In early 2025 as organizations across the United States felt pressure to amend their values and missions, in particular where equity and inclusion were mentioned, CPC asserted it’s values, and the process by which they were made. First sent as a letter to all all board, staff, and Poets in Residence on Monday, February 3, 2025, this note was then shared to our site and mailing lists to follow:
As news mounts of organizations changing their values or language due to pressure from the current administration, I wanted to reach out and let everyone know that CPC remains grounded in its mission and organizational values, as developed by this community.
Our mission is to connect people and poetry, equitably engage poets with communities, and advance creative literacy in the city and beyond.
Our organizational values are Creativity, Inclusivity, Equity, Integrity, and Humility. Additionally, you can read CPC’s Vision, Core Belief, and our definitions of those five core values here.
Decisions at CPC are rooted in and guided by our mission and values, which were built by the CPC community. If and when they change, that change will be done in a similar manner to the way these were built: with meetings, interviews, and feedback sessions with Poets in Residence, Staff, and Board.
If challenges come to CPC for standing on these values, then we will handle that challenge when it comes. What we won’t do is compromise our values because of fear or pressure or threat.
As the Executive Director of CPC, I believe that this work is heart work and community work. I’m deeply grateful to do this work with each and everyone one of you. Whether you are on the board, fundraising to make this work possible, in the classroom, bringing care and creativity to our students across Chicago, or in the office, making sure it all happens: thank you.
Yours,
B Sampson
Executive Director