At CMHA Elgin, our vision is an inclusive community with mental health and well-being for all. We strive to live by our values, which include being welcoming and compassionate, demonstrating respect and inclusivity, and exemplifying integrity and accountability. We pride ourselves on meeting the needs of those who require our support and working with individuals in their journey to recovery. We pledge to be responsive, resourceful and adaptable and to advocate for those whose voices are not always heard. We commemorate our achievements, and we plan to continue on our path to excellence.
Nevertheless, with heightened awareness of systemic oppression, CMHA is taking a close look at the organization and through careful scrutiny, determining where we need to change. We embrace the philosophy of the Black Lives Matter movement in acknowledging, respecting, and celebrating differences and commonalities. As an organization and as individuals, we know that we have much to learn before we reach true understanding. We must listen to those who have lived these experiences – with our minds and our hearts – and we must devote our full attention to making changes that last longer than the reactions to current events.
We therefore commit to the following actions:
CMHA Elgin will listen to those who have the knowledge and experience to speak the truth and acknowledge our privilege to listen and learn. We will do more and we will do better to ensure a truly inclusive community with mental health for all.