Expanding the Bench® (ETB) aims to use descriptive language that honors diverse perspectives. While we try to find language that resonates with many, we also seek to push the field to explore the historical use of words, their implications and impacts. We use language to speak our truths, and believe it is important to provide clarity and insight into our words so that we may accomplish a collective understanding. We acknowledge that, along with our society, communities, and culture, language is ever-evolving. As such, this page will be updated periodically as we explore and come to new understanding of language. We encourage you to share your thoughts on the language you hear.
Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation (CREE)
Culturally responsive and equitable evaluation requires the integration of diversity, inclusion, and equity in all phases of evaluation. CREE incorporates cultural, structural, and contextual factors (e.g. historical, social, economic, racial, ethnic, gender) using a participatory process that shifts power to individuals most impacted. CREE is not just one method of evaluation, it is an approach that should be infused into all evaluation methodologies. CREE advances equity by informing strategy, program improvement, decision-making, policy formation, and change.
Building the definition of CREE — As Change Matrix embarked on this work, the ETB Team considered the meaning and definition of words like “culturally responsive” and “equitable evaluation.” As we reviewed the literature, the following were key concepts that emerged as important to include in the CREE definition: the importance of current and historical cultural contexts; inclusive and participatory evaluation practices; and the use of evaluation to drive change and advance equity. Our Advisory Team informed our ETB definition of CREE.
Do you have thoughts on any of the words we shared above?
Send us a message at team@expandingthebench.org.
