Unsettling Evaluation: Cultivating Transformative Conversations and Collective Accountability

Abstract Information: Evaluators are great at asking difficult questions. But, answering them is another story. Armored with jargon and “best practices,” evaluators often side-step the hard work of grappling with, taking ownership for, and changing dominant practices rooted in white supremacy and historical/persistent colonialism as it intersects with the many other “isms.” It is important to then ask, what influence does the dominant paradigm have on Indigenous communities and what story is told. Without honest, vulnerable, and transformative conversations, how can we meaningfully uplift diverse voices in the field, enable new and emerging evaluators to find their place while also building reciprocal relationships and a stamina for accountability, and not just shape the future of evaluation - but share the future of evaluation? This presentation demonstrates what transformative conversations about colonialism and white supremacy culture in evaluation could look like. So, we’re turning up the heat with our take on the interview show “The Hot Ones” with spicy sauces and spicier questions for guests. Pairing vulnerability with playfulness, presenters/discussants will “eat” their way through a game that illustrates problematic practices and promising opportunities for repair and accountability. They will respond to subversive questions, engage in meaningful and messy dialogue, and contribute to the change we hope to see in evaluation. Together, presenters and audiences will cultivate collective stamina for silliness, honesty, and productive discomfort. In doing so, this session aims to amplify diverse perspectives by subverting the dominant ones, make space for emerging evaluators by supporting humility and transparency, and support a future of evaluation that shares - rather than hoards - power.