our values are rooted in action and growth

anti-racism

structures, institutions, policies, & people have created & maintain oppression & unequal treatment of Black, Indigenous, Latine, Pacific Islander, Asian, & many other communities of color. we must name, advocate against, & dismantle white supremacy & systems of racism. this is the only path forward to reach liberation for all.

anti-capitalism

profit motive & wealth accumulation perpetuate oppression, isolation, & racism. we are all more than our productivity. we must recognize our participation in a toxic economic system as dehumanizing.

interdependence

all of us are connected to one another in both our strength & vulnerability. our collective success is only possible with solidarity. we must take action with an intersectional lens.

curiosity

greater understanding & the ability to learn new things is directly connected to the drive to explore why something happens, why a structure exists, or why a group or individual acts in a certain manner. we must approach the world & the people in it with a mindset of curiosity in order to create lasting change & take meaningful action.

yes ampersand regularly contributes to an Oregon-based organization focused on one or more of the values listed above.
click here to see a list of organizations.