Our Values and Non-Discrimination Policy

We think of Hear Your Song not merely as a mission but as a movement, one that centers and celebrates the humanity of every child and teen experiencing a serious illness, whether that affects their physical or mental health. In the wake of the pandemic, we recognize that the youth mental health crisis requires kids and teens to have creative outlets to express themselves and to share the parts of their lives, identities, and imaginations that are most meaningful to them.

As part of this movement, we most significantly recognize, too, that kids of color, especially those with traditionally underdiagnosed and undertreated conditions like sickle cell anemia and HIV, are especially in need of platforms to tell their stories. We are committed to partnering with organizations that serve youth with chronic illnesses that disproportionately affect Black Americans, recognizing that the trauma of illness is often compounded by the racial trauma experienced in the healthcare system. It is essential that programs that value the full story of the full human, and which take into account the complex traumas that kids experience, are part of the pediatric experience for every child and teenager.

Intrinsic to the mission of Hear Your Song, Inc. is our unqualified support of all youth who participate in our programming inclusive of all races, religions, genders, gender expression, ages, national origins, sexual orientations, abilities, and any other axes of identity. This extends as well to our hiring and volunteer support practices: we do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, and community members.