Mission, Vision, Values

The Insight Center for Community Economic Development is a national research, consulting, and legal organization dedicated to building economic health in vulnerable communities.

Our Mission

The Insight Center’s mission is to help people and communities become, and remain, economically secure.

Our Vision

We believe that the pathway to sustainable growth for our country and its people lies in strengthening our most vulnerable and economically detached populations.

The Insight Center envisions a nation where all people have access to the resources, opportunities and support they need to help them realize their potential and achieve economic security. We envision a nation of individuals and families with sufficient income, quality education, decent and affordable housing and health care, child and elder care, a safe environment, and savings and other economic assets. We see a society that recognizes the value, dignity and creative potential of the overlooked and underappreciated. Success on this scale will make us all richer and is the moral thing to do, consistent with the values of our democracy.

The most compelling argument for investing in vulnerable people and communities is an economic one: greater levels of inclusion will increase individual, community and national productivity. Greater inclusion creates a virtuous cycle whereby economically healthy communities attract entrepreneurs and other employers who provide good wages to well-educated workers. In turn, those workers are able to attain economic security and reinvest in the continuing improvement of their schools and neighborhoods.

Our Values

Our work is guided by the following values:

• Inclusiveness
  We believe everyone should be valued in our society and everyone should have the opportunity to participate and enjoy the benefits of our economic system.
• Respect
  We believe in a society and workplace in which all people are treated fairly and are provided with the tools to prosper. Exchanges of opinion should always be collegial and constructive and exhibit respect and tolerance for differing views.
• Collaboration
  We believe complex economic challenges faced by vulnerable communities require multi-disciplinary and integrated solutions. These solutions are best realized through collaborations between the private sector, government, non-profit organizations and the affected communities and their people.
• Integrity
  We believe we should investigate topics rigorously, base conclusions on demonstrable evidence, and communicate findings clearly and honestly.