As a learning organization, developing the skills and knowledge of our staff is integral to Equal Measure’s talent strategy. In April 2020, we unveiled a new initiative built around three internal learning circles: Data Visualization, Equitable Evaluation, and Facilitation.
Each learning circle combines readings, videos, virtual trainings, and group discussions. Following each session, group members are assigned homework for the month. The learning circle topics align with Equal Measure’s strategic plan and a staff skills assessment conducted in 2019. The learning circles are slated to run through December 2021, with the last six months focused on the development of organizational curricula and processes, with a long term goal of documenting and sharing the new knowledge across the organization.
Over the past months, the learning circles have become venues for increased staff interaction and idea sharing. We have applied what we are learning to project work, and have adapted curricula to explore the implications of COVID-19 and increased social attention on racial justice. As the pandemic has separated us physically and moved us to remote working, these learning circles have become virtual spaces for our team to come together and engage in thoughtful conversation and learning.
Data Visualization
With the help of courses from the Depict Data Studio, the Data Visualization learning circle is exploring topics ranging from basic design and color principles to understanding your audience and data visualization best practices, including how to choose the right chart for visualizing your data and how to communicate key messages and findings visually. The group has begun to apply these principles to display data and key project findings in more clear and equitable ways including the use of logos, patterns, and more descriptive titles.
Equitable Evaluation
The Equitable Evaluation learning circle is exploring the history and context of evaluation and philanthropy, how the movement toward equitable evaluation has evolved, and the efforts to integrate social justice and equity into evaluation processes. The group is also examining how personal bias and team dynamics can influence project work and digging into the phases of evaluation projects to identify inflection points for integrating an equitable approach. As part of the process, the group is refreshing Equal Measure’s Culturally Responsive Consulting Guidelines and working to more deeply integrate these practices into project work.
Facilitation
Drawing on a range of curriculum and exemplars from the field, the Facilitation learning circle has developed an internal guide to virtual facilitation best practices, honed “facilitator personas” and personal pitches, built skills to guide difficult groups and conversations, and is creating a shared understanding of how to plan and structure inclusive, contextualized, value-driven engagements. Recently, the group explored the distinctions and overlap between training, presentations, and facilitation, and articulated how to operationalize our organizational values in meetings.
By creating spaces for increased dialogue and knowledge exchange among our staff, the learning circles have aligned the collective knowledge of the Equal Measure team, and will lead to infusing current best practices into our work with clients. We anticipate continuing to explore and refine this model of internal professional development over the years to come.
Laura Blank, Equal Measure’s Director of Talent and Operations