Meet Local Evaluation Organizations

Evaluators work in many contexts. MNEA is launching a series to highlight these contexts and increase the collective knowledge of the unique perspectives and work of these organizations. The first event will feature external evaluation organizations in the Twin Cities area  - and we are lucky to have so many talented organizations, that this will be the first of at least two events focused on multi-person external evaluation organizations. This series will continue into 2019. 

Part 1 of the "Meet the Local Evaluation Organizations" series will be on October 10, 2018 over the lunch hour. Food will be provided. Please join us at Open Book in Minneapolis (details below). We will begin the event at Noon with a five minute presentation from each of the following evaluation organizations: Improve Group (IG), Professional Data Analysts (PDA), Rainbow Research, TerraLuna Collaborative, and Wilder Research. For the rest of the event, attendees will have the opportunity to move around each of the five tables to have more in-depth conversations with staff from each of these five organizations. 

The focus of this event is on highlighting the strengths and nuances of the many wonderful, external evaluation organizations in the Twin Cities area. The MNEA Board will share accumulated knowledge or FAQ as appropriate following the event. Individuals who are interested in evaluation practice as part of their professional development and those who are curious for potential contract-related needs are both welcome to attend this event. We welcome students, evaluation practitioners, evaluation users, evaluation funders, and those simply curious about the world of evaluation. We understand evaluation is a growing and developing field of practice, and we believe the more shared understanding we have about each other the better we will be as a profession.

Future events will highlight more organizations that engage in external evaluation work. Please contact the Board (info@mneval.org) if you are interested in participating in this series in 2019. 

This  event will be held on Wednesday, October 10, 12-1 PM at Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55415. We will be in Target Performance Hall, on the 2nd level of the building. 

Parking: Free parking is first come, first served in the Open Book lot on the east side of the building. Other options include meters along 10th, 11th, and Washington Avenues and 3rd Street South; the Riverfront Municipal Ramp (212 9th Avenue South); and the Mill Quarter Ramp (711 2nd Street South).

Accessibility: Open Book is fully accessible with handicap parking, handicap accessible bathrooms, elevators to all floors, and other services available as requested. Please contact Open Book if you have any questions regarding accessibility.