City at Peace-New York operates within, and holds itself accountable to, four core values:

Cross-cultural understanding:
We believe in, understand, value and respect diversity, and work as a diverse group with diverse groups of young people. The City at Peace program is, by definition, a diverse group of youth, artists and community members working together.

Youth leadership:
We believe in, understand and increase the creative power and leadership of young people by giving them opportunities to learn and exercise that power, by holding them to their highest standards of achievement, and by enjoying working with them. Youth participate in decision-making roles as Production Team members and as members of the local and national boards. They also have decision-making and leadership roles in all creative activity, including their performances (they write and produce their own shows), workshops, community change projects and the CP-Zine, a national publication.

Integrity:
The City at Peace-New York program is operated to
1) build cross-cultural understanding,
2) prevent violence and resolve conflicts,
3) create opportunities for youth to lead,
4) develop the artistic skills of youth, and
5) affect positive community change.

Excellence:
We are committed to excellence in all areas of operation, including the performing arts, programming, community support and action, financial support, and the administration of the program. City at Peace evaluates its operations on a regular basis to insure that excellence is defined and realized in its work. The program's impact and performances are a testament to this standard in programming; the demand for the program and its growth are a testament to this standard in management.