How do you measure community organizing success in diversity and equity?

1 Define your goals and indicators

Before you can measure your community organizing success, you need to have a clear vision of what success looks like for you and your community. What are the specific goals and objectives of your community organizing campaign or project? What are the indicators or metrics that will show you if you are making progress or achieving your desired outcomes? For example, if your goal is to increase the representation and participation of marginalized groups in your community, you might use indicators such as the number and diversity of people involved in your activities, the level of leadership and decision-making power they have, and the extent to which their needs and perspectives are reflected in your agenda and actions.

2 Collect and analyze data

Once you have defined your goals and indicators, you need to collect and analyze data that will help you measure your community organizing success. Data can come from various sources, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, testimonials, media coverage, policy changes, or social media engagement. You should use both quantitative and qualitative data to capture the breadth and depth of your community organizing impact. You should also ensure that your data collection and analysis methods are ethical, respectful, and participatory, meaning that you involve your community members and stakeholders in the process and protect their privacy and confidentiality.

3 Reflect and learn

Measuring your community organizing success is not only about reporting your results, but also about reflecting and learning from your experience. You should use your data to identify your strengths and weaknesses, your achievements and challenges, your best practices and areas for improvement. You should also use your data to celebrate your successes and recognize the contributions of your community members and partners. You should share your findings and feedback with your community and other relevant audiences, such as funders, allies, or policymakers. You should also use your data to inform your future actions and strategies, and to adjust your goals and indicators as needed.

4 Incorporate diversity and equity

Measuring your community organizing success in diversity and equity requires that you incorporate these values and principles throughout your evaluation process. You should ensure that your goals and indicators reflect the diversity and equity of your community and the issues you address, and that they are aligned with your community's vision and values. You should also ensure that your data collection and analysis methods are inclusive and equitable, meaning that you respect and value the diversity of your community members and stakeholders, and that you give them equal opportunities and voice in your evaluation. You should also ensure that your reflection and learning process is diverse and equitable, meaning that you acknowledge and address the power dynamics and disparities that affect your community organizing work, and that you promote the empowerment and solidarity of your community.

5 Seek feedback and support

Measuring your community organizing success in diversity and equity can be challenging and complex, especially if you are working on sensitive or controversial issues, or if you face resistance or opposition from some groups or institutions. That is why you should seek feedback and support from your community and other sources, such as mentors, peers, experts, or networks. You should ask for their input and advice on your evaluation goals, methods, and findings, and learn from their experiences and insights. You should also ask for their support and collaboration on your evaluation challenges and opportunities, and leverage their resources and connections. You should also offer your feedback and support to others who are engaged in similar or related community organizing work, and build relationships and alliances that can enhance your collective impact.

6 Keep it simple and meaningful

Measuring your community organizing success in diversity and equity does not have to be complicated or overwhelming. You should keep it simple and meaningful, meaning that you use the evaluation methods and tools that are most appropriate and feasible for your context and capacity, and that you focus on the evaluation questions and outcomes that are most relevant and important for your community and your work. You should also keep in mind that measuring your community organizing success is not an end in itself, but a means to an end, which is to improve your community organizing practice and impact, and to advance the diversity and equity of your community and the issues you care about.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?