Congressman John Lewis greets a Sojouner

Humanity is the embodiment of peaceful behavior towards all creatures. We value the act of striving to accept and understand people of all lifestyles and all ethnicities.

We value the innate talent, diversity, and potential of each individual! And we understand that it is people that matter, and it is only people who can make a difference, now and for the future – our own future.

Diversity

We embrace our differences in experience, culture, and other aspects as a way to enhance all of our activities. We understand others’ unique strengths and limitations, as well as our own. We strive to be accepting of all people and their lifestyles.

Respect & Compassion

We believe that only when we can respect ourselves can we truly respect each other; we are committed to showing everyone respect and consideration. Courtesy, compassion, the celebration of diversity, and a commitment to opening our minds to the ideas of others – these are ideals.

We value being able to objectively step back from personal differences we may have with other human beings, to feel compassion for their individual situations and/or misfortunes, and help in any way we can.

	Students and speakers learn from one another on the Sojourn journey

We believe life-long learning is the key to opportunity and success in all aspects of life.

Empowerment

We believe that all individuals have the innate right and ability to make a positive impact in the community.

Social Justice through Non-Violence

We promote a more just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity. All people share a common humanity and therefore have a right to equitable treatment and support for their human rights in all settings.

We believe social progress and social justice should and can be obtained through non-violent means and actions. We believe that a large part of non-violence is language, and that the younger we learn about and the more aware we are about the power of language, the less likely we are to use it in hurtful or derogatory ways.

	Students unite in the fight against injustice!

We encourage people from all walks of life to challenge themselves continually to identify what causes are important to them and to advocate for social change. We believe it is of the essence that individuals act with courage to combat social injustice.

We believe that all people have the right and responsibility to speak out and take a stand against social injustice. We cannot afford to be silent witnesses to social injustice.

Integrity & Accountability

We strive to embody openness and honesty. We adhere to our moral and ethical principles with the hope to inspire trust and confidence.

We strive to be responsible and accountable for our actions and how these actions affect the lives of others.

Inclusive Environment

We recognize the value of and strive to ensure that multiple perspectives are represented in all we do. We learn and grow by obtaining other points of view! We believe it is of the utmost importance to provide a safe environment for all to feel valued and encouraged to share their opinions, perspectives, and ideas with confidence and security to their peers.