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Local Evaluation News and Happenings

       Do you have news or events to share? Send an email to info@mneval.org. 

  • 14 Jul 2020 4:52 PM | MNEA admin (Administrator)

    Claremont Graduate University | Claremont Evaluation Center

    Online Professional Development
    Workshop Series

    August 14-22, 2020


    Registration is now open for 18 one day online workshops this summer!

    For the daily schedule and course descriptions please click here: 

    https://research.cgu.edu/claremont-evaluation-center/professional-development-workshops/workshop-descriptions/

    There is limited enrollment so please register ASAP on a first come, first served basis using the link below: https://research.cgu.edu/claremont-evaluation-center/professional-development-workshops/summer-workshops-registration-rates-scholarships/

    For any further questioms, please contact Jessica Renger (jessica.renger@cgu.edu) for more details. 

     

    Division of Behavioral & Organizational Sciences


  • 13 Jul 2020 5:10 PM | Anonymous

    Are you aware of Evalpalooza, an interactive online meeting that the Evaluation Association of St. Louis and the Chicagoland Evaluation Association are sponsoring? Our first Evalpalooza will be Evaluation Failures with Kylie Hutchinson and Thought LeadersEvalpalooza is a 4 hour long focused, interactive, small, virtual session facilitated by evaluation thought leaders around a key topic. Sessions are limited to only 100 individuals (including presenters), are conducted via Zoom, and are interactive. (Yes, you are expected to interact!) Registration for Evalpalooza is open to the public.

    The session will be held via Zoom Conference Calls on September 24, 2020 from noon – 4 p.m. CDT (with a virtual happy hour to follow). You can learn more and register at the following link:

    https://easl.wildapricot.org/event-3870521

  • 06 Jul 2020 3:53 PM | MNEA admin (Administrator)

    LEADING COURAGEOUSLY IN THE HUMAN SERVICE SECTOR
    2020 SUMMER SERIES

    The Summer Series continues to grow leaders to be versed in participatory practices that engage whole family systems, to lead with practices that are centered on the voices of those most impacted by racial and systemic injustice, and to engage our communities to create the changes that we need. No matter if you are a seasoned practitioner or are simply curious, we welcome you to join us. All workshops will be held virtually.

    Through generous support from the Kresge Foundation, Future Services Institute is committed to making these workshops accessible for all who want to participate. Registration fees for each workshop:

    Register Today


    • $25 Pay it Forward
    (for well-resourced
    organizations, covering costs of
    this workshop and contribute to
    our scholarship pool)

    • $15 Nonprofit/Student
    (for smaller nonprofit
    organizations or students)


    • $0
    (For community or grassroots
    organizations who wouldn’t be
    able to participate without
    financial support)


    Coming up first...


    ONLINE HOSTING
    PRACTICES THAT WORK

    JULY 21, 2020 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am
    Hosted by: Sook Jin Ong and Rosalva Mujwid Hernandez

    Register Today

    Now that we are working virtually, how might we facilitate powerful conversations that are engaging? What tools are at our disposal? What are some ways you can translate your hosting practice onto new platforms? Boost your online hosting practices by experiencing some of your own tips with fellow practitioners.


    Next up...

    ONLINE COLLECTIVE SENSE-MAKING
    JULY 29, 2020 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
    Hosted by: Marcela Sotela and Jen Mein

    Register Today

    Planning and designing ways to engage participants to make meaning together, make collective insights visible, have artifacts to move forward wiser action. Use online tools to invite, capture and share all participants’ voices. Explore different levels of sensemaking from the individual to the larger collective through reflective practices. Let’s connect, share, and learn TOGETHER!


    Later...

    RESEARCH AND EVALUTION IN UNCERTAIN AND
    CHANGING TIMES

    AUGUST 10, 2020 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
    Hosted by: Henriet Hendriks and Trupti Sarode

    Register Today

    Our world has shifted in many ways, COVID-19 has exacerbated racial inequalities before the murder of George Floyd further challenged all of us in different ways, laying bare the systemic racism in our institutions. The very institutions that are charged with doing research and evaluation. How do we answer the ethical, conceptual and methodological challenges around conducting research and evaluation in times of local and global unrest? How has the role of an evaluator and researcher changed throughout these times? What are some tools and methods that help uphold equity, fairness, and justice?


