Tension 5 – Acknowledging Those Whose Path We Follow
- Jara Dean-Coffey, MPH
- Aug 23, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 15, 2022
Originally published on equitableeval.org on July 14, 2020
In my last post, I wrote about Tension 4 – Technical Approaches vs Creating Conditions for Change as part of a series of five tensions that I/we are struggling with as the Equitable Evaluation Initiative unfolds. In this post, we want to talk about the tendency not to acknowledge those whose path we follow.
Tension 5: Acknowledging Those Whose Path We Follow
The American roots of rugged individualism run deep and manifest in a myriad of ways. It shows up in two ways that we think have implications for our work which focuses on the philanthropic ecosystem: the new idea and the personality. We, in philanthropy, like to think that our ideas are the best and that our approaches to the work are novel as opposed to a continuation or evolution of thinking of others (10 Places Where Collective Impact Got it Wrong). We tend not to learn from others (either from their challenges or successes) and often are incapable of even learning from our own efforts (CEI Benchmarking Foundation Practices 2020). We also like to hold up the one. U.S. Philanthropy has historically been based on the accumulation of wealth of the one (Ford, WKKF, AECF, Gates, etc.), so it is no surprise that it gravitates towards people or personas who position themselves as experts or who have a unique perspective of the world. Add to this a history of preventing women and non-whites from claiming and protecting their intellectual property, typically in service of monetizing and perpetuating the status quo power structure.
How you do fight that tide? It is not easy. But rather than talking about us, we decided to use this space to give our deep appreciation to those whose work, hearts and minds inform the Equitable Evaluation Framework™ and the ways in which the Equitable Evaluation Initiative is conceptualized, and strategy executed:
Angela Glover Blackwell • Audrey Jordan • bell hooks • Chicago Beyond • Chimamanda Nigozi Adichie • Cindi Suarez • Crystal Hayling • David Kirkland • Donna Mertens • Ernie House • Fiona Cram • Hallie Preskill • Hazel Symonette • Heather Krause • James Baldwin • James Powell • Jennifer Greene • Joan LaFrance • Julia Coffman • Karen Kirkhart • Katrina Bledsoe • Leon Caldwell • Kien Lee • Maria Rosario Jackson • Mario Segone • Meredith Minkler • Paulo Friére • Tanya Beer • Tom Wolf • Tony Morrison • Rosalie Torres • Rodney Hopson • Stafford Hood
This is a thoughtful look at Tension 5 — highlighting the balance between evaluation rigor and real‑world relevance really resonates, especially when we’re trying to improve equity and impact in programs and policies. Evaluation work often involves navigating complex trade‑offs and bringing multiple perspectives together to make sense of data and decisions. In industries like manufacturing, planning and coordination also grapple with complexity, and solutions like manufacturing scheduling software help teams organize tasks, align resources, and manage production timelines more effectively to keep operations running smoothly even when challenges arise.
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Exploring these internal tensions reminds me of the importance of finding balance and clarity in our own lives. I found myself reflecting on these complex ideas during the calm wait for iftar time london yesterday evening. It is a wonderful time to pause and consider how we can align our values with our actions.
I liked how this post explains Tension 5 in the Equitable Evaluation series because it points out that we often forget to credit the people and ideas that shape our work, not just big names but real thinkers behind the scenes. I remember when I was stressed studying and even pretended online English communication exam takers were helping me balance learning from classmates and teachers, which reminded me to value every voice in a group. Reading this made me think that learning from others and giving credit where it’s due helps us grow and stay humble in our work.