OUR VALUES

WHAT WE STAND FOR

Community
We believe healing and action begins with restorative relationships, and this work cannot and should not be done alone. We commit to intentionally and authentically partnering with communities, organizations, and people of all backgrounds to elevate and walk alongside those who are systemically marginalized.

Empowerment
We believe every person has inherent value, and safety and action begins by cultivating awareness. We lead with respect and humility to build the trust necessary to do the work we do, and help our team and community empower themselves by discovering and building skills, talents, and expertise.

Care
We weave a trauma-informed and human-centric approach throughout our work, services, leadership, and policies. We hold ourselves to high standards of integrity and transparency with our community, sincerity with each other, and authenticity to our mission. We strive to create environments that are safe and inclusive for all.

Inclusion
We value and honor the dignity and worth of all people. We know this can only truly happen when people are free to bring and express their full selves, not limited by gender, sexual, racial, or religious identities. We believe we always have areas to grow and improve - this work must be approached with a posture of learning to make an impact and honor the dignity of survivors.

Action
We rely on experts in the field, including and most importantly those with lived experience, to inform, guide, and examine our efforts to put knowledge into practice through programs, policies, and training for communities with vulnerabilities to trafficking. Elevating and positioning survivors as leaders in this movement is the next critical step toward ending human trafficking for good.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, + INCLUSION

We believe we are at a critical juncture in our society and movement that requires an intentional, concentrated effort to stand firmly for fair, equitable systems that celebrate and empower diverse voices. Our American history is one that celebrates strength, resilience, and freedom, but is also deeply rooted in racism, marginalization, harm, and oppression and the persistence of human trafficking demonstrates the need for strong commitment, action, and accountability in building restorative systems, practices, and communities.

We cannot fight human trafficking without recognizing and calling out systemic racism and the stigmatization of marginalized people groups. We believe working together with integrity, humility, and passion, building authentic relationships, and creating intentional spaces of community and learning, we can create a world where everyone is free.

IN ACTION

To that end, here are some of the efforts we have undertaken:

+ Intentional centering of the experience and perspectives of non-white and gender-expansive people, especially those who have lived experience, through our programs and messaging.
+ A critical evaluation and adoption of hiring practices that promote diversity of experience and perspective, regardless of background.
+ Prioritized continual learning and education of all members of our team, including our Board of Directors, and our community to cultivate empathetic compassion and cultural humility by understanding intersectionality.
+ A thorough examination and continual assessment of policies, procedures, language, and practices to create safe spaces both explicitly and implicitly.
+ Drafted a clear set of standards to evaluate and guide the vetting process for community partners and vendors in order to align with those committed to these values.

OUR STRATEGIC VISION

A 2nd Cup operates two self-sustaining, replicable models 1) an intentional space of community and learning; and 2) social enterprise that provides training and employment for survivors and offers growth opportunities that are highly competitive and reputable because of the welcoming, inclusive environment, high quality products, depth of customer service and connection to a larger purpose; and are thereby able to generate revenue to continue to grow our anti-trafficking mission.

A 2nd Cup is a well-known, respected, and dependable name in the anti-trafficking and social justice space due to well-tempered messaging, a deep understanding of the issue of human trafficking and the interconnectedness of issues, clear messaging of our work, consistent collaborative presence in the field, and thoughtful engagement with our supporters and communities.

A 2nd Cup is a leader in restorative employment, where staff members choose to work because they are compelled by the mission, identify with our values, are equipped and fulfilled by challenging roles, and are respected and valued through supportive leadership, compensation, and work-life balance.

A 2nd Cup is a trusted, reliable partner in prevention and aftercare through a highly effective job-training program that integrates our understanding of the employment needs of those who have experienced human trafficking, as well as those who exhibit high risk for exploitation along with our experience and connections in the food and hospitality industry, to provide the training and experience necessary to find financial independence through employment.

A 2nd Cup is a driver for conscious consumption guiding our community to embrace a thoughtful approach in 1) choosing companies that focus on creating products that help both laborers and consumers to lead ethical, sustainable lives and 2) prioritizing and calling for purpose-driving practices with transparency in production and supply chain.

Ready to take action?

We need people like you to put their heads, hearts and expertise into the fight against human trafficking.

Join the Fight