    And Lastly...


    OPEN SPACE SESSION ON
    EQUITY IN THE HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR

    TUESDAY, AUGUST 18th 1pm – 4pm
    Hosted by: Donte Curtis, Ashley Bennett, and Katie Boone 

    Register Today

    Given the era of COVID and the racial injustice of George Floyd’s murder, what are the conversations we need to have now to ground our systems change work towards creating equity, inclusion and justice for all?



  • 01 Jul 2020 5:16 PM | MNEA admin (Administrator)

    COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways. While many organizations are urgently responding to communities to provide support, others have put their work on hold or are making innovative adjustments to adapt to safe social distancing guidelines. Whether your work has evolved to respond to the pandemic, or you are finding yourself with extra time to dust off and update your old logic model, The Improve Group’s upcoming 4-hour virtual workshop on logic models can benefit you. 

    As you know, logic models are instrumental in guiding evaluation and reporting activities. They can also help your team build consensus around assumptions and create cohesion about how you think about and communicate your program. With this workshop, The Improve Group will explain the “why” and “how” of using logic models! Following the workshop, you can register to spend additional one-on-one time working with our trainers to develop your logic model. Our training meets you where you are—no previous logic model expertise required.

    For more information on the benefits of having a logic model, check out this video from IG CEO Leah Goldstein Moses!

    If this sounds like something that would benefit your program or organization, you can learn more and register here!

    Coming Soon: The Improve Group is introducing a training on survey planning and development, which will be held on August 19. We’ll follow-up with more details in the coming weeks but wanted to notify you of the date ahead of time!

  • 12 Jun 2020 3:27 PM | Anonymous

    Learn Together, While Apart

    Register for the AEA Summer Learning Series 

    Inspired by the lessons of the Summer Evaluation Institute, AEA has transformed five of our Summer Evaluation workshops into in-depth and interactive digital workshops to support the continual learning and growth of our community. 


    What Makes the Summer Learning Series Different?


    AEA is working hard to transform in-person workshop content into valuable digital workshops that have clear distinctions from typical webinars. The 
    Summer Learning Series features: 

    • Meaningful discussions with your peers allowing for thorough understanding of the topic 
    • Opportunity to work through case studies and see how the topic can be applied to your practice
    • Designated time for question and answers to allow you to work through foreseen challenges or brainstorm solutions with the group or presenter
    • Curated speakers from across the field of evaluation who are subject matter experts and experienced in workshop facilitation 

    Plan your summer education schedule with our five digital workshops: 

    Adding Costs to Help Your Evaluation Get Used: Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analyses for Health and Human Services 

    12:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

    See full description


    Mixed Methods Design in Evaluation

    12:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

    See full description.


    Interactive Dashboards Using Excel and Google Sheets

    12:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

    See full description.


    You Built it. Why Won’t They Come? Evaluation Capacity Building

    12:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

    See full description.


    Visual Note-Taking 101: Encouraging Dynamic Participation through Visual Storytelling

    12:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

    See full description.


    To participate in these digital workshops, all you need is a reliable internet connection and your computer or laptop.
    Presenters will communicate If additional materials are needed for their workshop.

    Visit the AEA Digital Knowledge Hub to learn more about the Summer Learning Series and other upcoming offerings. 

    Please contact AEA at info@eval.org if you have any questions.


  • 12 Jun 2020 3:21 PM | Anonymous

    We’re now inviting more people to join the MERL Center working groups! If you are a MERL practitioner with an interest in or knowledge of open source, or you’re an open source expert with an interest in and knowledge of MERL, we’d love to have you! Please feel free to reach out me with a brief introduction to you and your work, and I’ll help you get on-boarded. We’re excited to have you work with us!   

    Learn More

  • 05 May 2020 7:45 PM | MNEA admin (Administrator)

    May 5 Webinar

    Deep Dive with Michael Quinn Patton: Evaluation Implications of th Coronavirus Global Health Pandemic Emergency


    Blog authored by MQPatton

    March 23rd, 2020  Blog post on Blue Marble Evaluation

    Click here to read the post 

  • 04 May 2020 6:44 PM | MNEA admin (Administrator)

    AEA continues to offer support to members and the evaluation community as a whole. We understand this is a strenuous and difficult time, and many are under significant financial strain.

