Statement of Principles

• While our roots are planted firmly in the field of youth development and youth engagement, the Innovation Center partners with individuals and organizations working more broadly toward equity and justice.

• We recognize that communities have knowledge, skills, and practices that are effective and valuable. We are not about “fixing” communities. We unleash their potential and encourage youth civic engagement.

• We come to the scene with an open posture, not as a national organization that has all the answers, but as experienced, inquisitive people who not only offer capacity-building methods and techniques, but also seek to learn from the people with whom we work.

• We believe in the power of connections. We create opportunities for our partners to share their effective practices, promising ideas, and toughest challenges.

• We strive to create a place at the table for young people, but this is only one way we seek equity. We also work with others to eliminate racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, and other prejudices and systems that marginalize people.

• The benefits to partnering with the Innovation Center are mutual and shared. With access to more resources and one another, youth, adults, organizations, and communities generate power to fuel their own social justice work, youth development, and youth civic engagement.

• We channel new knowledge and innovations into community organizations; and through working with these organizations, we learn new ways to strengthen the field of youth development.

The Innovation Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, national and ethnic origin, ancestry, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran, or other status protected by applicable law. EOE