[CLOSED] Data + Soul Studio. Equity by design: Building reflexive practices in research and evaluation

Description

By and large, the field of applied research and evaluation is in an age of exciting shifts in approaches, methods, and frameworks in service of transformation toward culturally responsive and equitable approaches to working with data. Data + Soul is the journey, commitment, and practice of holding ourselves (evaluators and researchers) accountable for continuous self-reflection and learning throughout our cycles of work in ways that acknowledge systemic context and the multitudes of perspectives that data can represent. 

The Data+Soul Studio is a space for evaluators and researchers to put theory into practice, moving beyond the WHATs to explore the HOWs. Together we'll shine a light on our own positionalities and blindspots, and navigate the complex barriers we encounter when working to implement equity-based approaches in the real world. We will develop micro practices that anchor us in continuous self-awareness and foster stronger connections for collaborative problem-solving.

By the end of our six weeks together, you will leave with…

• A stronger individual reflexive practice

• A set of practical skills and practices for centering equity in your day to day  work, for yourself and your team

• Inspiration, a joyful outlook and grounding in purpose of what it means to be human who is working with data

• Connections to a community of fellow evaluators and researchers committed to advancing equity

• Tools and reference materials to help you share about and continue the work after the course - including your own Data Equity Deck!

This training includes

• 6 live sessions (2 hours each) packed with examples and case studies, as well opportunities for individual reflection and group discussion

• 2 live problems of practice spaces (1 hour each) to dig deeper into concepts, troubleshoot ideas for practice, and connect with your peers

• Downloadable resources to continue the work

The Studio might be right for you if…
JOURNEY. You’re eager to begin or deepen your journey into equity-centered evaluation work.

• You’ve never embarked on a journey of reflexivity 

• You understand that self-examination is vital to working with data in equitable and culturally responsive ways, but don’t know where to start

• You’ve already engaged in reflexivity, but struggle with how to implement continuous self-reflection and learning across projects 

• You regularly engage in reflexivity, but are challenged with understanding how to inspire a culture of reflection, bias-checking, unlearning, & learning within your team

• You want to transition toward equity-embedded approaches, but are feeling disoriented and isolated from the principles that are guiding your journey 

COMMITMENT. You share a commitment to doing evaluation in ways that advance equity.

• You are committed to recognizing your biases, drawing on your lived experiences, expertise, and observations of the world to fine-tune your approach for applying equity-centered evaluation

• You’re not afraid of moving beyond yourself and stretching your boundaries in service of equity

• You’re dedicated to examining the distance between how you’re showing up compared to how you want to show up in your individual and collective reflective practice

PRACTICE. You’re ready to build or strengthen your practices.

• You want to make actionable changes toward equity-centered evaluations 

• You’re searching for tools to navigate the personal and the professional within your evaluation practice

• You want to deepen your relationships with colleagues and stakeholders by being more transparent, authentic, and effective 

• You’re challenged with establishing a safe and productive space with your team to engage in reflexive and creative thinking 

• You want to overcome challenges to implementing equity-centered approaches, in partnership with your teams through small yet impactful and routine actions 

FAQs

When will registration close?

• Registration will close on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

How many seats are available for the session?

• Our Studio is capped at 25 seats.

• Once this fall’s session is filled, you will be added to our waitlist for future sessions.

Will sessions be recorded?

• These sessions will not be recorded. We will share slides and materials from the sessions with registered participants.

What is the format of the training?

• This is a cohort-based workshop series that will take place through live facilitated sessions over the course of six weeks. When you register, you are registering for all six sessions.

• There will also be two drop-in office hours / problems of practice sessions to dig deeper into concepts from the Studio.

What is the cost of this Studio training?

• The introductory cost of this training is $595/seat.

What is your refund policy?

• We do not offer refunds for workshop registrations. However, your satisfaction is important to us. If you do not feel satisfied please contact hello@dataplussoul.com and we will discuss possible alternative arrangements.

Do you provide accessibility accommodations?

• Each session will have closed captions enabled. Each session will also include time for movement/stretch breaks.

How much time do I need to commit to this program on a weekly basis?

• Each session will be 2 hours long. In addition, we may ask you to do some minimal pre-work (15-30 minutes per week).

What payment options do you provide?

• Credit card

• Need to pay a different way? Please contact hello@dataplussoul.com and we’ll work with you on alternate ways to pay.

Is this workshop open to international participants?

• Yes.