    For April, May, and June membership renewals, AEA will freeze renewal costs for 60 days upon request. If you are concerned about an upcoming membership renewal, please contact us at info@eval.org.

    We encourage you to continue to take advantage of your member benefits, including:

    Coffee Breaks 
    As an AEA member, you have free access to our library of Coffee Breaks. These short, 20 minute webinars are great for sharing lessons with your colleagues, while you are apart.

    eStudies
    eStudies are a great way to be immersed in top-of-mind evaluation themes and topics via an online course. Here are a few upcoming eStudies to consider exploring, offered at a discounted rate to members. You can also access recorded eStudies on the Knowledge Hub.

    ·      Introduction to Independent Consulting (starting May 4, 2020)
    ·      Introduction to R (starting June 4, 2020)

    Conference Recordings
    AEA members now have free access to the Evaluation 2019 recordings. Review the Presidential Strand and Plenary sessions now to refresh your memory of what you've learned, or to catch up on sessions you may have missed.

    AEA365
    AEA's daily blog, AEA365, includes a series of Saturday posts offering reflection and information for evaluation practice during this global pandemic.

    Topics covered include:

    ·      Self-Care in the Age of Coronavirus
    ·      Making it Work Online - A Rapid Response to COVID
    ·      Contactless Evaluation - (in Times of COVID-19)

    Click here to subscribe to AEA365. We will continue to share resources and experiences of our community. 

    EvalTalk
    AEA encourages you to turn to the evaluation community through EvalTalk. This discussion forum provides a safe space to trade insights and concerns, talk through specific challenges that are arising, and overall, to lean on each other for support. Now is the time to maintain strong connections worldwide and seek guidance in navigating today's climate.

    Local Affiliates
    Consider reaching out to an AEA affiliate for localized resources and support. AEA teams up with local affiliates as part of the Local Affiliate Collaborative, an effort designed to support, sustain, and strengthen affiliates by fostering joint and coordinated action among and between affiliates and AEA.

    TIGs
    You can also stay connected to your community through TIGs. Topical Interest Groups are defined around a certain topic or interest and create a forum enabling its members to become a resource that the entire community can leverage. This organized community and combined experience is needed now more than ever. As an AEA member, you are allowed to join up to five of the 60 Topical Interest Groups.

    QUESTIONS? Reach out to us with any membership-related questions at info@eval.org or 202.367.1166.



  • 04 May 2020 5:00 PM | MNEA admin (Administrator)

    Minnesota Council on Foundation’s Learning and Evaluation Roundtable (for staff at funding organizations)

    DATE & TIME: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 10:00am - 11:30am CDT

    LOCATION: Webinar

    ADMISSION FEE: $0.00

    MEMBER ADMISSION FEE: $0.00

    This is an exploratory meeting for Learning and Evaluation professionals working in funding organizations. At this roundtable, Learning and Evaluation professionals working in philanthropy will get to know each other, share about the work they are doing, and talk through questions and challenges with their peers. It is also an opportunity to start thinking about how Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) can best support Evaluation and Learning staff moving forward.

     

    Register

     


  • 04 May 2020 4:34 PM | MNEA admin (Administrator)
    Simply put: feedback is important. Particularly in times of crisis and change, listening to those we serve is critical. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

    Late last year, three Leap Ambassadors—David Bonbright, Brad Dudding, and Sophie Sahafled a conversation around the importance of gathering and acting on constituent feedback that's especially relevant today. We've condensed the conversation into 15 minutes of helpful tips and experience that you can watch here:

    Insight

    But we're certainly not the only ones talking about constituent feedback:

    • On June 3, Feedback Labs is hosting a webinar to discuss how feedback loops are being used to improve nonprofit organizations' responses to COVID-19.
    • If you're a funding organization, you can join other funders, the Fund for Shared Insight, and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations on May 19 for a conversation around building your listening and feedback practices.
    Surviving and thriving in times of crisis makes gathering feedback more important than ever before. We hope these insights from the experts spark meaningful reflection and action for you.

    Be well,
    Leap Ambassadors Community


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