MY FRIEND’S HOUSE will continuously work towards ensuring students, volunteers, employees, management, board of directors (board), individuals representing our organization and anyone accessing MY FRIEND’S HOUSE services experiences an environment free of racism, oppression, violence and harassment.

MY FRIEND’S HOUSE values the social identities and intersecting identities brought to MY FRIEND’S HOUSE through our employees, management, board, volunteers and those accessing services. A broad range of social identities reflective of race, age, culture, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability and class contribute significantly to MY FRIEND’S HOUSE’s work and to our larger community.

MY FRIEND’S HOUSE defines lateral violence as a cycle of abuse with roots in: colonization, oppression, intergenerational trauma, ongoing experiences of racism and discrimination. It is a learned behaviour because of colonization, white supremacy and patriarchal methods of governing and developing a society. These acts can include microaggressions that do have a significant impact on the full and inclusive participation of our membership. Continual self-education and reflexivity about lateral violence and social location will help to unlearn these harmful behaviours.

MY FRIEND’S HOUSE recognizes the importance of critically examining and engaging in discussions about racism, oppression, violence and power structures creating issues of inequity, inaccessibility and limits to participation for marginalized communities. Furthermore, MY FRIEND’S HOUSE recognizes the impact of state-sanctioned violence on Black, Indigenous and People of Color as harmful and detrimental to their social, political and economic outcomes. While examining and engaging in these discussions we understand individuals bring with them complex and multidimensional experiences, social locations and identities-they to require safety, care and respect.

MY FRIEND’S HOUSE understands systemic barriers to freedom, equity, safety and non-violence are directly connected to the violent acts, structures, and legislation created through and because of colonization. We endeavor to work towards identifying, deconstructing, and contributing to rebuilding a society to reduce barriers to participation, is equitable, non-violent, and improves social, political and economic outcomes for all.

MY FRIEND’S HOUSE will create and cultivate a community of learning and continuous improvement in identifying, addressing and moving through conflict as it relates to systemic racism, oppression, violence and all forms of discrimination. This can include, but is not limited to the impact on individuals, organizations and the ways in which services are delivered for survivors of gender-based violence. We will view this learning through the lens of individuals, organizations and larger systems to create change.