The mission of the San Diego County YouthBuild is to unleash the intelligence and positive energy of low-income youth to rebuild their communities and their lives.
The San Diego County YouthBuild seeks to join with others to help build a movement toward a more just society in which respect, love, responsibility, and cooperation are the dominant unifying values, and sufficient opportunities are available for all people in all communities to fulfill their own potential and contribute to the well-being of others.
The intelligence and positive energy of young people need to be liberated and enlisted in solving the problems facing our society. Young people in low-income communities want to rebuild their neighborhoods and lives, and will do so if given the opportunity. The desire to serve, to do meaningful work that is of value to other people, is universal. Community-based organizations need the resources to solve local problems and to mobilize local people, including neighborhood youth. Leadership development is a central element of effective community development and youth service.
- Respect for every individual’s intelligence and contribution.
- Cooperation toward achieving common goals within a caring community.
- Love for each other, humanity as a whole, and all that is sacred.
- Courage to build bridges and go where we are not expected to be.
- Diversity as a source of knowledge, creativity, and connection to the full human community.
- Commitment to work hard and overcome internal and external obstacles to success, change, and excellence.
- Integrity to keep our actions and values consistent, to do the right thing even when nobody is watching.
- Responsibility for ourselves, our families, organizations, communities, and society as a whole.
- Community as a source of strength and wisdom.
