February 7 Proposal Deadline: CREA (Culturally Responsive Evaluation & Assessment) 6^th Annual International Conference Sep. 29-Oct. 2 in Chicago, IL

The CREA 2020 theme of Interrogating Cultural Responsiveness against the Backdrop of Racism and Colonialism will focus on the following areas in program evaluation, measurement, and assessment:

• Being culturally responsive in the midst of discomfort and opposition—critically reflecting on our professional experiences and strategies for maintaining and strengthening our cultural responsiveness
• Choosing to be part of a solution rather than part of a problem—how well do we encourage interpersonal and academic discussions of racism and colonialism
• Building the capacity of those we work with—communities, organizations, funders—to understand history, culture and the distribution of power resulting from racism and colonialism
• Naming, unpacking, and destabilizing white privilege to understand how racism and colonialism negatively impact all peoples
• Delving deeper into the intersections of racism and colonialism with sexism, transphobia and other prejudices that marginalize and exclude
• Examining the theoretical roots of cultural responsiveness through the intersecting lenses of racism and colonialism.

Papers are invited that address one or more of the following:

1. Reports of interventions—We invite papers that describe interventions/programs addressing a particular type of inequity primarily including discussions of outcomes and impacts.

2. Development of an intersectional evidence base—We invite papers that discuss new ways of thinking about evidence of effectiveness and program impact within interventions that target people of color including indigenous and tribal specific communities.

3. Theories of change that incorporate an intersectional perspective—We invite papers that explore the plausibility and testability of various theories of change that address inequities in specific, local or global circumstances.

4. Instrumentation—We invite papers that address issues in the development of measures and indicators that are sensitive to capturing changes in underrepresented individuals and communitiesthat are targeted in programs and interventions. 5. Critical reflection —We invite papers that deconstruct dynamics of power and privilege surrounding evaluation and assessment while closely examining the cultural location of our work as well as its ethical and moral complexities given intersectional considerations.

Learn More

A new issue of the Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation (JMDE) was published recently and is freely available at jmde.com
http://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1.

The contents of the issue are:

Donald T. Cambell’s Evolutionary Perspective and its Implications for Evaluation http://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/553
Robert Picciotto

What, How, and Why? A Comparative Analysis of 12 Goal-Free Evaluations http://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/444
Brandon W. Youker

Big Shoes to Fill: An Evaluation Journey in the Footsteps of Daniel L. Stufflebeam http://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/609
Sherrie-Ann Camilli

Retrospective Pretest and Counterfactual Self-Report: Different or Same? http://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/575
Tony C.M. Lam, Edgar Valencia

Children’s Opinion of Retrospective Pre-Post ‘Then-Test’ Survey Validity http://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/535
Leanne M. Kelly

14TH EUROPEAN EVALUATION SOCIETY BIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2020 – COPENHAGEN, DK

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS: CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The EES professional development workshops will take place during the first two days of the conference on September 21 and 22, 2020. These workshops provide an opportunity for evaluators and evaluation stakeholders, to access high quality, up to date and practically oriented professional development sessions on the ever increasing and rapidly evolving body of evaluation theory and practice.

The professional development workshops are one day sessions and topics may include for example: evaluation approaches, evaluation designs, specific methods related to various themes, evaluation and use of digital technologies, evaluation as social practice, etc.

Innovative workshop submissions are encouraged and welcome.

For information on how to submit your workshop proposal (no later than 15 March 2020 ) and on the benefits associated with the provision of a professional development workshop, please visit http://www.ees2020.eu/professional-development-workshops.htm

For the latest news about the conference please visit http://www.ees2020.eu/

Albine Guitard & Ian Davies, Co-chairs
EES Professional Development Workshops

Minnesotans working in evaluation who are from communities that are Indigenous, Black, and/or Of Color: We are happy to report that we had about 25 people attend our first meeting in-person or remotely—most of whom did not know each other previously. Another 25 expressed interest but were unable to attend that particular evening. Folks were enthusiastic to meet again, soon, and we are fortunate that Choua Her has graciously offered to host the second meeting on Wednesday, January 22 in St. Paul.

Beyond community building and having an open conversation about our experiences, one focus of the January (and February) meeting will be to ensure that those who were unable to attend in December have a chance to contribute their ideas to the guiding principles that this group will embrace and likely-ever-evolving list of topics that this group will collectively address. Depending on the size and composition of January’s attendees, we may decide to also offer a break-out space/ time for those who want to begin thinking through questions about how we should take care of the group’s logistics and administration.

Please find meeting details below and let us know if you plan to attend the January 22 meeting in-person or are interested in attending future events by completing this Google Form by Monday, January 20, 2020.

