Supporting Growth and Discernment for Leaders at Spirited Renewal

Seasons of growth and change. This is something that all social entrepreneurs face from time to time with their organizations, including Rev. Dr. Aizaiah Yong. To help work through this season, Rev. Dr. Yong, co-founder and CEO of Spirited Renewal, hoped to participate in professional coaching sessions focused on leadership and organizational development. With the assistance from a NBA Health and Social Services Leadership Development Grant, he was able to participate in these coaching sessions that had a profound effect.

“This coaching support had a transformative impact on my personal leadership capacity,” said Rev. Dr. Yong. “The sessions created dedicated space for reflection, strategy, and accountability around several pressing organizational challenges we were facing.”

The coaching created dedicated space for reflection, strategy, and accountability to discern and act upon several pressing organizational priorities, including growing in intercultural competence, translating vision into clearer practices and structures, and considering how artificial intelligence might be integrated into the organization’s work in thoughtful and values-aligned ways.

“The coaching process helped surface questions about how leadership, communication, decision-making, and organizational culture can more fully reflect the organization’s values and commitments,” said Rev. Dr. Yong. “Additionally, it allowed our leadership to clarify next steps, identify areas for alignment, and move toward more actionable ways of embodying the organization’s mission in daily operations.”

Building off the knowledge gained during the coaching sessions, Spirited Renewal will be offering a new leadership certification program this fall for congregational leaders who work with young families.

Rev. Dr. Yong is grateful for NBA’s commitment to supporting leaders working in health and social services. “The NBA Health and Social Service Leadership Development Grant created an opportunity for deeper leadership formation and organizational strengthening,” he said. “The coaching helped build capacity to meet current challenges with greater clarity, intentionality, and resilience.”

NBA is currently accepting applications for Health & Social Services Leadership Development Grants through July 1st, 2026. If you or someone in your life is a leader at a health and social services organization looking to enhance their leadership capacity, consider applying today!