Our Organizational Values

Values and Guiding Principles

• Community

  • We offer mutual support in our work together, "all for one and one for all"
  • We are inclusive: each person brings a voice and every voice is important.
  • We seek and value the voice of participants in the development of activities and programs.
  • We are stronger together, our strength lies in unity.
  • We seek the benefit of all rather than personal gain.
  • We create internal and external partnerships that help us to make stronger communities.

• Mission Driven

  • We are here to serve our community and co-op members and uphold our commitment to social justice and social equity.
  • We value all the players and create a healthy work environment in order to best carry out our mission. 
  • Our decision making and work environment reflects our core values of inclusiveness, our commitment to multiculturalism and diversity, and the belief that all people deserve to be treated equitably - politically, socially, and economically.
  • At every level, the leadership within WAGES and the co-ops/businesses reflects our commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.
  • We are true to the the experiences of co-op members and strive to include and promote their authentic voice in all messaging and public relations.
  • We seek and collaborate with funding organizations that support our mission and vision.

• Respect

  • Guiding every interaction - with each other, with co-op members, and with external audiences - is our compassion and the belief that we will treat others as would like to be treated.
  • We are transparent and forthright about our motivations, assumptions, and intentions in all of our interactions.
  • We foster a sense of trust and solidarity through our words and actions, with compassion, listening, and understanding.

• Fairness

  • We treat everyone equitably, without favoritism or prejudice.
  • We strive to be objective and unbiased in our decisions and interactions with others.

• Integrity

  • We practice transparency and honesty in our daily actions.
  • Our motivations strive to improve and not harm our teamwork.
  • Our actions are intended to help others reach their potential.
  • We have a commitment to model integrity in daily actions and decisions.
  • We tell the truth even if it hurts!

• Solidarity and Compassion

  • We bring empathy and awareness of our own and others' personal histories and experiences to our relationships.
  • We work to listen first, seeking to find common ground with our colleagues and partners.

• Accountability and Commitment to Excellence

  • We hold ourselves responsible for our decisions and actions.
  • We evaluate our results and share our impact.
  • We challenge stereotypes with our results.
  • We are accountable to meeting the people we serve "where they are", and committed to bringing women who live at the margins to the center.

• Commitment to Personal Growth and Leadership

  • We create structures, programs, and activities that enable everyone to grow.
  • We create meaningful roles for teams and individuals.
  • We support the leadership of people who have been historically closed out of leadership roles.