ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
Underlying and informing all of our work will be six core Organizational Values that will illustrate and reiterate the why and how the SVUDL team will accomplish this lofty work. In 2022, after immersing itself in professional development sessions that focused on IDEAL principles (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Liberation), the SVUDL team and Board of Directors collaborated to create its inaugural set of organizational values. These values will be incorporated into its everyday programming and will also inform how we interact with community members and each other. It will be integrated into all hiring practices and processes, as well as annual performance reviews.
Our Organizational Values inform SVUDL’s culture, and are critically aligned with the very skills we seek to develop, as well as the cultural and social realities of the students of color whom we serve:
WE ARE GUIDED BY A PURPOSEFUL MISSION.
We leverage the power of Speech and Debate to elevate the life outcomes of students “ primarily students from low-income backgrounds, and students of color. This mission guides all strategic and tactical work, informs decision-making at all levels, and is an inherent part of all programming. Students will be given the opportunity to develop skills necessary for professional and personal success in ways that align with their developmental, emotional, and physical needs. They will also be encouraged to be civically engaged and transformative members of our democracy by exercising their agency and voice in matters of critical importance to our culture and society.
OUR WORK IS ROOTED IN AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.
We appreciate the strengths and perspectives of all our community members, as well as the unique challenges they face. Developing authentic relationships within its community will allow SVUDL to achieve impactful work towards achieving its mission, disrupt patterns of exclusion within the community, and empower students to be agents of change in the broader society.
WE BELIEVE IN STUDENTS’ DREAMS AND AGENCY.
All students deserve the opportunity to succeed and pursue their personal and professional paths. Our team will help them develop the tools they will need to achieve future success in higher education and the workforce. Students will think critically and express themselves effectively, speak from their own experiences, discover their passions and concerns, and articulate them as advocates for themselves and their communities. We will also help them build their personal and professional networks that will empower them to participate in, and help create, a more equitable future. Whether in a round of competition or a seat at the proverbial table, students will utilize these tools as self-identified, active change agents.
WE LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND EMPATHY.
We recognize the full lives and identities of all members of our community, in all their complexities. For all community members, we strive to celebrate personal and professional achievements, recognize and appreciate challenges, and offer support where appropriate. We respect and work towards workschool-life balance, and model positive mental health practices to students and each other.
WE RELY ON CRITICAL TEAMWORK TO ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS.
SVUDL’s success is dependent on effective collaboration and teamwork, both inside and outside the organization. We strive to develop a working environment that is welcoming, embraces the voices and perspectives of all, celebrates success, and creates a culture where there is freedom to make mistakes and take chances. Feedback is shared openly and constructively to encourage a growth and learning mindset.
WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN OUR WORK.
SVUDL strives to create and implement high quality programming on behalf of the students we serve. Team members follow through on their commitments and practice diligence and responsibility. SVUDL also helps students identify their strengths, challenging them to achieve their highest potential in competitions and beyond.