For the past year, we’ve been celebrating an important milestone. In September 2023, CHER marked ten years since its founding.
We’ve seen a lot of change in that time. Our team has grown. We’ve worked with lots of different communities. We’ve deepened partnerships. We’ve started new partnerships.
Now, we’re preparing for our next ten years. As part of our preparation, CHER leadership and staff began reviewing updates to the center mission, vision and values. We started this work in October 2023 through a series of meetings and gatherings.
We gathered feedback across the center to reflect on the changes and where we want to go. Over 40 members across CHER were involved in this process.
The work to update the mission, vision and values sets the foundation for our next five years. CHER is developing specific goals, objectives and implementation plans for this five-year period. We will continue to co-create and share out as we progress.
We’re pleased to share updated mission, vision, value and inclusive research statements.
We look forward to continuing to work in community to help build healthy communities for all.
Mission
Our mission is to authentically partner with communities for innovative health equity research, practice and education.
Vision
Our vision is to be a transformative leader ensuring care systems advance health for all.
Values
Strategic values
Our strategic values are the core principles that guide CHER’s decision-making and actions.
- Social impact
We amplify community voices in our work to create lasting change rooted in social justice. - Authentic collaboration
We promote shared knowledge, visioning and decision-making achieved through respectful, intentional communication and contributions from all team members (internal and external). - Trustworthiness
We foster honesty, transparency and openness in interactions with others to build a supportive and trusting environment. - Compassion & Respect
We lead with kindness and cultural humility, listening to others with the intent to understand and value others’
Operational Values
Our operational values are core principles that guide CHER’s organizational culture and identity, team interactions and sense of purpose in day-to-day functions and activities.
- Meaningful work
We find purpose in our work by prioritizing excellence in scientific research through innovation, education, equity and - Health and Balance
We maintain practices to manage workplace stress and foster joy and grace in our work to support the emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of our team. - Creativity
We welcome ideas and perspectives that embrace bold approaches to tackle complex health challenges and inequities. - Intellectual growth
We seek to challenge ourselves and grow from personal and professional development opportunities.
Inclusive research statement
Everyone, regardless of what they look like, where they live, how much they earn or who they love, deserves to live in a community that gives them the opportunity to make healthy choices. Healthy communities have people, families, jobs and spaces that keep them well.
We bring together the expertise of communities and researchers to understand what people need to thrive where they are. Our community-researcher teams collect data and learn about what’s working well and what’s getting in the way of health and thriving. Together we develop and promote solutions that create opportunities for healthy choices. This is how our work with communities advances health for everyone.