Unveiling insights : program evaluation in Black and/or African American communities

"The racial landscape in the United States is intricate and deeply entwined with historical legacies of systemic inequalities, particularly impacting African American communities. This study researches the evaluation practices within programs specifically designed for African American communities, employing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Culturally Responsive Evaluation (CRE) frameworks. The study focuses on the backgrounds, experiences, and identities of program evaluators engaged in these communities, seeking to understand how race influences their practices. Using a generic qualitative research design, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted to elucidate evaluators' perspectives on issues such as race, culture, equity, and inclusion throughout the evaluation process. The findings highlighted the crucial role of identity in evaluation practice, discussing challenges and effective strategies for managing identity dynamics. The analysis also provided insight into various aspects of evaluation practices within Black and/or African American communities, including cultural context, diverse evaluation methodologies, integration of social justice principles, and strategies for enhancing evaluation. This research paves the way for future studies exploring evaluators' operations within Black ecosystems, suggesting potential areas for inquiry like purposive sampling and focus groups to capture diverse perspectives and roles. Future studies could explore evaluator competencies and roles, refining evaluation practices within Black communities."--Abstract from author supplied metadata.