The International Town and Gown Association (ITGA) is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values and respects perspectives across every sector of our community and provides effective models, strategies, and programs that build a culture of respect and create access in town-and-gown shared spaces.
Together, ITGA will:
- Foster resilience – Town and Gown partners recognize historic and current realities and collaboratively leverage assets that reduce trauma and support town-and-gown recovery.
- Support accessible and safe environments – Town and Gown partners’ work centers safe access for all members of town-and-gown shared spaces with particular attention to vulnerable populations.
- Demonstrate best practices to build and sustain an environment that embraces and promotes a culture of respect, understanding and empowerment for all community members. Town and Gown partners recognize that for communities to thrive, our members must be deeply aware of culture and identity for themselves and others and be prepared to engage with empathy and build trust with people from all walks of life.
We Value…
Models that:
- Are aspirational and encourage collaboration between groups, organizations and individuals.
- Are inclusive, affordable, sustainable, achievable and have timelines.
Effective strategies that:
- Are adaptable to changing community demographics, scalable and able to be replicated.
- Employ SMART goals and include measurable outcomes and methods for assessment.
Programs that:
- Can be measured and encourage commitment and continuous improvement.
- Are transparent in their intent, highlight to systemic issues, and offer sustained engagement efforts.
We Value…
Fostering Resilience:
- Through polices, programs and placemaking that draw connections between environmental, social and personal trauma.
- By centering the needs of those who represent historically marginalized identities and are under-served.
Nurturing a sense of community that respects and values different backgrounds and traditions:
- By building a sense of community and honoring and accepting diverse heritages and practices.
- Taking into consideration factors such as race, gender, accessibility, and privilege to ensure inclusivity and address the varied needs of students and community partners.
- Developing initiatives and processes that are thoughtfully created to allow every member of our institution to participate, engage, and benefit, regardless of their unique circumstances or identities.
Best Practices:
- Through clear accountability measures and being intentional with programs and interventions.
- That can be guideposts for town and gown partners that are less far along on their journeys while promoting integrity and inspiring change with our established town and gown partners.