Hosted by the Minnesota Evaluation Association

Evaluation has been constructed over time to reflect what our society perceives as “mainstream.” As a field and profession, evaluation centers normative identities, problems, and solutions to the dominant narrative of merit and worth, which is rooted in white supremacy and colonialism. Communities that do not fit into this mold include LGBTQ2S+, persons with visible and invisible disabilities, immigrants and refugees, Indigenous, Black/African American, and other communities of color, and many others. Often, the identities, problems, and solutions from these communities are filtered and distilled to be palatable to the dominant culture of evaluation and maintain the status quo.

When we remove the filters, there is a vibrant array of voices, representation, innovation, and knowledge that has not been given the space to shine.

At the Minnesota Evaluation Association, we want to normalize evaluation without filters and encourage these voices and ideas to take up the space that they deserve and on their terms through their own lenses. We want to gather in a space that values story, emotions, mistakes, non-linearity, and critical thinking toward liberation.