Social justice has been a constant in ICA’s mission. Furthermore, ICA has always told its story within the context of the “moral issue of our times.” When it first began in 1962, the major moral issue across the United States was civil rights. Today, awakened persons know that global climate change confronts sensitive and responsible people everywhere with a huge moral dilemma. ICA-USA’s current mission statement, approved by its Board of Directors in 2013, combines the two: “to build a just and equitable society in harmony with Planet Earth.” 

This mission statement is clear, answers the question “why,” and can be used in a mantra-like manner — one of its major strengths is that it is memorable and easy to cite — but it doesn’t distinguish ICA from others that share a similar aim. Addendum secondary phrases can be helpful in accomplishing this.

A second addendum also provides greater focus about the mission: “building a just and equitable society …“through empowering cultural dimensions of the social process.”
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The phrase highlights the importance ICA has given to the transformative role of culture within society. As is often said, this is the reason for our name, the “Institute of Cultural Affairs.” Few statements about mission and purpose are as compelling as the one declared by Teilhard de Chardin: “The task before us now, if we would not perish, is to shake off our ancient prejudices, and to build the Earth.” This is a foundational perspective upon which ICA’s mission resides. While “ancient prejudices” certainly influence and drive economic and political relationships today, shedding them is a matter of culture.