Mission

Safeguard and share Miami stories to foster learning, inspire a sense of place and cultivate an engaged community.

Vision

Discovering Miami, our identity as Miamians, and our collective power to shape the future.

Museum of Miami is reimagining the city’s oldest continuously operating cultural institution as a dynamic civic platform, a central hub in a distributed network that brings Miami’s stories and communities together where people live, learn, and gather.

Our Purpose and Our Commitment

At Museum of Miami, our mission calls us to preserve, share and make accessible the stories of Greater Miami. Our vision is to be a place where everyone can find their place within Miami’s unfolding story – where belonging, understanding, and connection come to life.

How we work together internally shapes what we create externally.

The way we communicate, listen, make decisions, navigate disagreement, and share responsibility directly impacts our ability to serve our community with excellence and integrity. Our commitment to one another is grounded in trust, clarity, inclusion, and accountability.

The following nine (9) principles guide how we engage: with purpose, with respect, and with shared responsibility for the culture we are building together.

1. Be present and prioritize time

  • Show up in mind, body, and spirit.
  • Refrain from distractions (email, messaging, multitasking).
  • Turn cameras on in virtual meetings when possible.

2. Actively listen and contribute

  • Speak and listen with intention.
  • Don’t interrupt—make space for every voice.
  • Use W.A.I.T. (Why Am I Talking?) and W.A.I.N.T. (Why Am I Not Talking?) as self-checks.
  • Share your knowledge generously.

3. Foster inclusion and respect

  • Be mindful of power dynamics and lived experiences.
  • Value different perspectives and disagree without judgment.
  • Use accessible, inclusive language.
  • Acknowledge that discomfort can be a pathway to growth.

4. Practice intellectual humility

  • Ask: “How can I take this deeper?”
  • Embrace learning even when you think you know.
  • Stay curious and open to changing your mind.

5. Be honest and kind

  • Use non-violent, truthful communication.
  • Speak from your own experience.
  • Avoid blame or assumptions.
  • Be mindful of body language and tone.

6. Create space for vulnerability

  • Acknowledge when things don’t go as planned.
  • Be open about challenges.
  • Offer and receive feedback with care.
  • Remember: the heart of every healthy professional relationship is how we work through conflict together. Disagreements are natural—how we navigate them defines our strength as a team.

7. Hold confidentiality and trust

  • Respect sensitive information and keep private matters private.
  • Some discussions may involve matters that are not for wide distribution; share only what is appropriate.
  • If unsure whether information can be shared, check first with the person who shared it.
  • Protect sensitive documents and communications.

8. Use tension constructively

  • Let discomfort open doors, not close them.
  • Engage conflict with respect and a commitment to resolution.
  • Tension is not something to avoid—it’s an opportunity to deepen trust, understanding, and alignment.
  • Disagree with ideas, not people. Stay rooted in curiosity, not judgment.

9. Recognize and navigate social risks

  • Speak up when something feels off.
  • If needed, bring concerns to your direct supervisor privately.
  • Take the time you need to engage with care and consent.