Teenagers on playground equipment
Data help
to strengthen evaluation and write more powerful grant proposals

HACER

"We used the North Minneapolis neighborhood data to strengthen our evaluation by gaining context and understanding."

Jenna Yanish
development and outreach specialist

Submitted by Jenna Yanish, development and outreach specialist, HACER

What were you aiming to do?

HACER (Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research) is a nonprofit, community-based research organization that delivers quality research to strengthen Minnesota's Latino and minority communities. We specialize in qualitative research and evaluation through a cross-cultural lens.

We are evaluating Stand Up Participate, a program of Asian Media Access that works with youth in North Minneapolis to reduce youth crime and to improve education outcomes through arts and engagement activities. Stand Up Participate strives to integrate public health and community policing to reduce disparities in access to public health services and violent crimes.

Which information did you draw on?

We used the North Minneapolis neighborhood data to strengthen our evaluation by gaining context and understanding. All of the neighborhoods we are working in have higher-than-usual levels of poverty, low educational attainment, and less housing stability than many other regions of the city.

We also drew on the profiles to write more powerful, data-driven grant proposals.

What happened?

The clear portrayal of disparities in the North Minneapolis profiles showed us a clear, continuing need for the Stand Up Participate program, and its expansion. We believe supporting young people of color and their families is one way to improve the health and well-being in people of color in our community. At the moment, we're looking into more grant opportunities to expand our efforts in North Minneapolis and the region.