What We Stand For

Character is goodness-in-action

We envision a future where honest, trustworthy, respectful people treat others as they want to be treated.

Teenage school friends having fun piggybacking outdoors

Character needs to be taught, caught, and sought

Especially during adolescence, young people should be encouraged to form their own moral compass, based on timeless principles.

We Believe…

Character reveals our common humanity transcending religious, cultural, and ethnic differences.

Parents and families are a child’s first character educator.

Research shows that comprehensive character programs in schools boost academic success.

Character development inspires young people to care about and practice their character strengths.

Caring adults need to model character.

Sports and after-school programs build character.

Successful workplace leaders “Hire for character…Train for skill.”

Character shapes our ethics and ultimately our legacy.

Commitment

Parents need to commit to model and reinforce to their children the core values and character strengths that mean the most to them. They also need to be creative and offer meaningful experiences that illuminate how important these character strengths are to the family’s core values.

Conversations

We know “We need to talk” freaks kids out, but too often parents avoid having conversations about character, especially as children get older. While it may not be easy to talk sometimes, we know from the research that parents who avoid talking to their children about serious matters quickly lose trust and connection.

Celebration

Parents need to find ways for their children to be active participants in their own character growth. Optimal character development occurs when children begin to make self-motivated commitments to consistently practice a core value (e.g. “I want to be the kind of person who is always honest and shows up on time.”) Parents need to celebrate these moments to shape and define individual character.