Family League of Baltimore sought to better understand what makes its Thriving Youth Initiative effective in reconnecting youth with school, work, and long-term stability. While the outcomes were promising, the organization knew that to strengthen and scale the work, they needed deeper insight—especially from the young people and staff who experience these programs every day.
Community Science partnered with Family League to conduct an evaluation that was more than a research exercise—it was a community-building experience. Our evaluation team, led by Managing Director Brandi Gilbert, created a process in which program staff and young people felt seen, respected, and safe to share honest reflections. Data collection was designed not only to gather information but also to foster connection, reflection, and celebration.
An Evaluation Experience Unlike Any Other
According to Jessie Tartanian, Family League’s Director of Data and Evaluation, this project became “my favorite evaluation I’ve ever worked on.” The Community Science team brought:
- Deep collaboration at every stage—co-creating surveys, interview guides, logic models, and meaning-making sessions.
- Exceptional project stewardship, reducing burden on Family League’s internal team by driving and managing the scope of work.
- A human-centered approach that made data collection a positive experience—not extractive, not clinical, but connective and helpful.
- Sharp insight grounded in Baltimore’s context, understanding the nuances of the city’s neighborhoods, organizations, and funding ecosystem, and asking helpful questions.
- Beautiful, emotionally resonant writing that captured not only the findings but the heart and urgency of the work.
- Staff and youth echoed the sentiment: the evaluation process didn’t just collect data—it honored the people behind the work.
Insights That Shape Action
The evaluation produced powerful themes, including one phrase that has already become a guiding principle at Family League: “Youth want support, not surveillance.”
These insights are now helping Family League:
Strengthen its cohort model so grantee organizations can collaborate, share resources, and learn from each other.
- Advocate for flexible funding to remove barriers like transportation.
- Support youth workers with more training and resources to reduce burnout.
- Equip decision-makers, including city leaders and legislators, with youth-centered data to inform policies and investments.
- Use the report as a training tool for new partners joining the Thriving Youth Initiative.
The report is already being used in citywide cross-agency spaces like Youth Stat, helping shape real-time decisions about youth services in Baltimore.
The partnership between Community Science and the Family League of Baltimore shows what becomes possible when evaluation is approached with rigor, equity, and genuine engagement. Together, we were able to strengthen strategy, lift up youth voice, and contribute to system-level change—outcomes we are deeply proud of, even as we recognize that no process is ever flawless, and no partnership unfolds without learning along the way.
We hope that every relationship we build—whether with funders, nonprofits, public agencies, or corporations—carries the same spirit of collaboration, trust, and shared purpose that shaped our work with Family League. In a moment when funding is tightening, stakes are high, and human dignity is far too often at risk, we remain committed to bringing humanity, care, and integrity into every engagement. Consulting work can be complex, imperfect, and challenging, but our north star is unwavering: to support communities and partners in ways that reflect their realities, honor their commitments and intentions, and advance fair access to opportunity for all.