The Yuma Way

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

‘The Yuma Way’ is the City of Yuma’s organizational mission statement and core values and reflects who we are as an organization and what we value. It sets the tone for a positive work environment, ensures a common purpose, and identifies our organizational values.

The Yuma Way (Mission)

We are a strong team dedicated to serving our community, building relationships and creating opportunities.

We Value (Our Core Values)

Professionalism – Be our best. Set the standard.
Accountability – Be responsible. Own our actions.
Integrity – Be honest. Do the right thing.
Responsiveness – Be deliberate. Follow through with intent.

The Yuma Way serves as our guiding principles and provides employees with clear purpose and direction. It is intended to help guide our thinking, actions, and behaviors – which directly affect our organizational culture. Employees demonstrate the Yuma Way in how we perform our work and in the services, we provide to our community.

How did the City develop the Yuma Way?

In the fall of 2020, City leadership began a strategic planning process with the City Council, which resulted in the adoption of a five-year strategic plan – which included the development of a vision statement and five strategic outcomes for the City.

The development and adoption of the City’s strategic plan created the perfect opportunity for City leadership to revisit and refresh the City’s mission and core values.

Over an eighteen-month period, City leadership engaged staff members in various formal and informal meetings, conversations, and incorporated interactive real-time polling in an effort to gather employee input into the development of an organizational mission statement and core values.

The result of the conversations and feedback is The Yuma Way, which reflects who we are as an organization and what we value. It sets the tone for a positive work environment, ensures a common purpose, and identifies our organizational core values.

What is a mission statement?

A mission statement articulates an organization’s purpose for existing. It briefly describes the goals and purpose of an organization. An organization’s mission statement provides direction for routine activities and for decision-making within the organization.

For the City, the Yuma Way ensures everyone in the organization understands our common purpose, as a team we are dedicated to serving our community, building relationships and creating opportunities.

What is the difference between a vision statement and mission statement?

The terms vision statement and mission statement are often confused, and used interchangeably. However, each has a very distinct and different purpose.

Strategic Plan Illustration

The vision statement describes where the organization wants to be in the future. It contains the organization’s long-term goals, looks to the future, and helps create a mental image of what the ideal future of the organization looks like. It is what an organization aspires to and hopes to achieve.

The mission statement describes what the organization needs to do now to achieve the vision. The vision and mission statements must support each other, but mission statements are more specific.

Why is it important for the City to have a vision, mission and values?

Generally, we talk about an organization’s vision, mission and values together. The vision and mission state where the organization is going (vision) and what it will do to get there (mission). They direct the efforts of people in the organization toward common goals. An organization’s values define what the organization believes in and how employees are expected to behave—with each other, customers, and other stakeholders.

City of Yuma’s Vision Statement

Yuma is a thriving, safe and prosperous community with opportunities powered by innovation, partnerships, collaboration and robust education – a welcoming and unique place that all generations are proud to share.

City of Yuma’s Mission Statement

We are a strong team dedicated to serving our community, building relationships and creating opportunities.

Values

Professionalism
Accountability
Integrity
Responsiveness