Public Impact

At bottom, assessment and evaluation are about understanding what’s been done, how it worked, and why it matters. And there are a range of ways I can support your MEL (measurement, evaluation, and learning) agenda. My favorite approaches are those that are well-integrated with the work itself: they are planned to support the development of the work, not just to judge it at the end. They are both planful and make room for emergence. They nurture connection and help us see the network effects of our process. They invest in understanding contribution, not just causation. And my favorite approaches also gather stories and develop testimonies that help us see more clearly the impacts of what’s been done:

Example: You’ve crafted a beautiful program that matters, but the funders only want to know how many butts are in seats. How can you convey the importance of what you’ve done, beyond the numbers? Democratically-engaged assessment practices, like Ripple Effects Mapping, can help paint a fuller picture that you can share with others.

I have deep experience and love for Ripple Effects Mapping (REM), and I often give talks about REM and train teams in how to do REM as well as conducting REM sessions for clients. Reach out any time if you’d like to learn more!

If you’d like to read more: I’m part of the national working group “Assessing the Practices of Public Scholarship,” and we’ve published some interesting pieces on values-engaged assessment and democratically-engaged assessment.