Mission + Philosophies
Our Philosophies in Practice
Sisters of Road’s mission and philosophies are also our values and ethics and we practice them as follows:
We treat each other with kindness, respect, consideration, thoughtfulness and dignity.
We do not tolerate behavior that makes any person feel unsafe, including any discrimination against race, religion, ability, sexual orientation or gender expression or any oppression. We gently and respectfully interrupt any form of discrimination. We listen, grow, change and stay committed to one another and the process of learning.
We all make mistakes, but we stay committed to not making the same mistakes over and over again. We are accountable for our actions, saying we are sorry when it is needed, and finding ways to be allies to each other.
We listen to understand.
We remain committed to the ongoing work and self-awareness necessary to advocate for equity, social justice, and the rights for all people to have an opportunity to thrive.
We bring solutions to the table, not just problems. We promise to be part of the solutions.
We treat each team member as an individual with their own, valuable, skill set. We honor individual and new ways of doing things. We support learning of new skills and new leadership development. We do not participate in degradation based on rank, role, or affiliations. We proactively strive to create a supportive and collaborative work environment that encourages teamwork.
We act with honesty, integrity and commitment towards one another.
We will remember and seek out the goodness and humanity in others.
We actively work to resolve conflict peaceably.
Our Logo
The Cafe was anonymously christened when a circle containing three Xs (inspired by the hobo code) was chalked on the pavement outside the restaurant door. This symbol became Sisters’ logo signifying good food and hospitality and represents more than four decades of building long term, stable and mutually supportive relationships.
Mission
Sisters of the Road exists to support low-income and houseless individuals through charitable and educational programs, including providing affordable, healthy, and delicious meals in a space that welcomes all to come dine with dignity. Sisters of the Road uses this space and other programs to build authentic relationships and alleviate the hunger of isolation in an atmosphere of nonviolence and gentle personalism that nurtures the whole individual, while seeking systemic solutions that reach the roots of homelessness and poverty in an attempt to end them. We respond to the ongoing and evolving need to push our organization forward to advance our mission.
Philosophies
Nonviolence
At Sisters we say NO to any form of humiliation, including racism, sexism, and other forms of oppressive actions and language. Nonviolence asks us to stop violence in a nonviolent way, confronting it with love and respect to promote the safety and well-being of all. Creating a nonviolent atmosphere starts with relationships, with calling each other by name, seeing the whole person, and caring for one another.
Gentle Personalism
Gentle personalism stresses the idea that every person is unique and has intrinsic value, and that each person should be treated with respect and compassion. All people are good and when given opportunity, we display that goodness. We treat people as a whole, we give them room to be whole. Gentle personalism also emphasizes the importance of community and social responsibility, and encourages individuals to work towards the common good.
Anti-Oppressions
Oppressions keep our community struggling for safety (emotional & physical) and survival. Oppressions are a form of violence and occur both implicitly and explicitly. At Sisters we are committed to unlearning the violence of oppressions in ourselves, our organizations, and society around us. We ask all staff to be good allies against oppression and engage in regular trainings to support us in doing so.
Systemic Change
Systemic change is the widespread transformation of the structures, policies, and practices that shape a system. One of Sisters’ primary goals is that people who have experienced homelessness and poverty will have increased involvement in the development of public policy. Sisters’ Systemic Change Program is a direct reflection of the philosophy, it works with community leaders who have lived experience of poverty and homelessness and supports their presence at the table with policy makers when anti-poverty policies are being created. Sisters also recognizes that understanding, acknowledging and committing to work to eliminate oppression is a learning process for us all.
Dignity
All people should be treated as fully human. At Sisters, dignity means not only are we providing our community with a safe place to enjoy a meal but also we are committed to serving healthy food that has been sourced thoughtfully and ethically. At Sisters, we do not do for others what they can do for themselves and that recognizes we instead help and respect each other. This is part of self-advocacy, rather than a charity approach.