These are the values and principles that AAOP stands by and strives to implement within our community spaces. The values named here were discussed and finalized by all of AAOP 2019 staff.
Download our PDF here.
Our Humanity, Our Being
People are in themselves deserving of justice and worth fighting for regardless of: ability, sexual orientation, the knowledge they carry, the labor they can put out, etc.
Gender Justice
Third Wave defines Gender Justice as “a movement to end patriarchy, transphobia, homophobia, and toxic masculinity and to create a world free from misogyny.”
We practice gender justice through gender inclusivity by centering the most marginalized/impacted by patriarchy, transphobia, and homophobia. Femmes/womxn, queer and trans people, folks w/ disability and youth of color are at the forefront of our work. Part of how we practice gender justice is through healing. Femmes/womxn, queer and trans people, folks w/ disability, youth, and cis men need to heal from patriarchy, transphobia, homophobia, and toxic masculinity.
Racial Equity
The work itself needs to understand the impact of historical, cultural, and present context and how it relates to the needs of different racial identity.
Equity
We recognize that because of historical and cultural context, not everyone has the same opportunities or access to a thriving livelihood. We are actively working to create opportunities and access at an interpersonal and structural level.
Intersectionality
Intersectionality “takes into account people’s overlapping identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face.” Understanding that system of oppression have different negative effect on people’s overlapping identities and experiences; our work needs to take these multi-layered experiences to better inform our work and reach co-liberation.
Voices of Marginalized API’s
API identities are complex, diverse, and experience different levels of injustice within the API community and in the broader community. We want to ensure that the voices of those most impacted by those injustice are centered, uplifted, and lead our movement if we are to reach true API liberation.
Youth & Young People-Led Movement
Understanding that youth are innovative and powerful, there needs to be a structure in which the leadership opportunity is equally present in youth to balance the existing power dynamic.
Restorative Justice
We practice Restorative Justice by: centering who was harmed, what they need, and what needs to happen to repair and prevent harm.
To repair and prevent harm, we must:
- Acknowledge the harm by understanding the root causes that stems from system of oppression
- Create agreements and new commitments with the person who did harm; and
- Support everyone involved in the RJ process.
Respect Autonomy:
Community level:
- We need to respect the communities’ self determination, so we need to work with (not for, to, or without) the community because they know themselves best. Because we must work with communities we must understand, respect and appreciate cultural nuances.
Individual Level:
- People know what’s best for themselves; honor their choices. In a situation of decision making, everybody must have informed consent.
Self Care
We prioritize taking steps to heal and prevent the exploitation of our beings as a form of self-preservation through food, art, writing, and love.
- Space Care: leave spaces better than how we found them
Accessibility
Our access to different spaces, trainings, etc. makes it our responsibility to share knowledge and resources to our community. We need to make this accessible by:
- Making spaces physically and linguistically accessible
- Making sure Information/knowledge is accessible to all learning styles, abilities, and languages
Everyone has a role
Everyone has their own strengths and talents and can contribute to the space. Everyone has a role even if it's not named. We must acknowledge roles that aren’t named in traditional spaces.
Example: someone who always brings a strong, positive energy that uplifts the entire team and motivates
Transparency
There needs to be a brave space for folks to voice/identify their needs, capacity, feelings and intention to move the work forward.
Transforming challenge
Every challenge should be treated as a potential for growth.
Download a PDF of our Principles & Values here.
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