LDIR

The following principles outline the philosophy of the LDIR program and provide a rationale for the way we approach our work.

1. We believe that intergroup tensions result from a complex interaction of individual prejudice, bias, misinformation, ignorance, the pressures of a changing society (e.g. economic shifts, lack of jobs, increasing immigration, etc.), and structural inequality/institutional oppression.  Therefore, we believe that the issues must be addressed on multiple levels: personal, intergroup and societal. These levels are generally interrelated and interdependent as they contribute to social divisions. Therefore, any comprehensive effort must address all these levels.
2. We believe that work on these issues must start with the individual.
3. We believe that personal transformation will begin the process of community transformation, and that this community transformation comes about through the exertion of effective leadership.
4. We believe that a new brand of leadership is required – one that is able to implement and advocate for the values of inclusion, cooperation, power sharing, justice, and equity.
5. We believe in self-determination and the power of indigenous leadership.
6. We believe that work focused solely on getting all people to get along is important, but not sufficient.  Such efforts must also be linked with a commitment to pursuing social/economic justice for the collective good.
7. We believe that justice and peace must go hand in hand - that any peace achieved outside of justice and equity for all groups involved, is tenuous at best.
8. We believe that it is not sufficient to deal only with the issue of racism.  It is important to understand other forms of oppression (classism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, religious bigotry, and others) and their intersections as they work in tandem to uphold the power structure and maintain the status quo.
9. We believe that we need to be proactive in addressing intergroup tensions.
10. We believe strongly in the promotion of interethnic collaboration.
11. We do not endorse the concept of color-blindness.
12. The main focus of this program is not to get people to like each other or even agree with each other, but to understand that we all need to learn how to work together.
13. We acknowledge that it is important to be realistic about what a program like LDIR can accomplish. LDIR does not provide any instant formulas for dealing with intergroup relations.  It will not resolve all the tensions in the community, it will not erase all institutional inequities, nor will people be cured of all their prejudices and biases.  Rather, the LDIR program provides tools to facilitate the on-going process of personal growth, and serves as a catalyst to promote collaborative community work and broader social change.