Home > About HOCP > Mission, vision & values
(Photo: US Forest Service -Superior National Forest - Tim Terrell)

(Photo: US Forest Service -Superior National Forest - Tim Terrell)

Mission

The Heart of the Continent Partnership seeks to sustain and celebrate the health, beauty, diversity and productivity of the natural and cultural resources of the border lakes region through collaboration to meet the needs of present and future generations.

Vision

Within the next 10 years the people at the center of the North American continent will protect, manage and enjoy their natural treasures in the region with conscious intent to maintain its cultural and ecological linkages.

Values

(Photo: Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Finland MN)

(Photo: Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Finland MN)

A key requirement for success among the Partnership is trust in a fair, open and communicative process. The Heart of the Continent is a non-partisan forum where diverse groups can meet and seek new ways to work together. As a non-policy partnership, the group does not take positions nor attempt to influence the policies of participants.

The Partnership and its individual participants are committed to the following values:

  • Respect: We respect all stakeholders in this land and welcome their differing positions.
  • Openness: We are open and transparent in our individual positions and opinions; we have no hidden agendas.
  • Trust: We trust our fellow partners and expect trust in return.
  • Inclusivity: The partnership is open to all interested parties so long as they accept our mission and values.
  • Flexibility: We will be flexible in our thinking about issues and open to reasonable dialogue
  • Understanding: We work hard to understand rather then judge the positions and opinions of others.
  • Celebration: We celebrate the border lakes and focus on the positives in our work.
  • Common Ground: We focus our work and discussions on topics about which we can increase our common understanding and agreement through knowledge and sharing.
  • Non-Policy Orientation: We will not take or advocate for policy positions as a group nor attempt to influence the policies of others.
  • Opting out: We do not demand agreement amongst our members and we explicitly accept that any participant can opt out of a discussion that runs counter to the position or mission of their organization.
  • Legacy: We are committed to sustainability and strongly identify with our responsibility to future generations.