Can Storytelling Act As a Method, Bridging Evaluation and Healing?
Story-based evaluation is more than data collection. Learn how to design ethical, culturally responsive storytelling practices that support connection and wellbeing.
Navigating Difficult Conversations: A Bug’s Life
At Community Science, we often find ourselves reflecting on a powerful, recurring theme: how we, as evaluators, engage in difficult conversations and navigate moments of uncertainty with our partners-grantees, funders, and community leaders alike. These moments go beyond choosing the right words. They're about presence, trust, and the way we show up when the path forward isn't always clear. What follows is a glimpse into those reflections-insights from our team's…
The Real Deal About Collaboration
Over the last several issues of our newsletter, we've explored the importance of understanding and respecting rural cultures-particularly how those insights influence the way we approach evaluations in rural communities. We've also highlighted recurring questions and lessons from place-based change initiatives. Across all community settings, one foundational value consistently emerges beneath both community attributes and evaluation practices: collaboration. Collaboration is essential-not only among community leaders and organizations striving for collective…
My Reflections on Evaluation of Place-based Grantmaking Strategies and Initiatives
Explore 30 years of lessons from evaluating place-based grantmaking initiatives. Learn about core challenges, emerging trends, and how funders, evaluators, and communities can better work together for sustainable change.
Parent Leadership in Disney’s Encanto: Support Our Families, Strengthen Our Communities
Parent leadership has a positive impact on children, families, and society. Carlos Anguiano, Managing Associate, explores this topic through an insightful exploration of cultural influences and family dynamics as exemplified in Disney's "Encanto." Drawing on personal experiences of a Mexican American upbringing, this post delves into the parallels between the film's characters, especially Abuela and Mirabel, and real-life family values and responsibilities.
Designing Research with Intention: Culturally Responsive, Trauma-Informed, and Humanizing Strategies to Engage Youth
Conducting research study interviews with youth who have experienced significant life challenges - homelessness, intimate partner violence, childhood abuse, or other traumas - demands a delicate, compassionate approach. The challenge lies in gathering meaningful data while ensuring a safe and supportive interview environment for the participants. There are four major practices that can help researchers navigate sensitive conversations with youth. Remember, these may need to be adapted to suit individual…