Together is Better

We have eight core values here at SSYO that we believe are at the core of our mission to “build strong, young lives.” As an organization we are committed to: “Humility, Excellence, Grit, Collaboration, Innovation, Advancing Christ’s Kingdom, Family, and Integrity.” These are the values we hold as important here at SouthSide Youth Outreach. We strive to grow in not only these areas but many others as well.

When looking at our list of values, one stood out to me more than the others:

Collaboration

We think of Collaboration as, “prioritizing relationships while constantly asking ourselves what we can better accomplish by partnering with others, than by working alone. // We seek out collaboration in order to accomplish together, what we cannot do alone.”

In such a tumultuous couple of years, our staff has learned more than ever that we cannot do it all alone. When thinking about our core value of Collaboration I was reminded of the passage Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: 

“Two are better than one … if either of them falls down, one can help the other up … while one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves.”

In a culture of diverse opinions and perspectives, unity can feel distant at times. It’s good to have diverse ideas, ideologies, and ways of thinking but sometimes this can be a barrier to working together. Regardless of anyone you interact with, you’ll find there are differences between you. That being said, if you were to list out all the similarities and differences between you and another person, you’d find that there’s a lot more in common than you’d likely think. Finding common ground is a great unifier and it often challenges us to broaden our perspectives. 

Collaboration is key to growth — it helps us have a posture of humility. The truth is, we really can’t do it on our own. We were created to have relationships, which is why here at SSYO we are so passionate about creating a healthy family culture and investing in personal relationships so that we can build strong, young lives. It all starts within these walls, and then spreads beyond!

We have so many partners in our city of Corvallis, from individuals to families to other nonprofits to businesses both small and large. Every partnership is unique and brings something invaluable to the table — we could never do it without you! We are honored and grateful to collaborate with those in our community to have a greater impact for young lives. More than anything, thank you to all of our partners! With collaboration, we are able to accomplish more together than we could ever do alone.

Sierra Griffes

​Sierra is the Administrative Manager for SouthSide Youth Outreach. When she isn’t helping with the 'behind the scenes' at SSYO, she loves to be active outside for hiking, skiing, and running. She also enjoys reading good books, drinking coffee, and spending time with her husband.