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Base Building Evaluation: Three Opportunities to Improve its Use and Relevance
No full textThe concept of base building comes from the traditions of electoral and labor organizing, where organizers focus on drawing leadership from a specific constituency or geography. Base building is foundational to organizing efforts. It involves the recruitment, training, and leadership development of people who are often most directly impacted by the issues and causes that organizing focuses on.
In recent years, base building has seen increased interest and investment from the philanthropic sector as funders recognize base building as critical to community-led change. As funders expand their investment in base building, they increasingly seek information and data about base building progress and impact.
Guidance about how to appropriately assess base building largely does not exist. In the absence of specific direction for evaluating base building, funders and evaluators may apply frameworks and methods that are inconsistent with base building practices and do not fully capture its nuances and unique contributions.
This article provides funders and evaluators with insights into the unique characteristics and elements of base building and their implications for evaluation and assessment, and provides ideas for specific evaluation approaches and practices that are aligned with base building practice
Dissolving Glass
No full textMy work is a visual aut-ethnography that explores the profound loneliness of being a neurodivergent person, now amplified by living in a foreign country. This series of photographs represents the deepening of my personal fishbowl, a metaphor for the isolation of my complex, forever-changing/evolving inner self from the outside world. For me, this feeling is not new; it is a long-standing pattern of being misunderstood, misjudged and under/overestimated by others. Having recently moved to Germany, I\u27ve found that the language barrier has increased the opacity on the glass, blurring my ability to understand/be understood by others and intensifying my sense of disconnection.
I sense that I’m disappearing from mattering in the eyes of others, blending more and more into the background. I feel ignored, assumed to be incompetent, unintelligent, and almost non-human; more object than subject. This experience has intensified the already-existing sense of being an outsider, dwelling in a space where I am slowly disintegrating from view.
The last image, though, gives me hope. I see \u27me\u27, centering behind the opacity, a sense of self taking shape. Perhaps my personhood isn\u27t dependent on their gaze. That, in itself, is a place to begin
Expressive Language and Behavior
No full textResearch has revealed the importance of language and its correlation with behavior. Although language and behavior are both forms of communication, this project explores young children and their relationship with society. Honing in on the essential importance of efficient expressive language to be able to participate in society. Looking at common barriers that may hinder the language process. Exploring Maslow and his hierarchy of needs, and understanding that the basic needs have to be met before having the ability to learn. In summary, the project focused on how to support the increase in language in different stages
Teacher Burnout in the Arts: Exploring Retention and the Future of Music Education Programs
No full textTeachers in school music programs often face heavy workloads and limited support, which can affect their wellbeing and the stability of their programs. This project reviews research on the challenges music educators experience and identifies areas where schools can better support them. Using this research, the project creates a practical professional development guide that includes activities, planning tools, and strategies that schools can use to improve support for music teachers. An evaluation plan is included to help schools assess the guide’s impact. The goal of the project is to provide clear, usable resources that strengthen teacher wellbeing and contribute to more sustainable music programs
The Decline of Recreational Reading and Its Impact on Academic Growth: A Call for Shared Responsibility
No full textAdolescent recreational reading has declined significantly, which raises concerns on the effects this may have on student academic success. Research shows that the decline of recreational reading is connected to rising dependence on technology, busy schedules, and the overwhelming pressure of reading assessments. This project explores the ways in which this issue can be mitigated: by encouraging students to create positive relationships with reading through reading environments, discussions, and support at home. In order to achieve this, a series of 3 in-service nights are presented. These in-service nights will work to empower families with the resources needed to confidently build reading environments, structures, and habits with their students outside of the classroom
