Bruce Springsteen’s success and popularity has had a profound impact on New Jersey. As 'The Boss' returns to the Garden State for three shows at Giants Stadium, the Hall Institute’s Richard A. Lee, a former music critic, reflects upon Springsteen and our state in What Has ‘The Boss’ Meant to NJ?

Glory Days — In a paper presented at Glory Days: A Bruce Springsteen Symposium at Monmouth University in 2005, Patricia M. Ard, a professor at Ramapo College, explains How Bruce Made It Cool to be From New Jersey.

Growing Up — In another paper presented at the Glory Days symposium, Robert Trumpbour, a professor from Penn State Altoona, explores Springsteen’s reflections on New Jersey culture. Read more in Growing Up in Springsteen Country: Reflections on Springsteen’s Vision of New Jersey Culture.

Visit the Hall Institute online at WWW.HALLNJ.ORG to read these articles and other topical material:

• Riccards on New Jersey 2008 — A blog on our state's expanded role in the 2008 presidential race.
• Rich Lee on Media — Musings on those who make the news and those who report it.
• Hall Institute Forum — Our public affairs television program.
• Hall Institute Radio Podcast Forum — Audio discussion of timely and topical public policy issues.
• A School Funding Scrapbook — Commentary on education issues and policy.
• White Papers
• Research Essays
• Op-Ed Articles
• Press Releases

The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Since its inception in 2005, the institute has posted more than 400 white papers, research essays and op-ed articles on its website at www.hallnj.org in an effort to generate debate and discussion and develop solutions to the problems confronting the state and its residents.

The institute has conducted several special events, including NJ2008, a series of public forums on the state’s role in the 2008 presidential campaign. In 2006, the institute presented an online Virtual Debate among the candidates in New Jersey's U.S. Senate race. At present, we are sponsoring a Similar Virtual Debate for the state's 2008 U.S. Senate election.

The organization produces public affairs television, podcasts and blogs, and also has published two books -- The State of the Garden State and Reaction and Reform in New Jersey. Both are compilations of the major papers posted on its website. A third volume, Creating A Common Future: New Jersey and Public Policy, is posted on the Hall Institute website.

Earlier this year, the institute acquired the Bay Area Center for Voting Research, a non-partisan think tank based in Berkeley, California, leading to the start of the Hall Institute of Public Policy – California.

Located in Trenton directly across from the New Jersey State House, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.