Marginalized communities often face systemic oppression, discrimination, and exclusion from mainstream institutions and power structures. Power building can help these communities challenge and change these systems of oppression by giving them the ability to advocate for their own rights and interests, and demand accountability from those in power.
In this webinar, we provide a basic framework for measuring and evaluating the process of building power among historically marginalized communities in order to achieve greater equity. We focus on how evaluation can be used to improve strategies to understand how to better measure power and the process of how these communities build it and use it to achieve change in systems.
The Panel includes Kien Lee and David Chavis of Community Science, along with Celesté Martinez of Celestial Alegria.
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Your Panel
David M Chavis, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow
Community Science
David Chavis, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, is internationally recognized for his work in the implementation, support, and evaluation of community and systems change initiatives. The focus of his work is equitable community development as a central strategy to promote community resilience, economic and educational opportunities, improved health and well-being, and a more powerful citizenry. He also specializes in the design and implementation of community capacity building systems to bring about sustainable and scaled systems changes.
At Community Science, he brings expertise in a wide array of research and evaluation methodologies, from cross-case study to experimental design. David also leads national, statewide, and local evaluations of community and systems change initiatives, organizational and community capacity building, and multisectoral collaborations devoted to health promotion, violence and substance-abuse prevention, youth development, children’s mental health, and community organizing. Notable projects include three recent initiatives designed to change systems and promote healthy communities supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the National Crime Prevention Council, and The California Endowment.
Kien Lee
Vice President of Consulting
Community Science
Kien S. Lee, Ph.D., Vice President of Consulting, has expertise in promoting equity, inclusion, and cultural competency for health, food security, civic engagement, and leadership development.
She brings experience as a capacity builder, evaluator, and researcher working with federal and local government agencies, foundations, and nonprofit organizations that are striving to effect community and systems change. Kien is seen as a thought leader in work that occurs at the nexus of evaluation and racial equity and presents and writes extensively about how evaluation can be scientifically rigorous and supportive of racial equity at the same time.
At Community Science, Kien provides strategic and technical direction for the evaluation of health and racial equity projects. She leads the practice area in inclusiveness and equity, health equity, and effective organizations. Her subject matter expertise includes immigrant and refugee integration, community building, leadership development, health equity, intergroup relations, evaluation capacity building, and organizational cultural competency. Notable clients include the Bush Foundation, the Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative, Institute for Nonprofit Practice.
Celesté Martinez
Owner / Jefa
Celestial Alegria, LLC
Celesté Martinez is an experienced transformational leader with a demonstrated history of organizing for racial, economic and immigrant justice. Skilled in Facilitation, Coaching, Leadership Development, Nonprofit Organizational Development, Program Development, Training Curriculum Development, Political Education, and most importantly Racial Equity Training. Strong and passionate professional with a dual Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Philosophy & Peace & Justice Studies from Regis University.