238 - Creating stronger futures together: centering voices and experiences of emerging evaluators in building the future of evaluation

Abstract Information: Emerging evaluators are invaluable thought leaders when it comes to amplifying voices and honoring diversity in evaluation, and their perspectives can be vital when unlearning and dismantling harmful mindsets that have been upheld and perpetuated in evaluation for generations in favor of prioritizing equitable evaluation. This poster session offers early career evaluators and those who work with us the chance to learn, discuss, and reflect on just how much emerging evaluators have to offer, both in their independent practices and within evaluation teams. In the spirit of centering emerging perspectives in evaluation, this poster will be presented by two early career evaluators and supported by a senior-level team member as we discuss real-life examples of when our lived experience, identities, and expertise were honored, allowing us to make significant contributions to our evaluative practices and changing the way we work as a team. After sharing how our own voices have made positive impacts within our firm, we will welcome discussion, offering questions that give early career and other evaluators a chance to speak to and celebrate instances of when emerging evaluators were empowered to leverage their lived experience and identity to inform and contribute to the work, and discuss ways in which evaluation teams can uplift and center our voices going forward. We hope early career evaluators feel confident in their power and capable of leveraging their unique backgrounds and identities. We hope that established evaluators leave with actionable approaches they can take to uplift the voices of emerging evaluators. Together, we hope to break past paradigms to create a more just and equitable evaluation field, and ultimately, create stronger futures together.