The Human Spirit Initiative produces profiles of social sector entrepreneurs of the past via histories that are brief, interesting and filled with lessons relevant to the present, and the future.
Today's established organizations were new ideas 50-75-100 years ago and we owe those ideas to their founders. HSI finds the salient elements of their innovations to inform our work today.
HSI is a volunteer-driven association of individuals whose lives have been dedicated to strengthening the human services sector, professionally and personally. Inspired by the amazing impact of individual Americans who shaped the health and human service sectors of the U.S. in the 20th century, they have joined together to form the Human Spirit Initiative.
Incorporated as a 501-c (3) non-profit, the organization is researching and calling attention to the history of the non-profit human services sector and the role of civic engagement in America during the 20th century. Its purpose is to spur human initiative to emulate earlier social movement pioneers to build and strengthen community in today's world and to inspire visionary and innovative leadership for the future.
Our Vision
Greater understanding of and commitment to strengthening civil society through individual initiative and collective endeavors in building community.
Our Mission
To Inspire people to build healthy, diverse, inclusive community
“Victories are not won by lone individuals” Fraser, James W. A History of Hope: When Americans Have Dared to Dream of a Better Future
American Humanics and The Human Spirit Initiative Announce Partnership (Read News Release)
American Humanics (AH) and the Human Spirit Initiative (HSI) are proud to announce a partnership that will allow both organizations to better fulfill their missions to inspire and promote nonprofit sector careers.
HSI creates monographs that highlight the history of nonprofit human services and civic engagement. AH will help distribute the monographs to promote and inspire nonprofit sector careers. See the flyer for more information.
About
100 years ago, citizens in the USA began to organize collectively
around significant areas of need within their communities -- social
welfare, social justice, youth development, health services, service
clubs, philanthropy and voluntarism. Their efforts led to the formation
of enduring charitable organizations focused on health and human
services in the United States. As we celebrate their accomplishments,
we recognize we are experiencing today unprecedented societal change
with problems that echo those existing a century ago when our
collective capacity to care began to emerge.
Our ultimate goal
is to motivate people in today’s world to take leadership roles in the
non-profit human services world. We are doing this by:
Spotlighting the vitality and contribution of civil society, especially the human services sector
Increasing awareness, understanding and commitment to building community
Informing, recognizing and inspiring future leaders to address today’s social problems
The Human Spirit Initiative Roadmap
Through
our stories, based on historical events and published as monographs, we
hope to spark new awareness and purposeful action in the minds and
hearts of our readers.
Mutual of America Life Insurance Company to introduce the Human Spirit Initiative
For over 63 years, Mutual of America has been dedicated to making a difference in the world, not only by helping individuals meet their long-term financial objectives, but also by having a direct, positive impact on the future of our society. As a company, and as individuals, they continue to explore ways in which they can help better our world – by giving back to the communities they serve. They have great respect for those who have dedicated their lives to helping those in need and have committed to introducing the Human Spirit Initiative to the communities with whom they interact.
The Community Partnership Award is another way Mutual of America is working to help build a strong, vibrant society for all Americans. The award recognizes and encourages partnerships among public, private and social sector organizations devoted to the public good. You are invited to learn more about their Community Building strategies, including their Community Partnership Award.
This will remedy and/or creatively address
societal change and related problems by motivating individual Americans
to:
Elect to serve in a voluntary capacity in building community – in a neighborhood, school, charitable organization or institution
Choose a career path in the non-profit health and human services sector
Speak out against poverty, crime, corruption, injustice,
illiteracy, homelessness, apathy, finding a venue to be heard and
looking for constructive solutions
Seek new knowledge in order to see and understand the world in
which we live and each of its people from a wide perspective that
ranges from the parochial to the global.
Take a courageous stance as a legislator, executive, teacher, citizen, student
Take action to right a wrong or expand human endeavor in a given area of need
Join with us in partnership to create the history of the health and
human services sector and find ways to use this rich body of knowledge
to inspire action – individually or collectively
Next Steps
Ideas, plans, and dreams for future Human Spirit Initiative action include:
piloting a town hall meeting concept to find ways to bring
interested people together in a given community to discover and
rediscover the impulse to care
developing a research partnership with an academic institution to further the research
building a sound database and providing tools for using our knowledge in educational and non-profit settings.
