to work as individuals and an organization to dismantle systemic racism and create an equitable and just society where all children, youth, and families can thrive.

Building Strong Communities

 How do we cultivate a strong sense of community today?  

We Are...

Inclusive, friendly, welcoming, empathetic, transparent, compassionate, collaborative, adaptable, willing to grow, hard-working, mindful, respectful, positive, joy-filled, authentic, self-caring, gracious

To Accomplish this, I Will...
 

  • Be kind and treat everyone with respect
     

  • Use mindfulness to be present, practice humility, and choose grace
     

  • Jump in to help where needed while also knowing when to practice healthy boundaries
     

  • Aim to be flexible and adapt to changing, dynamic circumstances
     

  • Remain authentic and find ways I can seek joy so I can be a positive, stable, and caring presence
     

  • Collaborate with the people around me to make achievable goals that can be sustained

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BOLDLY REALIZING A GREATER FUTURE

 How do we successfully realize our vision for the future?  

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We Are...

Justice-oriented, creative, ensuring sustainability and accountability, productive and effective with time and energy, asking questions, trying new things, paying attention to detail, investing in professional development opportunities, developing a stronger sense of emotional intelligence, striving to motivate through servant leadership

To Accomplish This, I Will...
 

  • First seek to understand how and why processes are in place and then I can find areas for sustainable improvement
     

  • Aim to use my time productively, investing in relationships with community members and completing my tasks
     

  • Strive to grow in my expertise so that I may contribute with up-to-date knowledge and skills in my field
     

  • Role model servant leadership through transparent communication, helping where needed, paying attention, practicing humility & resilience, and boldly trying new things to improve CAN's operations

We used a version of BrenÉ Brown's Dare to Lead Methods to develop our organizational values:

 

https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/operationalizing-your-orgs-values/

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