All of NCLR’s work and its operating principles flow out of a set of basic values and a philosophy about who we are, what we stand for, and how we view the world. Most of these values are self-evident; others may not be as obvious. In any case, we want these standards to be more than lofty ideals; we insist that they be living realities.
Our expressed values may evolve over time. Hopefully, these changes will be expressed more in terms of nuance and clarifications and less in terms of fundamental changes.
We enumerate our values with some trepidation. Our hesitancy in reducing our values to writing is similar to the ambivalence that some authors of the Bill of Rights had in articulating those specific principles that we hold so dear. Their concern was that, by detailing certain fundamentals, there might be an assumption that these were the only rights (values) that they treasured.
Respect (Respeto) – The Spanish word for respect seems so much stronger than its English equivalent. We respect each other, our work, our constituency, our community, our nation, and ourselves. We manifest that respect by the way we act. We treat each other with respect regardless of the title we hold or the function we discharge.
Commitment and Loyalty – We glorify commitment. It must be actualized by hard work and by a willingness to define our jobs broadly. Our work is important and, therefore, employment at NCLR is more than just another job. We see our institution as an agent of change trying to build a better society. We therefore demand more of ourselves.
We require and value loyalty, to the organization and to each other, to our movement and to our community. Loyalty represents not a glittering generality but a practical necessity. Besides a cultural value, loyalty is a characteristic that influences our individual decision-making process and the way we comport ourselves.
There is nothing wrong with personal ambition, so long as it complements rather than overshadows organizational loyalty. A person who is loyal to the organization makes decisions in a fundamentally different way than someone whose primary motivation is self-interest. We require individuals whose principal priority is helping our organization to serve its constituency and fulfill its purpose.
Fairness and Nondiscrimination – We strive for a society that is fair; and like charity, fairness needs to begin at home. We will treat each other and those with whom we work in a fair and equitable way. Abuse of power or authority will not be tolerated. In a sense, our nondiscriminatory policy is simply an extension of our commitment to fairness, but it deserves special mention. We are, after all, a civil rights organization, and we abhor discriminatory practices based on factors such as gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, non-job-related physical limitations, or political affiliation. Our commitment to equality of opportunity goes beyond what is required by law. We seek to be an example.
We understand that there is a healthy tension between our goals of promoting Hispanics and treating non-Hispanics in a fair and equitable manner, but we do not believe there is a contradiction between these values.
Pluralism – We have a commitment to pluralism, diversity, and multiculturalism. Pluralism is not simply a slogan for gaining acceptance into a dominant culture. We fundamentally believe that pluralism enriches our lives.
Honesty and Integrity – Our cause is a noble one. Our work is also difficult and sometimes controversial. Some people will try to discredit our movement on the basis of the ethical failures of its adherents. To succeed, we must be – and we must be perceived as – above reproach in our personal and professional dealings. We must never use our positions for personal gain.
We must be able to trust each other. We must be confident that each of us will behave honorably in working with other staff, affiliates, policy-makers, and everyone else with whom we interact.
Teamwork – We appreciate the immense importance of teamwork. We recognize its special relevance in Hispanic culture, which places great value on the family and the group rather than primarily on the individual. Organizationally, we understand that we cannot be effective if we act as unrelated individuals. We have the need and the responsibility to support each other, regardless of individual job descriptions or lines of authority.
As the organization grows more complex, we become even more dependent upon each other. It is hard to say where one component’s responsibility ends and another starts. While we understand the importance of teamwork within a project or component, we reject traditional concepts of “turf.” We seek to build a team and a family that encompasses the entire institution, and includes our affiliate network as well.
Personal Responsibility – Each of us must take full responsibility for his or her own actions. It is unacceptable to blame others or the organization for failing to speak out, missing opportunities to serve our community, or accepting poor-quality work. We expect to be treated as responsible adults, and have the responsibility to hold ourselves to a high standard. We seek to establish structures and procedures that will encourage appropriate behavior and effective work. But the ultimate success of the institution depends on a combination of teamwork and individual responsibility.
Ongoing Learning – Each of us is capable of becoming more knowledgeable and more effective through ongoing learning. Our continued commitment to NCLR and its goals is greatly enhanced if we feel that each day may bring new challenges and the chance to learn new skills. Ensuring this learning is a shared obligation between the individual and the organization. Everyone at every level must have access to both formal and on-the-job career development. Each of us is responsible for helping to create learning experiences for ourselves and our coworkers, both within NCLR and on our own time.
We value the knowledge and understanding that can be gained through volunteer work in our community. The importance of community-based organizations and the responsibilities of Board members can best be learned through practical experience. We therefore value and encourage such involvement by our staff.
Excellence – Excellence must be our trademark. It is not simply a matter of being efficient, productive, and having high standards; rather it is an ethic that is important beyond its practical consequences. We seek to associate excellence with our institution and we cannot acquiesce to mediocrity.
Renewal – While we feel a strong commitment to our institutional goals and approaches, we must never make the mistake of complacency. To remain relevant and responsive to a changing external environment, we must regularly evaluate our work and question our assumptions. This requires an institutional openness to constructive criticism and nontraditional ideas, at every level of the organization. It is very important that we listen seriously to each other’s views. We must not hesitate to change our institution, as we seek to change our society.
