Priority Area
Advocacy, Policy, Systems Change & Community Engagement
Project: A Call to Action for Investments, Communications Support
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Client: Reinvestment Fund
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Description: Developed and implemented a communications plan to promote the release of a Reinvestment Fund commissioned report produced by Brookings Metro, “A Call to Action for HBCU Investment,” to encourage investment in HBCUs as anchor educational, economic, and community development institutions and increase awareness of the Reinvestment Fund’s HBCU capacity building efforts.
Project: Action Youth Media Programming Evaluation and Capacity Building via the Development of Evaluation Framework, Plan, and Tools
Client: Action Youth Media (AYM)
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Description: Contracted by Action Youth Media, a nonprofit entity that provides courses to middle and high school aged youth to help them learn how to engage in their community via media arts. Youth are taught media arts skills, research and analysis, and are provided with opportunities to find their voice and build their confidence. Arcstratta conducted an impact evaluation of their programming; developed a data & evaluation framework, plan, and evaluation tools; and strengthened their program narrative/pitch to support their sustainability. Findings, tools, and recommendations were presented to staff for their immediate application.
Project: Development of McElderry Park, Baltimore City Neighborhood Homeownership Plan ​
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Client: Southeast Community Development Corporation (SECDC)
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Description: A 50-year-old Community Development Corporation in Baltimore City that drives and facilitates investments and the engagement of community members in housing and infrastructure initiatives and provides social, educational, small business development, and workforce supports to residents. We were contracted to support a needs assessment designed to inform community members’ efforts to develop a neighborhood-based homeownership plan. Conducted qualitative interviews with residents and analyzed quantitative data collected via survey by community members to produce homeownership development plan for a Baltimore City neighborhood with a history of disinvestment and a subsequent low homeownership rate, particularly among its legacy residents. Drafted a report summarizing interview findings and provided an analysis of community-administered survey data. Facilitated session with neighborhood resident leaders to inform them of the findings and solicit feedback.
​Project: Housing and Returning Citizen Provider Convening to Facilitate Advancements in Affordable Housing Access Among Individuals with Justice System Contact
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Client: Enterprise Community Partners
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Description: A leading national economic development nonprofit that has invested over $72 billion in community and economic development across the United States. We designed in-person convening, tools, and materials in collaboration with Enterprise Community Partners to facilitate session with housing and returning citizen providers committed to improving access to housing among individuals with justice system contact in Washington, DC and Baltimore City, MD. Session and event evaluations were analyzed and summarized to identify lessons learned, partnership opportunities, and continued priorities, support needs, and areas of interest.
​Project: Housing as a Pathway to Justice: Baltimore City and District of Columbia Landscape Assessment
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Client: Enterprise Community Partners
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Description: Conducted landscape assessments to assess the intersection between housing and the legal system reform in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC. Assessment included a mixed method quantitative and qualitative analysis to strengthen internal policies and advocacy efforts. Analysis was designed to deepen understanding of internal and external policies, best practices, existing service infrastructure, innovative programs and services, resources, and collaborative efforts in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC pertaining to closing gaps in housing needs among individuals with justice system contact. Services included literature reviews; listening sessions with legal system reform stakeholders, housing and service providers, individuals with lived experience, policy and legal experts, funders, and local government representatives; case studies; a report of internal housing practices; a report of intrnal housing practices; and development of comprehensive landscape assessment reports for each city.
Project: National Women’s Law Center’s Participatory Grantmaking and Community Impact Fund Evaluation and Technical Assistance
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Client: National Women's Law Center (NWLC)
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Description: A national nonprofit entity responsible for securing key legal protections and supports for women in the United States over the last half century. Contracted to provide technical assistance and evaluate the organization’s participatory grantmaking making process related to their Community Impact Fund Initiative focused on building partnerships between national and local level community-based organizations focused on strengthening childcare sector policies that impact the financial security of Black and Brown female workers and parents.
Project: Need and Impact Assessment of Benefit Access Programming for Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood
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Client: The Arc Prince George's County
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Description: A 70+ year-old nonprofit tasked with advancing the well-being of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families. Provide research and evaluation services to engage with students with developmental and intellectual disabilities and families, through the Families Involved in Transition intervention, to understand their needs, access, and experiences securing federal benefits to support their well-being as they transition into adulthood. Services include interviews and focus groups with parents/caregivers, quantitative survey analysis and design, evaluation and learning framework development and planning, and presentation of research findings for advocacy of needed investments.
Project: Program Evaluation & Consultation for Black Sage Collective Underground Railroad Community Project
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Client: Black Sage Collective
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Description: Developing and implementing a mixed-method evaluation of the Underground Railroad Community Project (URCP), funded by the U.S. Administration on Children, Youth, and Families Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services. URCP is a multi-year initiative designed to effectively serve and support Black children, adults, and families in Detroit, MI, experiencing domestic and sexual violence and risk of child welfare system contact and to reduce health and system disparities by building the capacity of a consortium of culturally specific community-based organizations and partners with lived expertise to provide evidence-based culturally responsive, trauma-informed, healing-centered, and equity focused interventions and advocacy strategies and educate Black families and communities about their rights and strategies to promote safety and accountability. Arcstratta’s support includes designing a logic model and evaluation plan; collecting and analyzing data on program activities and processes; preparing reports of findings, progress, lessons learned, and recommendations; and assisting Black Sage Collective with infrastructure development including preparation of equity plans and organizational documents.
Project: Study on Member Selection for Montgomery County Citizen Commissions, Committees, and Boards
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Client: Office of Legislative Oversight
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Description: Contracted by the Montgomery County, MD Office of Legislative Oversight to design a study to assess the composition and practices of the County government’s advisory bodies and the perception of its members. Analyzed existing County data and developed surveys to assess the diversity, recruitment processes, cycling of members, and perceived effectiveness of engagement of members, and to develop recommendations to strengthen diversity among members. Approximately 600 members participated in the survey. Staff tasked with managing the bodies were also surveyed regarding their selection, training, and monitoring of member composition. Findings were compiled in a report that was presented to the County’s Council.
Project: Youth Out-of-School Time (OST) Program System Building
Client: Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families
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Description: Designed and conducted an innovative, equity-grounded assessment to further understand the needs, access, and experiences of students and families who identify as Black, Brown, and with low incomes related to OST programming and other local resources to support their well-being. Partnered with youth and families to elevate their voices and priorities to engage and empower communities, increase equity and inclusion, reduce barriers to resource utilization, aid in strategic planning and decision-making, and inform program development. Services included conducting, analyzing, and summarizing community conversations (focus groups) and online surveys. Key findings and recommendations were presented to County OST systems building workgroup, public school system partners, and the Collaboration Council board of directors.