July 2025 
by Manny Stegall, ETB Data Governance Stewart

Building Data Bridges for Our Collective Impact

Hello ETB community,  

My name is Manny Stegall, and I serve as the Data Governance Coordinator here at Expanding the Bench® (ETB). In my role, I collaborate closely with the Data Governance Work Group to shape how we collect, manage, and use data with intention, transparency, and care. This work is grounded in service to the ETB community – ensuring that the data we hold reflects not just numbers, but the stories, needs, and aspirations of the evaluators and programming we support. 

Right now, we’re in the process of bridging our data collection practices to be both implementable and standardized across ETB programming. This will allow us to have a better sense of who our community is, where there are gaps in our programming, and how we can better support the ETB community. Our goal isn’t just clean data – we want meaningful, usable data that strengthens the evaluator ecosystem in ETB and contributes to programming that uplifts the communities most impacted by structural inequities. 

Amid this important work, I’m also taking time to pause. In quiet moments between meetings or while reviewing data dashboards, I find myself reflecting on the bigger picture. The current environment – socially, politically, and economically – hold real implications for the evaluators we serve. Taking these pauses helps me ensure our data practices stay rooted in empathy while driven by justice. We’re not just measuring outcomes but honoring lived experiences.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue supporting ETB’s evolving strategy. I believe in the power of data not as a tool of control, but as a bridge to equity, voice, and shared accountability.

Thank you for letting me share a bit of the ongoing behind the scenes work at ETB with you. I’m proud to be part of the ETB community that is not only changing the face of evaluation but also the “how” and “why” behind the work we do. I hope to connect with more of you in the coming months.