Feel free to share this invitation, noting that this space/time is being co-created by/for/as folks with life experience as members of groups that are Indigenous, Black, and/or Of Color who are doing evaluation work. White accomplices can show their support/solidarity by honoring the needs, rights, and power involved in IBPOC gathering among ourselves, without them. There may be future opportunities for white accomplices to engage with us in these conversations.

If you have any questions, please contact Carolina at Carolina@pdastats.com. 

MEETING DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Time: 5:30-7:30pm Feel free to come whenever you can and stay for as long as you can.

Location:  Larpenteur Estates
1260 Larpenteur Avenue West
Saint Paul, MN 55113

· There will be signs so folks know where to go and don't get lost.

· There will not be a Zoom option on this date. Look for one in the next several weeks! (We decided that we will create an entirely separate virtual space and time for folks who cannot attend in person to participate, based on our experience at the December meeting when we found it difficult for each side to hear each other.)

Driving directions:         
· Enter by the 1260 building which is across from the Auto Zone store.
· We are happy to try helping coordinate transportation.

Parking is free.
· Park anywhere along the building or by the garages where there is an open space. Walk to the large sign that says Party Room and follow the walkway.

Public transportation:    Metro transit Bus 61. Get off at the Fernwood Street and Larpenteur stop. Walk a few feet to the building across from the Auto Zone store. Go up the walkway to the entrance.

There will be a sign to the Party Room.

Please note:                 
· Feel free but not pressured to bring a snack to share (all are welcome, with or without snacks!).
· There is a full kitchen that folks are welcome to use. If you do bring food, please bring a list of ingredients or note if it contains common allergens or ingredients that folks on restricted diets often avoid (e.g., any kind of meat or seafood, especially shellfish; animal by-products such as gelatin, dairy, eggs; nuts; gluten).

· Please avoid any kind of scent in the interest of attendees with allergies, asthma, and other sensitivities.

Additional considerations:
· Children and others you may care for are welcome.
· There are accessible parking spaces right by the large sign that leads to the walkway, which goes right into the party room entrance.

The party room is on ground level so folks can enter through the same entrance as those who drive and park their cars.

Those taking public transit would need to walk along the parking row that's next to the 1260 building then take a right to get to the walkway.

We will pin down more details regarding the accessible parking spaces, curbs, ramps and are happy to arrange for specific types of access/accommodations including alternative formats, translation, and interpretation.

Thanks and hope to see you soon!

Sincerely on behalf of:

Tia Bastian (Professional Data Analysts)
Carolina De La Rosa Mateo (Professional Data Analysts)
Kassira Absar (The Improve Group)
Vidhya Shanker (Rainbow Research)

Description of image attached: The faces of 6 people of varying genders and hair colors and skin colors, with the words, “This space/time is being co-created by/for/as folks with life experience as members of groups that are Indigenous, Black, and/or Of Color who are doing evaluation work. White accomplices can show their support/solidarity by honoring the needs, rights, and power involved in IBPOC gathering among ourselves, without them. There may be future opportunities for white accomplices to engage with us in these conversations.” Beautifully rendered by Anne Gomez of Picture This Graphic Recording & Facilitation.

Join a local Community of Practice! Open to all evaluators. Meetings are at the Improve Group at 8:30 a.m. 

The Evaluation Community of Practice meets every other month.  Anyone with an interest in evaluation is welcome to attend! Feel free to bring along colleagues.  Participants are asked to lead and facilitate one conversation on an evaluation topic of their choice to enhance our knowledge, skills and practice.

To join email: Laura Bohen at bohe0006@umn.edu

Community of Practice meetings are at: The Improve Group, 661 LaSalle St. St. Paul, MN 55114

Check out the latest and FULL FREE ACCESS issue of the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation (Vol 34 No 2; Fall 2019) published by CES National Capital Chapter / SCÉ Section de la capitale. There are four keynote papers on Indigenous evaluation and/or sharing perspectives about the progress on the TRC policy / progress up in Canada. Click below to read: 

 Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation (Vol 34 No 2; Fall 2019)

EnCompass LLC is offering 30% off of the following ELC courses through the end of this year.  These interactive, instructor-led courses might be of interest to you.

You can follow the links to find the dates and times of the courses. Most are planned for EST morning slots, but MQP’s Principles-Focused class is planned for EST evening hours and Donna Mertens’ course is scheduled for EST afternoon times:

• Appreciative Evaluation with Tessie Catsambas and Stewart Donaldson, January 2020

• Principles-Focused Evaluation with Michael Quinn Patton, February 2020

• Building Effective Teams with John Hovell, March 2020

• Using Interviews to Enhance your Evaluations with Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead, April 2020

• Facilitating Evaluation with Michael Quinn Patton, May 2020

• Transformative Mixed-Methods with Donna Mertens, June 2020

Five Module Series - Discounted from $1375 to $962.50
Four Module Series - Discounted from $1100 to $770
Two Module Series - Discounted from $550 to $385
Four Module Series - Discounted from $1100 to $770
Four Module Series - Discounted from $1100 to $770
Two Module Series - Discounted from $550 to $385

These rates are not available online and need to be processed by the EnCompass team, so please reach out to  EnCompass LLC directly at: +1 301-287-8715  if you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity! 

