We believe every young person deserves to thrive.
Let's make it happen.
HYPE AGREEMENTS
To make sure more young people have access to the things they need, we are asking all Youth Members to follow some basic agreements when accessing services or resources through the HYPE Center. The HYPE Center is an environment of respect, and Youth Members who are unable to follow these Center Agreements are subject to consequences, including but not limited to removal from services.
- COME AS YOU ARE: We welcome all young people regardless of race, gender, identity, nationality, beliefs, and ability.
- UPLIFT COMMUNITY: We elevate our community by sharing ideas and feedback, inviting and building relationships with other young people, partners, and staff.
- RESPECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS: We show mutual-respect by using uplifting language, always asking for consent, and honoring personal boundaries.
- TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: Your mind, body, and soul deserve compassion. You know you best, do what you need when you need to do it.
- ENJOY AND TAKE CARE OF THE SPACE: You deserve clean, safe, and fun spaces. Together, we take care of this space and everything in it.
- MAKE H.Y.P.E. YOUR HAVEN: This is a community where you and other young people are safe. H.Y.P.E. is a sanctuary space free from police, ICE, and uninvited social workers and probation officers.
- LEAVE IT IN A LOCKER: We know things happen outside of these walls. This is not a space for using drug, weapons, sex work or for recruiting other young people into the life. Lockers are available, no questions asked.
- OPEN YOURSELF TO TRANSFORMATION: this is a non-judgmental space of opportunity, healing, and growth.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
The HYPE Center was founded and operates under the following guiding principles:
- LISTEN TO YOUTH — We believe in inviting and encouraging youth to have a central and active role in defining and refining the HYPE Center.
- FOSTER SELF DETERMINATION — We believe youth are their own primary agents of change and we exist as a resource in supporting their process when helpful to them.
- Uplift strengths and lived experiences — We believe youth are multi-faceted and we highlight their strengths and lived-experiences to support, empower, and further develop them into fierce advocates for themselves.
- PrioritizE harm reduction — We believe in meeting young people within the realities of their lives while supporting their agency to make positive change.
- CultivatE the well-being of our community — We believe well-being is a priority in transformative work. We encourage, support, and invest in healing modalities for our youth, team, and partners, especially those that are culturally enriching.
- PrioritizE the development of organic supports beyond “the system" — We believe in playing a role in connecting youth to others to build their support network that will help them best meet their own needs.
- MakE services and resources more accessible to youth — We believe things should be as low barrier as possible (e.g., location, eligibility, paperwork, etc.).
- RADICAL inclusivity with regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, ability, lived experience, and more.
- prioritizE the needs of those most impacted by commercial sexual exploitation, homelessness, and systematic oppression.
- PromotE youth leadership development — We believe in focusing on the continuous goal of addressing the restructuring and/or dismantling and reallocation of resources that play a role in the overall list of systemic barriers for youth.
HYPE Center
The HYPE Center is an initiative of Freedom Forward.
