82 - Voices of Change: Implementing Advisory Councils for Equitable Evaluation

Abstract Information: HACER’s Advisory Council Framework and Evaluation Methodology details best practices when developing, operating, maintaining, and evaluating advisory boards in Latino communities or other historically excluded groups, emphasizing the value of lived experiences, intergenerational collaboration, and language accessibility. HACER shares this framework, and experiences implementing the guidelines, to elucidate the importance of including advisory councils in research and evaluation projects, inform best practices for implementing advisory councils for Latino communities and non-profits, and detail the impact of advisory boards in amplifying and empowering diverse voices in evaluation. Prioritizing community voices is of utmost importance for fostering equity and inclusion in participatory evaluation. Advisory councils play a critical role, particularly within the Latino community, in reshaping power dynamics and amplifying community perspectives in the evaluation process. By providing agency and decision-making power to community members, advisory councils ensure cultural responsiveness, rebuild trust in research and evaluation, increase research and evaluation justice, and foster a sense of ownership over evaluation initiatives. Additionally, key insights will be provided on lessons learned for adapting advisory council frameworks for diverse communities, navigating challenges faced by nonprofit organizations, and providing a blueprint for fostering equitable evaluation practices. By centering community-driven initiatives, the goal is to continue to contribute to advancing evaluation practices, empowering practitioners to cultivate collaborative partnerships and drive impactful, responsive evaluation endeavors.