Mission and Values

“To nurture and inspire students as leaders of social change and to advance justice and service in New Haven and around the world.”

Core Values and Beliefs

Commitment to the Common Good
We believe in the importance of using one’s resources and skills in striving together for a just society.

Compassion
We are committed to meeting the needs of our community, the world, and one another in a manner that is fair, preserves dignity, and respects our shared humanity.

Diversity
We call forth and honor the diverse and equally-valued perspectives of all our constituencies.

Growth and Learning
We believe in the transformative power of service, social justice, and social action for all who engage in them. We have a responsibility to create a safe space for innovation, dialogue, experimentation, self-evaluation, and authenticity as we join in real-world service and action.

Partnership
We nurture a spirit of collaboration among students, staff, volunteers, and the rest of the Yale and New Haven communities, while maintaining our historic independence, to create the greatest impact for those we serve.

Reflection
We recognize that action must be informed by and balanced with deep reflection from experience in order for growth and profound learning to take place.

Students at the Core
We are committed to the full engagement of students in informed leadership and decision-making as a growth and learning experience.