Humility is how we relate to ourselves and involves placing ourselves among others and in the world at large. Humility is not about making oneself small; it requires holding and exercising empathy and power with care and intentionality. Humility compels us to listen generously, remain curious, keep an open mind, and maintain a learning attitude. It calls us to be mindful of the needs, assets, interests, and expectations of others. It requires mindfulness of our individual and institutional privileges, the complicated power dynamics that extend beyond interpersonal relationships, and the need to center the voices and experiences of individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized.

Respect is about showing regard and consideration for the dignity of others. It begins with self-awareness, recognition of the intrinsic value of others, and treating others how they want to be treated. It often involves an ongoing tension between maintaining our individual efficacy in pursuing a more just and equitable world and attempting to understand values, ideas, and behaviors that conflict with our own. When we disagree with others, respect means being hard on the issues but soft on the people. Respect compels us to recognize differences between people as valued assets, while acknowledging the visible, invisible, and intersecting dimensions of identity, power, and privilege. Inclusion requires us to actively challenge biases, stereotypes, and assumptions as we work toward equity.

The principle of reciprocity rejects the notion of “service.” A reciprocal relationship with partners is characterized by interdependence; consideration of our collective strengths, knowledge, and capacity to influence others; and shared responsibility to work toward mutual benefit and growth. Reciprocity compels us to collaborate with community partners in the design, facilitation, and evaluation of our efforts to ensure value and relevance to all involved.

Taking time to understand the social, ideological, economic, environmental, and historical contexts of our work is essential. Preparation requires researching information about the partner organizations and communities and developing awareness of past injustices and power differentials. It compels us to be flexible and willing to adapt to changing circumstances and to tap the knowledge and expertise of community partners before engaging in work in a community.

Creating Positive change for our community starts with taking care of ourselves. This principle compels us to anticipate and take steps to ensure the physical and emotional safety and well-being of all participants. This principle also recognizes that our work can sometimes be both emotionally and physically draining and highlights the need for all stakeholders to practice self-care and manage time in the way that works best for them individually.

Being accountable is about holding ourselves responsible for our actions and commitments. It is not about attaining all our goals and objectives to perfection, as much as it is about recognizing, negotiating, and taking ownership of outcomes within our reach and capacity. Accountability sustains trust and respect among individuals working toward shared goals. We hold ourselves accountable when we fulfill our roles and responsibilities to the best of our abilities and we acknowledge the impact our actions, inaction, and limitations have on others. Accountability compels us to accept our shortcomings with a spirit of humility and commit to redressing our mistakes.

Evaluation involves qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the impact of our work. This principle compels us to be aware of and attend to the direct, indirect, and unintended results (positive or negative) of our service. This principle requires us to intentionally and creatively build in opportunities to gather regular feedback from community partners and participants to assess our values, refine our practices, and improve the quality of our work.

Learning happens through a cycle of preparation, experience, and reflection. It is essential to make time and space for continual introspection as we engage in our work. This principle compels us to intentionally and creatively build in opportunities to reflect; involve community partners when possible; and acknowledge personal shifts in perspective, understanding, and attitudes.