Our Mission
Awaken, cultivate and nurture the promise of our most disconnected young people to replace criminal activity and poverty with social and economic success.
Throughout our work we seek to infused these values:
We are a family.
We assume goodness behind everyone’s actions. We demonstrate love for and acceptance of each person.
We are a catalyst.
We think big about what we can achieve. We continually chip away, demonstrating relentlessness in our pursuit of positive change.
We offer a clean slate.
We carry out respectful curiosity, always seeking out moments to engage or connect. We embody contagious passion in all we do.
We plant seeds of peace.
We cultivate trust. We see beyond the mask, knowing there is always more beneath the surface. We promote social justice and we spark sustainability – for our young people, our enterprises, and our physical environment.
Grand CITY envisions a society in which:
All young people believe that positive change can indeed happen, both in their personal lives and in their own community.
All young people value continual learning and critical thinking, in the classroom and beyond, and seek to understand themselves, their communities, and the underlying systems that affect their lives.
All young people pursue and cultivate healthy relationships and make healthy choices. They belong to a supportive and diverse social network that is free from violence, crime, and other unsafe situations.
All young people are well prepared to determine their own futures. Young people are self-reliant; they are also self-advocates and know how to seek support when it’s needed.
All young people advocate for equity and justice in their communities. Viewed as the best experts on youth issues, they play a central role in shaping the practices and policies that will help young people transition to successful adulthood.
