Our Mission
Our mission is to advance justice for all so that people, animals, and the planet can thrive. We offer a unique view and approach—specifically, that objectives to advance the rights, health, and wellbeing of people, animals, and the planet are closely linked and that the success of one depends on the other.
By addressing the roots of global problems, Phoenix Zones Initiative strives to achieve two overarching goals: to bring social and ecological justice to those who need it most, and to turn despair into hope.
We draw upon our medical and public health expertise and on the lived experiences of our local and international partners. At its root, our mission in based on both health and justice. We believe that health depends on justice.
Phoenix Zones Initiative is working to create a world of Phoenix Zones—places that advance the rights, health, and wellbeing of people, animals, and the planet, allowing society to live well, rise, and thrive—like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes.
From small towns and big cities to seats of power in Washington, DC, and the United Nations, we work to change lives and reimagine social, economic, and legal frameworks for the better.
WHEN WE RISE, WE RISE TOGETHER.
What Drives Us
A child working in a slaughterhouse. A piglet torn away from her mother. A community poisoned by dirty air and water.
WHEN THEY SUFFER, WE SUFFER.
The exploited child, the abused animal, and the polluted community all suffer from the same broken paradigms. A failure to recognize the needs and rights of people, animals, and the planet in local and global policies and everyday practices leads to abuse and exploitation, poor health outcomes, and an unjust world.
Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to reimagine our relationships with each other, other beings, and our life-sustaining planet.
WHEN THEY THRIVE, WE THRIVE.
The child rising from violence to pursue an education. The piglet freed from harm to enjoy a future. The community recovering from pollution to breathe fresh air.
Join us in making it happen.
Our Guiding Principles
At Phoenix Zones Initiative, we use a central ethic to guide our work for people, animals, and the planet, following the principles embedded in Phoenix Zones:
Respect for liberty and sovereignty
Compassion and justice
A belief that each individual possesses dignity