Business Commons^™

Raising Spirit In Institutional And Public Life, Jeff Coolidge

New England Journal of Public Policy

This article covers spirit and its role in invigorating and maintaining our institutions. It tracks the origin of spirit and describes the role of spirit in organizations along with its manifestations: vision and mission, each of which, the author explains, must be clearly defined and kept separate to maintain organizational spirit and effectiveness. He makes the case that spirit can be assessed and nurtured and considers it important for funders and other interested parties to do so. Such assessment must identify elements that could corrupt this spirit. While focusing on nonprofit institutions, he demonstrates where spirit and its effects are …

Compelled To Speak: Women Confronting Institutional Racism, 1910-1950, Sharlene Voogd Cochrane

New England Journal of Public Policy

Women within and outside the YWCA have been able to move this organization to confront its own racism. Although the strategies and goals for this endeavor took several decades to work out, the organization moved more quickly than other similar institutions. One reason for this movement was the power of women speaking out in an institution that encouraged them to make connections between their faith and their daily lives. Their strategy was a profound commitment to connecting talk and action. They constantly set a context for and educated others to see connections between YWCA rhetoric, ideals, and practices.

The article …