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Something to Chew On

Something to Chew On is a newsletter I’ve cooked up to share some of my ruminations and marinations with family, friends, and colleagues.

More importantly, though, it’s meant as an invitation to (re)connect, reflect, and be in conversation, at a pace that works with all the goings-on in everyone’s lives.

Check out current and previous issues here. If it looks like your cup of tea, subscribe below. New issues will go out about once every month or two. Happy reading!

    Resources for Learning and Evaluation

    Seeking to learn more about equity-centered evaluation, data equity, or community-informed approaches to research?

    We recommend the resources on this page as starting points in your journey. Check back soon, as we continually update this page with new and evolving resources.

    • Website homepage for the Equitable Evaluation Initiative (EEI) with a red and gray color scheme. The header features the EEI logo and navigation links to About, Framework, and Writings & Resources. The main section displays the message "Reimagining the purpose and practice of evaluation" in bold black text. Below is a gray box with white text describing EEI’s focus on advancing equity, expanding notions of objectivity, rigor, and validity, and embracing complexity. At the bottom, there is a link with an arrow labeled "Learn More About EEI".

      The Equitable Evaluation Initiative provides a deep dive into reimagining what evaluation might be, both as a field and as a community of practitioners. The Writings & Resources webpage offers seminal resources on the topic of equitable evaluation.

      Learn More
    • An infographic titled "The Data Equity Framework" explaining a seven-stage systematic approach to data projects, with stages including Funding, Motivation, Project Design, Data Collection & Sourcing, Analysis, Interpretation, and Communication & Distribution. The top navigation menu includes links to Posts, Tools, Data Equity Framework, Newsletter, Learn With Us, Work With Us, About Us, and Forum. There is also a section titled "Why do we need a Data Equity Framework?" with a graphic of the seven steps.

      We All Count’s Data Equity Framework provides a structured approach to understanding the ways equity is part of each stage of a data project. Other offerings include Data Equity trainings, and a community forum on a range of data equity topics.

      Learn More
    • Infographic titled 'A Trust-Based Framework for Learning & Evaluation in Philanthropy' detailing three strategies: Learning for Accountability, Learning for Decision-Making, and Learning for Long Term Impact, with key questions and icons representing each strategy.

      The Trust-based Philanthropy Project offers a framework for learning & evaluation in philanthropy grounded in “a more expansive, trust-based perspective… that funders can use to understand their impact.”

      Learn More
    • Why Am I Always Being Researched?​

      Chicago Beyond’s ​Why Am I Always Being Researched?​ aims to “shift the power dynamic and the way community organizations, researchers, and funders uncover knowledge together.” This grounded guide highlights seven inequities that are both obstacles to impact as well as opportunities for reimagining research in partnership with communities.

      Learn More
    • Colorful handmade collage with large letters spelling ' LOVE SA' on a red background, with smaller colored letters and shapes, and the text 'MEASURING LOVE in the JOURNEY for JUSTICE: A BROWN PAPER' at the bottom.

      ​​Measuring Love in the Journey for Justice: A Brown Paper​, co-authored by Shiree Teng and Sammy Nuñez, asks essential questions about the purpose of social sector work, and how we might center love as foundational in our pursuit of results, measurement, accountability, and transformation.

      Learn More
    • Cover page of a report titled 'Do No Harm Guide: Applying Equity Awareness in Data Visualization' with illustrations of diverse people's outlines and colorful line graphs at the bottom.

      The Urban Institute’s ​Do No Harm Guide​ is essential reading for those seeking to integrate equity into their data practices, particularly in their data visualization. Be sure to check out the entire ​Do No Harm Project​, which includes a series of reports that encourages viewing data communication through an equity lens.

      Learn More
    • Cover page of a report titled 'More Than Numbers' with a diagonal striped pattern in blue, green, gray, black, and light gray on the left side, and a white section on the right that includes a logo of a tree with the text 'Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies,' and the subtitle 'A Guide Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Data Collection.'

      ​The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies guide ​More Than Numbers: A Guide Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Data Collection​ offers a useful foundation and concrete examples to those seeking to collect demographic data such a race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, and sexual orientation.

      Learn More
    • Cover page of a research report titled 'Data Walks: An Innovative Way to Share Data with Communities' by Brittany Murray, Elsa Falkenburger, and Priya Saxena, published in November 2015 by Urban Institute. The page features a photo of three women standing in front of a wall with charts and text posters.

      The Urban Institute’s ​Data Walks​ guide outlines a concrete strategy for sharing data back with communities in an accessible way, and for continuing to engage community members in the analysis and interpretation of collected data.

      Learn More

    Clients and Partners say...

    • “Joyce is a skilled facilitator, in part because she is approachable and puts people at ease. She sets the stage well for discussion, and is able to bring out information from participants, synthesizing what she hears while identifying next steps, continuing group momentum, and helping the group stay focused. Her thoughtful and collaborative approach make her awesome to work with.”

