Mission, Vision, Values
Our Vision
We work toward a future of resilient and connected communities, both human and ecological, where all lead healthy and thriving lives.
Our Mission
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods works collaboratively with community partners, artists, health care providers, and scientists to improve health equity and access to nature in Lake County, Illinois, and the Chicago region. We engage people with the outdoors through the arts, environmental education, and community action. Brushwood Center’s programs focus on youth, families, Military Veterans, and those facing racial and economic injustices.
Our Approach
Brushwood Center collaborates closely with community partners to offer art and nature programs with youth, families, Military Veterans, seniors, artists, and area residents. Our program strategy is rooted in the asset-based community engagement model, which is a bottom-up way of working with communities that focuses on community strengths and assets rather than on deficits and problems.
Specifically, Brushwood Center prioritizes:
Building authentic, long-term relationships with community-based organizations and partners;
Collaborating with community assets to develop mutually beneficial programs and contributing resources where needed to advance the health of people and the planet;
and supporting just and inclusive storytelling through diverse cultural and artistic platforms.
Our Values
Our staff, board, and volunteers operate from a foundation of respect for ourselves, each other, our community, and the natural world. We create spaces and relationships that honor this commitment, and hold each other accountable to these ideals. These values are not separate entities or mutually exclusive in any way, but rather inform and build on each other to steward a culture of openness and safety for all people at Brushwood Center.
Brushwood’s Core Values
Equity and Intersectional Justice
Equity is the condition of all people having the tools they need to succeed, and requires individualized approaches to meet the complex and evolving needs of distinct and diverse communities. We recognize that all struggles are linked, and that human relationships and systems can be layered and multi-faceted, just like identities; we must seek out ideas and experiences outside of our own.
Community & Partnership
Relationships are at the heart of what we do. Intersectional work requires collaboration, community building, and strong coalitions of diverse leaders and community members to tackle complex issues. Partnerships are essential to Brushwood Center’s mission, and are always the main focus of our work. As individuals and as an organization, we take responsibility for our actions, with transparency, which makes us reliable partners in our internal as well as external work.
Connection to the Natural World
Access to and utilization of green space improves mental and physical health, and can build a stronger sense of belonging and community cohesion. We co-create opportunities for individuals and communities to convene with the non-human world and explore connections with our local ecosystems to improve both human and ecological health.
Healing & Wellness
Everyone deserves access to a healthy life. We believe in evidence-based nature interventions to improve individual and community well being, using the latest research and data to promote equitable access to health while also honoring ancestral knowledge and lived experience.
Learning
Continual learning and growth are vital to maintaining healthy, strong communities. We are believers in life-long learning, recognizing and respecting that there are many different pathways to knowledge. We foster spaces of curiosity and vulnerability, utilizing nature and the arts as a means of sharing information and experiences to audiences of all ages.
Artistic Expression & Creativity
Everyone benefits from creative expression and artistic pursuits, regardless of skill or experience level. We believe that creativity can take many forms, and create environments that support openness, curiosity, and self expression. We use the arts as a cultural bridge between science, nature, and people, and elevate overlooked voices, experiences and stories through our public arts programming.
Innovation & Adaptability
The interconnected issues of our society require innovative solutions and a willingness to take risks. We use creative, collaborative approaches to solving problems, and are always willing to pivot to address immediate issues. We are open to critique and new ideas, and are not afraid to try new things.
Honesty & Integrity
A foundation of honesty and integrity strengthens trusting relationships with our board members, employees, stakeholders, and community. Truthful and ethical conduct creates a strong, credible reputation for the organization in the community and beyond.
