It is the purpose of the collective owners of the Seward Community Cafe to create a work environment that fosters respect, equality, and mutual support between workers. The principles that guide our actions include: social and environmental responsibility, self-reliance, and cooperation.

To realize this purpose we will:

1 Remain a worker owned and managed collective, following cooperative principles of:

*voluntary and open membership
*education, training and information
*cooperation among cooperatives
*autonomy and independence
*democratic member control
*concern for community
*participation and awareness in responible financial decision making

And following cooperative values of:

2 Cultivate relationships that are sensitive to and address the needs of our community, specifically by: Promoting solidarity with other co-ops and collectives, providing space for community events and meetings, offering affordable /reasonable prices, creating space for local artists, and meeting the food needs of our community by providing vegan and vegetarian options as well as sugar-free and gluten free options.

3 Maintain a food policy that supports independent, local, organic, and sustainable products and services when economically feasible.

4 Use consensus decision making to insure all workers are given equal opportunity to participate.

5 Function as a fun, safe, and attractive space that encourages healthy expression and that is welcoming to diverse people and ideas.

6 Have a hiring policy that does not discriminate on the basis of appearance or lifestyle choice. Appearance and lifestyle include but are not limited, to: race, gender, religion or spiritual practice,ethnicity, sexual lifestyle, unique physical abilities, age, class background, or being a parent /guardian.

7 Work to resolve conflict between workers in a way that is respectful and supportive.

8 Balance accomplishing our mission statement with economic viability

9 Educate collective members to recognize oppression within the cafe environment.

10 Raise awareness of alternative solutions to social, political, environmental, and economic concerns.

11 Recycle, reduce, and reuse

12 Maintain and improve Hare's Breath Community Garden and the Seward Cafe greenspace.

13 Use appropriate and reasonable technology to maintain a value on human labor and mutual assistance.

14 Recognize the importance spent in time not working and exercise our right to leisure.