Guiding Principles

We Believe…

Principle 1: SEXUAL VIOLENCE Must Be Addressed. We believe everyone is affected by sexual violence. Ending sexual violence is at the heart of all we do. We believe that sexual violence requires focused attention because it is very prevalent, especially among young people, and has lifelong consequences. We are committed to activities that contribute to a world that is free from sexual violence, including cultivating ownership of the solution. It takes everyone to end sexual violence.

Principle 2: COLLABORATION is Vital to Success. We believe that we must all work together to create a peaceful world where respect is the norm. We are committed to developing and sustaining strong partnerships with individuals and organizations that share our vision of a peaceful world.

Principle 3: A HEALTHY ORGANIZATION Brings About Positive Change. We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our work and that all our efforts should reflect our guiding principles. We believe that our team members (staff, peer educators and the Board) are the core strength of our organization. We value them highly as individuals and for the contribution they make to promoting peace and preventing harm to others and self. We are committed to creating and sustaining a healthy, diverse organization in which to work and to foster the personal and professional growth and development of our team members.

Principle 4: PRIMARY PREVENTION AND POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE Should Be Emphasized. We believe primary prevention (stopping the problem before it happens) is the best form of positive social change. We are committed to cultivating the change in individuals, relationships, communities and society and creating climates that promote relationships based on mutual respect, equality and trust. Dahlberg & Krug 2002 - Ecological Model

Principle 5: RESPECT is the Preferred Social Norm. We believe that human behavior can be viewed along a continuum from respect for the individual at one end to violence at the other. We are committed to promoting movement away from violence and toward respect for self, others and the planet.

Principle 6: IDENTITY RESPECT is Fundamental. We believe that valuing an individual's identity is a key to peace and unity. Devaluing others desensitizes us to the humanness of one another and engenders harmful behaviors. We are committed to promoting respect for individual differences in thought, word and deed, and employing methods and educational materials that are relevant to the diversity represented in ourselves, families, schools and communities. We actively address oppression as a means of ending harm to others and self.

Principle 7: WE ARE ALL PEERS, WE ARE ALL THE SOLUTION. We believe it takes everyone to end harm to self and others. We are committed to cultivating Safe Bystander Responsibility as a means to promoting positive social change and ending harm. If we see or hear something that is not ok, and as soon as we perceive it to be safe, we advocate by saying or doing something about it. We demonstrate our beliefs in action in order to spread the message that respect is the norm.

Principle 8: LIFE LONG LEARNING IS ESSENTIAL. We believe that positive social change requires early and lifelong learning and support. We are committed to planting and cultivating the seeds of knowledge and understanding that will grow into healthy attitudes and behaviors forever. We will stand up for our young people as they grow into confident and loving adults. We will strive always to be deserving of their trust.

Principle 9: PEER APPROACHES to Change Are Central. We believe that peer education, modeling and mentoring are powerful tools for cultivating positive social change. We are committed to peer-based programming that empowers youth to build resiliency, foster respect and address the factors that cause and contribute to harm to others and self. We are all Peers, We are all the Solution.

Principle 10: EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES Must be Employed. We believe in the utilization of curricula-based education and methods that are evidence-based, asset-driven and demonstrate effective short, intermediate, and long term change in knowledge, attitude and behavior. We are committed to utilizing approaches, methods, and interventions that are grounded in sound theory and current research and that is relevant for the audiences with whom we work. We use methods that are consistent with learning principles and we are committed to evaluating the results of our work and seeking new ways to enhance our effectiveness.

Principle 11: EMPATHY AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS VICTIMIZED Needs to Be Promoted. We believe that individuals are not responsible for the violence perpetrated upon them. We are committed to advocating for and promoting non-judgment, respect and empathy for individuals who have been harmed. We believe that individuals who have been hurt need information, services and support to reduce the subsequent harmful effects including the probability of reoccurrence of the abuse or violence. We do what we can to assist those harmed to acquire resources and whatever else they need to feel safe, respected, validated and valued.

Principle 12: ACCOUNTABILITY is Integral to Everything We Do. We believe that individuals who commit violence are responsible for their actions and are the only ones who can prevent that act. We are committed to ending the cycle of harm by enforcing accountability and support for those who perpetrate violence. We also work to link those who engage in violent acts.

Principle 13: MEDIA Issues Must Be Dealt With. We believe that the portrayal of violence in the media is an underlying condition contributing to harm in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities. We are committed to addressing the negative effects of violence in the media including sexual exploitation and pornography. "90% of behavior is learned through modeling." Pathways to Peace, V. LaCerva

Principle 14: UNDERLYING CONDITIONS OF HARM TO OTHERS/SELF Have to Be Taken Into Account. We believe in and are committed to actively addressing the underlying conditions of sexual violence and linking those underlying conditions to dating, domestic/family, school and gang violence, child abuse, self-injury, suicide, depression, oppression, harassment, eating disorders, poor school performance, homelessness, substance abuse, teen pregnancy and more. We choose to work in ways that emphasize the primary prevention of these underlying conditions.