One of Change Matrix’s initiatives is Expanding the Bench® (ETB). Dedicated to diversifying the field of evaluation and elevating the practice of culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE), ETB has now created a formal definition and citation page for those interested in using the term and learning more.
Here is the featured citation:
CREE Citation: Expanding the Bench® Team and Advisory Team (2019). History and Definition of Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation. Change Matrix. https://expandingthebench.org/cree-definition
“ETB hopes that everyone one day instills CREE into their methodologies and evaluation practices, and the Initiative hopes to further the use and sharing of the term CREE. If you do use the term in your own practices or work, please cite ETB using the language above,” write ETB staff. “ETB’s intent is not to gatekeep language that is deeply rooted in the evaluation community, instead, ETB wants to ensure that folks who contributed to the development of CREE are celebrated and acknowledged appropriately.”
ETB staff go on to say that when one cites the ETB Team and its Advisory Team, which contributed greatly in creating the definition of CREE that can be seen below, they are also highlighting:
- the importance of the voices and players who contributed to the development and definition of CREE;
- those who are using CREE methodologies and practices for validity (i.e., when CREE Evaluation is mentioned, it should be recognized and/or differentiated from other models and initiatives to support the further development and adaptation of CREE);
- and that CREE, at its core, is organic and meant to evolve and adapt to center the voices of racially and ethnically diverse evaluators and the communities we serve.
CREE Definition:
Culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE) requires the integration of diversity, inclusion, and equity in all phases of evaluation. CREE incorporates cultural, structural, and contextual factors (e.g., historical, social, economic, racial, ethnic, gender) using a participatory process that shifts power to individuals most impacted. CREE is not just one method of evaluation, it is an approach that should be infused into all evaluation methodologies. CREE advances equity by informing strategy, program improvement, decision-making, policy formation, and change.
