Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore

Governing nonprofits and local political processes

In recent years, we have witnessed an increase in the role and influence of nonprofit organizations in local and regional policy decisions. Often, these organizations assume a quasi-govern-mental role in pursuit of their missions. Roles of coalition builder and policy initiator/formulator join more traditional roles of service provider and policy advocate. These emerging roles forge new relationships between the nonprofit, for-profit, and public sectors. In Detroit, there is evidence that nonprofit organizations such as New Detroit and Detroit Renaissance can play a role in redefining the local political agenda. Yet that role is severely limited if such organizations are not tied to public authority.

‘Blaming the victim’ vis-à-vis child-focused Western law: implications of evidence-based policy-making for the rescue of Black families

‘Blaming the victim’ policies remain largely intact under the façade of family law and policy construction. Based on empirical evidence, lack of employment for Black men is a major factor in their inability to sustain the Black family as a functional unit. The existence of child-focused family laws has had a devastating effect upon the construction of family policies vis-à-vis Black men. Evidence-based policy-making (EBPM) is intended to provide a means for creating legislation independent of politics. EBPM is predicated on the most rigorous scientific evidence available from recognized experts in relevant fields. Accordingly, policy-makers loyal to the Black family may simultaneously rescue its children and play a pivotal role in its viability.

Diversity, Information Sources and Sub-National Legislative Processes

What if any obligation is there to ensure that social diversity and gender equality are both recognized and accommodated within a political system? Does descriptive representation make any difference in how the interests of marginalized populations get aggregated into sub-national policy processes and the ensuing outcomes? Similarly, are certain types of legislators more likely than others to encourage broader stakeholder involvement in the policy process? This research examines how demographic, institutional and geographic diversity in and across elected officials, legislative districts and sub-national policy bodies influences the relative importance of information sources for state legislators. Set in a U.S. context, the study highlights the value that legislators, in 24 states across the four main census regions, place on information obtained from policy insiders, policy outsiders and a host of mid-range policy actors. It underscores the merit of intentionality in the diversification of the individuals who hold elected offices and how they may use their influence to increase political access for others. The research suggests that the range of individuals and organizations that can influence the policy decisions that elected officials make is related to issues of representation in important ways.

NGOs: Gaining Policy Influence Through Collaborative Networks

Faith-based organizations have been shown to have varying relevance and saliency in urban politics. Past research typically focuses on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as intermediary organizations. The discussions revolve around the distinctly political, financial or administrative/service providing capacities of NGOs. Less explored are the unintended political consequences of their activities.Like their secular counterparts, faith-based organizations can play an essential role in the delivery of local public goods and services. They can become a linchpin of governance, providing much needed social support structures. Faith-based and other non-governmental organizations can act in concert with or under the devolved authority of the government. They can also fill gaps left by both the government and the market. This paper contends that by being consistent and trustworthy service providers, NGOs may change the landscape of stakeholders involved in urban politics. Indeed, even faith-based and secular NGOs that do not explicitly seek to influence policy may do so through the networks in which they affiliate and the entities with which they collaborate to carry out their primary functions.The paper is based on a nested research design with quantitative and qualitative data from public documents, surveys and interviews from several different types of communities, government entities and service providers. This paper examines the degree and extent to which NGOs work with the government and other entities to provide services and how that positions them to influence policy in Michigan’s two largest urban centers. It demonstrates the importance of collaborative networks for a range of governance functions. The paper also illuminates how service provision allows NGOs, faith-based and secular, to gain entree to local political networks and systems and correspondingly parlay that political access into policy influence.

Review of The Art & Craft of Case Writing, Third Edition

The third edition of The Art & Craft of Case Writing aims to keep cases relevant in a fast-paced digital age. Veterans of case writing bring their extensive experience to bear in the volume. Their intent is to help case writers “develop effective cases, particularly for teaching purposes” (p. ix). Although the net is cast broadly, this book is likely to resonate with individuals new to case writing or those looking to refine their case writing skills. It is a resource for instructors who are interested in developing cases or finding alternative ways to present cases they already use. Unless the class is geared toward development of cases, The Art & Craft of Case Writing would not be appropriate for classroom use. Instead, it is a text that might be used for faculty development, particularly for early stage faculty or individuals shifting their teaching focus and/or pedagogy. The book can be conceived in three parts. The first part sets the context, the second presents specifics on case writing and the third provides examples supporting the body of the text. Specifically, Chapters 1 through 4 provide an overview and philosophical discussion on the nature and benefits of case studies. Chapter 1 focuses on definitions and types of cases, along with reasons for writing a case study. Chapter 2 stresses being clear about the objectives the case writer is trying to achieve; it also revisits the discussion on types of cases. Chapter 3 describes various resources from which to gather data for a case. It notes the importance of obtaining permission from key stakeholders to release the details outlined in the case as well as the steps necessary to gain buy-in for developing a case. Chapter 4 addresses research cases as distinct from teaching cases and discusses the relative advantages and disadvantages of case studies within the research realm. It also highlights some of the differences between research and teaching cases and discusses how to design research cases from the start. Chapters 5 through 8 address the important issue of developing the instructor’s manual for a case, including a discussion of what goes in the instructor’s manual and the value of writing the teaching note before crafting the case. These four chapters are provided in what seems to be a disjointed fashion, likely in an attempt to take the reader sequentially through the steps of case writing. Their placement within the