You can’t have strategy if you don’t have values.

A good strategy doesn’t start with goals or near-term benchmarks. It starts with values. We’ve spent a lot of time defining and honing the values that sit at the heart of what we do and - more importantly - the way we do it.

These values are used regularly. Board committees use them to assess progress, weigh opportunities, and do annual planning. Our staff uses them to create policy, help with sticky decisions, and assess performance. 

Clear and actionable values help us define the behaviors we want to see, so we can put in place policies and practices that support them.

Here are ours:

1. Community
   Our community is our compass. We are deeply rooted in and responsive to the needs of our community, and believe it is our responsibility to show up for, represent, and celebrate the people around us. We assume the best, and contribute to a place of trust and belonging.
   

2. Intentionality
   We act thoughtful, with a clear purpose and mission. When change comes, we keep things simple, take time to reflect, seek counsel, and strive to react with grace and perspective. We believe calm, quiet leadership is an antidote to the frenzied, ego-driven world we live in.
   

3. Stewardship
   We take responsibility for our land, people, and resources with wisdom, accountability, and character. We know long-term sustainability is more important than short-term results, and are confident and courageous in doing what it takes to get there.
   

4. Heart
   We lead with generosity, care, and joy. This is the core of our culture, and what sets us apart - a palpable belief that at the end of the day, we don’t have to take ourselves so seriously, and we are all really on this earth just to feed each other (our bellies, our hopes, our fears, our dreams!) and to love.
   

Each of these values flows to a set of behaviors and practices for departments, teams, and our board that give us reliable and grounded direction through the everyday work we do.