Building Equitable Structures
As I step into my role as the Director of Innovation Network, I am reminded that I am not alone. My strength as a leader comes from my ability to set free the amazing knowledge and talent around me: from the Innovation Network team, our foundation and nonprofit clients, and the advocates we work with.
When Virginia Roncaglione and I took on the roles of Interim Co-Directors last year, one of our first priorities was to center our people — regardless of role — as decision-makers for our organization. This was evidenced through the selection process for the Director role: with an outside facilitator and team-based discussions where we strived for equal power for team and board members, including salary decisions and expectations for the first year. We recognized that erasing feelings of powerlessness and fostering a culture where everyone can be their authentic selves is crucial for creating a truly equitable organization. I am excited to continue working with Virginia as she provides her leadership to crucial shifts in our organization’s culture.
One of our first priorities was to center our people — regardless of role — as decision-makers for our organization.
In the field of evaluation, we have learned (and learned and learned) how BIPOC voices are often ignored and/or deprioritized in our society. This is true for evaluators of color as well as the communities of color who are often the focus of evaluations. As a white cisgender woman, I acknowledge the privilege I have coming into a leadership role. I carry a genuine desire to interrupt the ways of working that perpetuate racial injustice that I hope can guide me as a leader to make real, tangible changes. I know I must elevate myself-awareness of natural human biases and embrace differences in identity and race. I have learned so much from BIPOC teammates who have since moved on from Innovation Network, and I strive to honor them by centering equity in all aspects of our work, from our processes to the outcomes we seek. We are just getting started, and I know there is work to do — from shifting mindsets to building a diverse team and Board.
I know what it feels like to experience powerlessness in the workplace, and I am determined to create a culture where everyone has power and can express their unique value. Our efforts to dismantle hierarchies — structures that often hoard power at the top, creating powerlessness at the bottom — liberates the power and unique value that each person brings to our organization.
I see our efforts to dismantle hierarchies and center equity within Innovation Network as extending beyond our organization and informing how we approach our projects.
My background in social work has taught me that the way we show up in small groups is indicative of how we show up in the world. That is why I see our efforts to dismantle hierarchies and center equity within Innovation Network as extending beyond our organization and informing how we approach our projects. We have an incredible team that is committed to equitable learning and evaluation and is leading new efforts to shift power to evaluation participants and measure how advocates are building and shifting power. We are learning alongside advocates and approaching our work with an orientation towards equity that — I hope one day — feels like second nature because of the structures we are building within our own organization.
I have seen a growing interest in evaluation that centers around learning and defines success by asking those most affected by the work. I am excited to continue and find new partnerships where equity is not performative and relationships are real. To do work in the way that lives our values.
The path ahead of us is not without challenges, but we at Innovation Network are committed to this vision: a future where evaluation is a tool for communities to live into their power and have the information they need to lead the decisions impacting their future and well-being. In the coming year, we will engage in participatory strategic planning and intentionally center racial equity within our organization and learning projects. We understand that this work requires ongoing accountability, and we welcome our community (all of you) to hold us to our values.
We welcome our community (all of you) to hold us to our values.
Your voices and feedback are invaluable in guiding us on this path. To start this conversation, I will be holding office hours on June 6 at 2–3pm and June 8 at 5–6pm EST (email me directly at amarchant@innonet.org for the link). I would be delighted to meet with any of you to discuss our vision and plans for the future. If you are unavailable at these times, please reach out to me and we can find another time to chat!
I am honored to become the new Director of Innovation Network, and I am excited to continue living into our values, find new ways to dismantle traditional structures, and better serve us and our communities.
