RAFF IT UP! - Ideas for October & November, 2000

"RAFF" ing It Up in Evaluation

By making sure, you get to know each other (R), that many and anyone can take part (A), that there is good food (F), and there is always fun (F), will ensure your evaluation process and outcomes are effective, appropriate and Community Building.

So how do you know if your community Building is successful and how can you make it RAFF? Have you found questions to ask and can you measure them? We are all being asked to show it! But that is not so easy because the impact of Community Building cannot be seen in a year or two but rather five or even ten years. We are often pushed by our funders to measure when we cannot. We must find ways to show the impact of community building. So what do we do? The answer and the wisdom is with people getting together, those who live and work in our communities and those who are part of community building (Relationships). Have fun in your community (Fun) by sharing and celebrating the stories of how life has been changed by the community building and by developing your own stats; for instance:

• the smiles on faces
• the kids out playing
• the use of the playground, etc.

There is richness in stories rather than facts and figures so consider hosting a story telling night, or maybe soften the statistics by have a counting night where everyone goes out together and counts. Maybe do a counting night every few months and compare the numbers to tell the story, (Action) rather than just using hard facts that are readily attained through the conventional civic and provincial data sources.

Evaluation is not easy and has frequently been imposed and/or measured by outsiders. It has had little meaning, participation and impact locally or it is done and it really does not tell the true Community Building story. We at CBR struggle all the time with communities and our work to find meaningful ways to show the successes of Community Building, ones that are not imposed and ones that do not interfere with the Community Building. There is a whole body of research and writings on Community Indicator Projects (CIP) that has a lot to offer for ideas on what to measure and questions to ask. The Jasper Place Gateway Foundation (JPGF) RIFF RAFF group is doing some neat things too with their monthly pot-lucks (Food). Have a look at the list they are creating that will tell them that the JPGF is successful. Click on the CBR Research and Evaluation section for the RIFF RAFF research details or go to the JPGF web site www.jasperplace.com to see the notes of the RIFF RAFF gatherings, and where and when they gather. Also Tom Dewar's book 'A guide to evaluating asset-based community development: lessons, challenges and opportunities" through the Asset-Based Community Development Institute and ACTA Publications (1-800-397-2282 or 773-271-1030) is a good resource.

Mary Jane Buchanan, who is with the Downtown Edmonton Community Association (DECA), has recently completed a thesis that addresses the social and friendship impacts of community building and she also developed a conceptual model. I am sure she would enjoy talking to anyone about what she has learned. Mary Jane can be contacted at: maryjane@cs.ualberta.ca or call (780)423-2031

Jocelyn Edey is the researcher with the RIFF RAFF group and has become well versed in Community Indicator Projects, and with RIFF RAFF is creating a process that supports and stimulates evaluation by community members. Jocelyn is also helping the CIA (Community Involved Adolescents) youth create their own evaluation. I know Jocelyn, the CIA and RIFF RAFF would also enjoy talking and sharing with others. Contact Jocelyn at jedey@compusmart.ab.ca or call her here at CBR (780) 484-9045.

You can RAFF it up with evaluation. Using RAFF in evaluation will encourage greater involvement and fun, people will have a much more positive perspective on evaluation, and the process will be community building. Have Fun!!

Want to see past RAFF It Up! ideas???....click here.

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