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 a...