The Northern Plains Ethics Institute’s mission is to promote democratic participation in social and ethical issues affecting the Northern Plains and beyond.  The NPEI fulfills its charge by engaging citizens in various discussions focusing on what kind of society they want to live in and how they go about creating it.

The NPEI understands that the northern plains, as well as other global regions, face local and regional problems. First, for one reason or another, many people have lost trust in one public or private institution after another. Second, although many well-intentioned community members have tried diligently to solve our problems, they appear to be at an impasse. If these seemingly intractable issues are to be eliminated, they will require the application of new approaches. For example, the most widely accepted decision-making process is five-year planning, rather than looking farther into the future.

The NPEI, on the other hand, believes that the current paradigm is self-defeating. The only successful decision procedure is that which plans for the next 10, 50, or even 100 years. Moreover, democracy needs re-invigoration by involving the community in meaningful, fruitful activism. The NPEI will continue to develop and utilize these new-old approaches to resolve the issues that affect our communities.

It is our hope that democratically exploring social and ethical issues and networking between the various social stakeholders will build stronger communities to benefit those who live here now, as well as all of those who, in the future, will call the Northern Plains home. Furthermore, it is our expectation that we can continue to build upon previous successes to serve as a prototype for universities and communities elsewhere in the nation. Given the ethical problems that all areas of the nation face, the NPEI strives to have a great impact on communities to enhance the quality of life for all.