Awake’s Core Values: A Closer Look at What Matters Most to Us
As we approach Awake’s fourth anniversary this summer, we are currently working through a strategic planning process to help us consider our future. One of the first steps in the process was to clarify our values as an organization. This involved spirited discussion by the Awake Leadership Team and staff in front of a wall covered in colorful sticky notes, valuable input from our Survivor Advisory Panel, and hours of thoughtful deliberation.
We believe that the seven values listed here do a good job of capturing who we are and what matters most to us. We also recognize that there is always room for improvement in how we live out these values, and we appreciate everyone who helps hold us accountable when we fall short. Moving forward, we’ll use the values to guide our decision-making and to help others understand Awake and what we do. We are eager to share this list with you; let us know what you think.
—The Awake Leadership Team and Staff
Awake’s Core Values
Awake is a community that strives to be…
Compassionate
We are a community of kindness and empathy that believes in the inherent dignity and value of every person. Our work is about people more than issues, so we seek to be truly present to one another, offering accompaniment, support, and love, especially to those who are suffering.
Survivor-Centered
While valuing the perspectives of all, we prioritize the needs, stories, and wisdom of those who have experienced sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. We honor the diversity of these individuals and seek to create a trauma-informed community where victims, survivors, copers, and thrivers feel safe, valued, and empowered.
Faithful
Awake’s leaders are grounded in the Catholic faith, rooted in prayer, and committed to working from within the Church as members of the Body of Christ. We seek to be faithful to the call of the Gospel and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, while respecting and including those who are on a different spiritual path.
Welcoming
We bring together people from diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We have a special concern for those whose voices are often neglected in these conversations, and we hope to create a community where all can experience true belonging.
Humble
We are a listening community, walking together on a journey of continual growth. We know we don’t have all the answers and that we will make mistakes along the way, so we remain open to learning and adapting.
Courageous
We are determined to face difficult realities, speak hard truths, and take meaningful risks, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. We are not afraid to place ourselves on the prophetic edge and stand in radical solidarity with survivors.
Hopeful
While moving through darkness and pain, we choose to ground ourselves in hope, celebrate progress, and resist the temptation to cynicism or despair. We trust that God is at work and believe that transformation and healing are possible.