Mission Statement Options and Survey

Thank you for your impassioned and thoughtful reflection during our All Staff Meeting about NJP’s Mission Statement and the many excellent options that came out of the discussions. Building on what we heard from you, the Admin team would like your feedback now on three alternatives.

Summary of the common themes

To provide context for ranking your choices for our new Mission Statement, we’ve included a few words below each statement that explain how we arrived at that option.

Additionally, below are the concepts that you told us resonated with you:

  • Include bold actionwords(fighting, combating)
  • Focus on impact, results and WHY we do what we do
  • Be more aspirational than descriptive
  • Be succinct - You like fewer words that convey meaning
  • Reflect how we do what we do (law/legal)
  • Beopen and inclusive and leave room for conveying our work toward systemic change

And, these are the concepts you told us should be avoided:

  • Paternalistic/othering words such as ‘low income,’ ‘vulnerable,’ ‘empowerment,’ ‘transforming lives’
  • Legal jargon such as ‘advocacy, ‘legal aid’
  • Overly descriptive details about what we do

Please take a moment to rank these options in your order of preference. There is also a blank field for you to submit comments or another option. Your responses will inform the Admin Team’s final recommendation for the new Mission Statement that will go to the Board of Directors on June 2nd. Thank you!

1.Fighting for justice and human dignity through law.

  • Reflects bold and decisive action (“fighting”)
  • Frames our work in the affirmative (as “for” justicerather than “against” injustice)
  • Includes how we do what we do (“through law”)
  • Reflects the WHY of our work (“human dignity”), which was strongly reflected throughout the discussions

2.Fighting for legal rights, fair treatment and human dignity.

  • Reflects bold and decisive action (“fighting”)
  • Frames our work in the affirmative (“for”)combined with how we do it(“fight for legal rights”)
  • Replacesand complements the word “justice” (already in our name) with the common value of “fair treatment”
  • Reflects the WHY of our work (“human dignity”), which was strongly reflected throughout the discussions

3.Combatting injustice, strengthening communities, affirming human dignity.

  • Reflects bold and decisive action (“combatting”)
  • Frames our work in the defensive as “against” injustice rather than “for” justice
  • Reflects the WHY of our work (“human dignity”), which was strongly reflected throughout the discussions
  • Does not include how we do it (law), but adds an additional element of WHY in “stronger communities”