      — Jessica Yamauchi, Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute

    • “In her consulting work with the foundation, I’ve found Joyce to be extremely professional, competent, experienced, polished, and organized. I trust the quality of her work and the professionalism she brings to it, whether in presenting and training on data and evaluation, or in project design and implementation. Without Joyce, we would struggle to find someone with her experience to deliver the type of nonprofit capacity building that she provides.”

      — Tom Kelly, Principal, KEL Advising; Former VP, Knowledge & Evaluation, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation

    • “I appreciate that Joyce is always open to applying new ideas and approaches. Her work isn’t static, and she continues to evolve and grow, which makes our work together more meaningful. I also enjoy her interpersonal approach: her willingness to be open, the questions she asks, her honesty, and her ability to engage with me in a genuine and thoughtful way.”

      — Ophelia Bitanga-Isreal, Assistant Director, City and Community Engagement, Living Cities; Former Senior Program Officer, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation

    • “Joyce’s name rises to the top for me when I think of local consultants. She’s professional, well-respected, thoughtful, and strategic in a big-picture sense. She’s a good listener, and values listening and understanding different perspectives and grappling with hard issues before moving forward. I also appreciate her thought partnership; with Joyce, I know I have a safe space to brainstorm and work stuff out without a feeling of pressure to make a decision before I’m ready.”

      — Josh Levinson, Principal, Josh Levinson Consulting

    • “In addition to sharing values and professional chemistry with Joyce, I appreciate her integrity, reliability, and the quality of her work. She’s deliberate in her thinking, processes, approach, and relationships, and is big-hearted in a subtle way. The work and projects that she chooses are personally and professionally important to her, and she steps into those roles in a deeply committed way. Joyce is a strategic thinker, and her thoughtful approach is evident in her willingness to press ‘pause’ to make room for reflection rather than rushing ahead to take things down the wrong path.”

      — Jennifer Barrett Fajardo, Principal, Jen Barrett Coaching & Advising

    • “In working with Joyce, I’ve found her to be conscientious, thoughtful, and wicked smart. She has a different kind of scan, and she forces us to look at our work differently. She’s also malleable to what a team might need, and has the ability to switch gears and adapt as a project requires.”

      — Nick Redding, Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Data Collaborative

    • “As a consulting colleague of Joyce’s, I’ve seen how she can successfully create a safe space for people to learn, share, and grow together. In the hui we are both part of, she plays a critical role in making people feel welcome and heard. In my experience, it’s super-rare to find people who are really down-to-earth, are values-grounded and values-driven, and are truly trying to collaborate and bring out the voices of others… Joyce brings all these things to the table. She embodies all the principles a consultant should in caring for people and fostering community.”

      — Kuʻulani Keohokalole, Principal, People Strategies Hawaiʻi

    • “Joyce is good at synthesizing information across multiple inputs. She’s thoughtful, a quick study of complex problems and varying perspectives. If we didn’t have her in our local social sector, we’d be missing a passionate yet intentional advocate for good data and good thinking about research & evaluation, equity, race, and inclusion, especially in the context of Hawaii. In addition to helping me cultivate and refine my own thinking, she is also warm and reflective as a practitioner, which makes her someone you want to learn from and with.”

      — Michael Courville, Founder & Principal, Open Mind Consulting; Former Adjunct Faculty, Department of Sociology & Sexuality, San Francisco State University

    • "Joyce brings the conceptual into the real world. I mean that in both her application of theory to practical circumstances and in her ability to take an idea and turn it into a concrete reality... Through organic development, generative discussions, and constant iteration and learning, not only have we developed evaluation solutions that are authentic to who we are and how we operate, we are putting them into practice!"

      -Ben Treviño, Network Coordinator, Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum

    • “As a collaborative partner, Joyce listens deeply in conversations, synthesizing and sharing back what she hears. She’s super smart, has an amazing background, and is also really humble and gentle. In short, I trust Joyce and the quality of services she provides.”

      — Jennifer Cornish-Creed, Director of Professional Development, Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO)

    • “Joyce really invested in a set of ‘meetings before the meeting’ to understand dynamics, history, and objectives. With this background, she not only managed our session professionally and with purpose, but also with joy. Everyone was engaged. Everyone found their voice. Then, afterwards, she helped us stay on top of a set of follow ups. It was a pleasure to see someone at the top of their game doing work they love.”

      — Max Scoular, Co-Founder, GoodCitizen

    • “Joyce’s work was thoughtful and thorough; she was responsive to the needs of our team and evolved in response to challenges and changes.”

      — Community Research Client

    • “Joyce facilitated so thoughtfully... I felt like she honored and created a lot of space for sharing knowledge and connections in the time we had together.”

      — Facilitation Participant

    • “These were deep and rich discussions that allowed me to process, think, and step out of my comfort zone to continue to do this work. Appreciate you, Joyce!”

      — Community Research Client