The “Beyond the Gift Card” series focuses on bridging the gap between communities and research, aiming to involve minoritized communities as research partners and leaders rather than just subjects.
The session features experts like Dr. Rebecca Johnson and Dr. Crystal Jackson, who discuss the importance of evaluation in research and community programs, emphasizing that evaluation should be practical, stakeholder-driven, and aimed at improving outcomes.
The Healthy Communities Coalition (HCC) is highlighted for its grassroots efforts in empowering communities to leverage research for capacity building and ensuring their voices are represented in the research process.
Methods of evaluation are discussed, including impact evaluation and formative evaluation, with an emphasis on adapting programs based on feedback and short-term and long-term outcomes.
The session encourages community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) to use research and evaluation to improve their programs, engage stakeholders, and ensure accountability, ultimately aiming for meaningful and impactful community-driven research.