What are progressive values in Wayne County?

Progressive values and actions take different forms in different geographical, cultural and political landscapes. They are tied to the efforts of individuals and organizations, but they also come out in the snapshots we take of communities as a whole. And it's not just about thinking up variations of programs, policies and mindsets that have been at work in our area for so long...it's about having an open mind to new ways of looking at the world and how we live in it, informed by a sense of cooperation, trust, commitment to others, and pursuing what is just and peaceful.

In Richmond and Wayne County, progressives are people working toward new and better ways of living together in this community - for themselves, for their families and neighborhoods, and for fellow citizens. We're balancing the economic needs of business and industry with concern for equal opportunities, fair wages, and concern for the landbase and non-human forms of life. We're working to attract and retain a diverse population of all ages, ethnicities, lifestyles and backgrounds. We're embracing our differences and resolving our conflicts. We're supporting politicians and civic leaders who can collaborate to solve short-term problems, but who aren't afraid to pursue broad new initiatives that involve risk, sacrifice, investment, and unpopular positions in the name long-term success. We're making decisions that consider the needs of many generations to come. We're creating a culture of tolerance, sustainability, equity and genuine connection between the members of this community.

Progressives in Wayne County are trying to move the community forward. We hope you'll join us!

The following list excerpted from materials provided by The Rockridge Institute begins to describe the qualities and experiences that progressives value:

• Strength:  You have to be strong and competent to carry out your responsibilities.  
• Safety and Protection:  A nurturing parent wants his/her family to be safe, which requires that they protect them, and themselves, from harm.  The motivation to protect others comes from empathy, and the ability to do so comes from responsibility and strength.
• Fulfillment in Life:  When we empathize with others and take care of them responsibly, we desire their well-being, and want their dreams to come true.  Happy and fulfilled people want to see others happy and fulfilled. Correspondingly, unhappy, unfulfilled people tend not to want others to be happier than they are.  It is, therefore, a moral requirement to be a happy, fulfilled person.
• Fairness:  When we care for others, we want to treat them fairly, help them to treat others fairly, and ensure that others do treat them fairly.
• Freedom:  Freedom allows us to meet our needs, fulfill our potential, realize our dreams, and help others to do so as well.
• Opportunity:  Caring for others means ensuring they have opportunities—to achieve fulfillment in life, to be treated fairly, and to be able to care for themselves and others.
• Prosperity:  Without prosperity, there can be no opportunity.
• Community:  Healthy communities are based on cooperation, honesty, trust, and open communication.
• Cooperation:  Responsibility to others requires cooperation and empathy. Cooperation is the basis for community, and requires open communication, honesty and trust.
• Trust:  Trust is needed for open communication and cooperation.  We are trustworthy when we treat others fairly and responsibly.
• Honesty:   Honesty is the hallmark of open communication, and is necessary for trust and cooperation.
• Open Communication:  Open communication is at the heart of empathy and responsibility.  To know how to care for others, we must communicate with them to understand their needs.  Cooperation relies on two-way communication.

You can view a list of organizations that make up America's progressive community.