In 2016 I worked with social justice organization Puget Sound Sage to design and conduct a participatory evaluation of their pilot Community Leadership Institute (CLI). Using a critical race and feminist research framework, I collaborated with Sage to identify the purpose, and potential impacts of the evaluation and to acknowledge and attend to my position as an older white, middle class woman evaluating a community-based education program for people of color, immigrants and workers.
I designed several feedback loops with educators and program staff, participants and guest facilitators. In this way the evaluation process was both participatory and “iterative,” or constantly evolving to meet emerging needs defined by the various stakeholders. I used a variety of data collection tools – including a participant survey, administered online, and a participatory evaluation exercise. In the exercise I collaborated with a community facilitator to present preliminary survey findings to CLI participants. We then facilitated a process for them to reflect on and revise the findings, and prioritize areas for improvement. Their recommendations for future cohorts became a central component of the evaluation report.
I then gathered and analyzed additional data sources including formative assessments from the learning sessions; video interviews with participants; footage from the opening and closing ceremonies; curriculum documents and materials; and demographic information supplied by participants. At the end of my field experience project, I presented my findings to the Puget Sound Sage staff and CLI participants verbally and in report format; created an “evaluation snapshot,” for sharing with funders and stakeholders; and prepared a grant report based on the evaluation.
I designed several feedback loops with educators and program staff, participants and guest facilitators. In this way the evaluation process was both participatory and “iterative,” or constantly evolving to meet emerging needs defined by the various stakeholders. I used a variety of data collection tools – including a participant survey, administered online, and a participatory evaluation exercise. In the exercise I collaborated with a community facilitator to present preliminary survey findings to CLI participants. We then facilitated a process for them to reflect on and revise the findings, and prioritize areas for improvement. Their recommendations for future cohorts became a central component of the evaluation report.
I then gathered and analyzed additional data sources including formative assessments from the learning sessions; video interviews with participants; footage from the opening and closing ceremonies; curriculum documents and materials; and demographic information supplied by participants. At the end of my field experience project, I presented my findings to the Puget Sound Sage staff and CLI participants verbally and in report format; created an “evaluation snapshot,” for sharing with funders and stakeholders; and prepared a grant report based on the evaluation.