If I could define this past year with one word, I think the word would be “evolve”. When something evolves, it gradually develops over a period of time into something different. And that has been my experience with FSC this year.
Organizations like FSC stagnate if they don’t evolve to reflect the needs of the communities they serve. I can point back at different times in the history of FSC when the board and leadership realized that changes in services, changes in programs, changes in the issues FSC addressed were necessary to successfully and honestly serve our community. And this year, the time had come for another change, a chance to evolve and grow.
For many years, FSC’s mission has been “To end family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; to foster hope and healing; to offer immediate response and a safe-haven in crisis; to provide advocacy, counseling, and support for victims; to empower them to lead safe and violence-free lives; and to promote community awareness through education and training.” I think we have done an excellent job of living up to this mission statement.
But times have changed, and the needs of FSC have changed. The Board of Directors recognized that it was time to reflect upon our mission statement and decide if it still encompasses what we as an organization need to accomplish. After much discussion and work, we have come up with a new mission, vision, and values for FSC that we believe will give us clear directions and a clear path for our growing organization.
Our revised mission statement says: “The Family Sunshine Center fosters hope and healing for survivors of family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking through the provision of crisis intervention, safe shelter, counseling, advocacy, and supportive services.”
The new vision for FSC is “Family Sunshine Center supports a vision of empowered survivors leading safe, violence-free lives while trauma-responsive agencies collaborate to address needs and engaged communities work together to prevent future violence.”
Our values will guide FSC and our organizational culture:
- Survivor-centered
- Accountability
- Flexibility
- Communication
- Innovation
For over 40 years, FSC has been a leader in providing services to those impacted and traumatized by violence. These changes will only improve our capacity and ability to provide comprehensive services to those in need.
I thank you all for supporting us; be it through contributions, volunteering, or just spreading the word about FSC. Evolution is growth and I hope you will continue to engage and grow with us.
With Gratitude,
Tay Knight