EnCompass LLC | Direct: +1 301-287-8715

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If you bring value to your organization, have a success story to share, or would like to discuss a relevant topic that impacts your role as an evaluator, AEA wants to hear from you! We are now accepting workshop proposal submissions for the 2020 Summer Evaluation Institute, taking place June 7 – 10, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.  The deadline to submit a proposal is Monday, January 6, 2020 by 11:59 PM ET.

Submit Your Proposal

What to Expect at the Summer Evaluation Institute

The Summer Evaluation Institute features interactive workshops with a focus on the diverse issues and trends unique to evaluation professionals. A small Summer Evaluation Institute working group will choose a variety of high-caliber proposals to be presented during five rotations of half-day workshops.

Who Should Submit a Proposal? You!

Presenters at the Summer Evaluation Institute are nationally-known authors, outstanding trainers, and experts who have conducted evaluations across multiple settings. Share your best practices and expertise by submitting a proposal!

What Are We Looking For?

If you are... An experienced facilitator who teaches topics of interest to evaluators, applied researchers, grantmakers, foundation program officers, nonprofit administrators, and social science students, Someone who can effectively facilitate workshops for groups of 60+ attendees, or, An engaging, dynamic speaker with creative ideas ...then submit your workshop proposal today!

Are you Indigenous, Black, or a Person of Color in Minnesota doing evaluation work? Join us on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the community room at Gandhi Mahal for an evening of community building and discussion about establishing a community of practice to more intentionally address systems change in, through, and around our evaluation work. We will spend time getting to know each other, having an open conversation about our experiences, and sharing ideas about how a group like this could influence systems change. Join when you can and stay for as long as you can--whatever works best for your schedule.

This is a potluck so feel free to bring a snack to share if you are able (all are welcome though, with or without snacks!). 

Please note that this space/time is being co-created by/for/as folks with life experience as members of groups that are Indigenous, Black, and/or Of Color who are doing evaluation work. White accomplices can show their support/solidarity by honoring the needs, rights, and power involved in IBPOC gathering among ourselves, without them. There will be future opportunities for White accomplices to participate and engage with us in these conversations. 

Please let us know if you plan to attend the December 17th meeting (in-person or remotely) or are interested in attending future events by completing this Google Form by Sunday, December 15. Feel free to forward this invitation to other IBPOCs practicing evaluation in Minnesota who may be interested in attending.

You may find it helpful to know:

·          If you are unable to attend in person, you can attend remotely via Zoom.  Contact Carolina at Carolina@pdastats.com.  

·          Children are welcome.

·          Gandhi Mahal is accessible by the Blue Line and Bus Route 21; we are happy to try helping coordinate transportation.

·          There is a ramp at both ends of the sidewalk on 27th Avenue and the community room is wheelchair accessible; we are happy to try to pin down details and arrange for specific types of access/accommodations including alternative formats, translation, and interpretation.

·          Gandhi Mahal is a restaurant and its community room is not scent-free.

If you have any questions, please contact Carolina at Carolina@pdastats.com.  

We look forward to connecting with you!

Sincerely,

Tia Bastian (Professional Data Analysts)
Carolina De La Rosa Mateo (Professional Data Analysts)
Kassira Absar (The Improve Group)
Vidhya Shanker (Rainbow Research)

Dear evaluator,

My name is John LaVelle, I am an Assistant Professor at University of Minnesota.  I am asking you today to ask for your help on a research study on evaluator values.  My team and I are conducting this study because the values that evaluators hold are often alluded to in the scholarly literature but have not always been well defined or measured.

In this study, we will be asking questions about your individual, work, professional, and practice values, and your answers will help create an initial -not conclusive- picture of evaluator values in 2019.

Participation should take no more than 20 minutes of your time, and will remain open until December 1.  You are not required to participate, of course, but participating will help us better understand the individual values evaluators hold, and how those values influence their work.

For every survey completed, I will donate $5 to the AEA international student travel fund, up to $1000.

Preliminary results will be shared at the 2020 AEA and 2020 EES conferences.

Follow this link to participate: https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6szpWpuTKEruLKR

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, and please feel free to share this invitation with your evaluation colleagues.

John and team:

Justin Hackett, Cal U Pennsylvania
Clayton Stephenson, USC
Scott Donaldson, CGU