There is Value in the Unmeasurable: Takeaways from the Global Homeboy Network DC Summit. Charlotte Griffin, Boston College.

“We are called to be faithful, not successful.” Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ borrowed these words from Mother Teresa while describing the mission of Homeboy Industries. For the unfamiliar, Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. Initially, this quote appears to reject the pursuit of success altogether. But after attending the Global Homeboy Network DC Summit hosted by Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, I came away with a different interpretation. Rather than dismissing success, Fr. Boyle challenged attendees to embrace a more holistic definition. 

In today’s world, success is increasingly being determined only by what can be counted. Organizations are expected to demonstrate impact through metrics, dashboards, and measurable outcomes. Then in turn, investors often rely on these metrics to determine whether an initiative is a worthwhile investment. While these tools are undoubtedly useful, the summit served as a reminder that not everything of true value can be quantified.

In the introductory remarks, a simple phrase from Fr. Boyle stood out to me: “Tenderness is the methodology.” Homeboy Industries’ approach begins not with efficiency or optimization, but with relationships. Its work is rooted in radical kinship, dignity, and the belief that every person deserves to belong. These ideas are difficult to capture in a spreadsheet or a slide deck, and yet they form the foundation for lasting impact and transformation. 

A conversation that restores someone’s confidence, a mentor who offers consistent support, or a community that welcomes someone back after incarceration is unlikely to appear as a headline statistic. It is exactly the unmeasurable nature of these moments that makes them so valuable to Homeboy. Their unwavering commitment to a person, rather than a results-centered model, is exactly why their organization has transformed so many lives for the better.

Juliana Griffith, TCU, Fr. Boyle and Charlotte Griffin, Boston College

This focus on people over numbers resonates strongly with the mission of Creative Investment Research (CIR). At CIR, the priority is on improving the quality of life for all people by broadening the scope of investment priorities. By placing emphasis on social return rather than solely profit maximization, CIR seeks to shift the world closer to the good. While listening to members from across the Homeboy organization speak, I was reminded that maximizing the value of human life requires recognizing forms of impact that are inherently challenging to measure.

Fr. Boyle’s message is a clear signal that we all share a responsibility to faithfully pursue work that promotes inclusivity, uplifts those on the margins, and creates enduring value. The most meaningful returns are often those that unfold quietly, one relationship at a time. As organizations continue to search for better ways to measure impact, the Homeboy Summit provided clear guidance: if we only value what we can measure, we risk overlooking what matters most.