267: Transforming Evaluation in Place: Integrating Community Voice into Systems Change Evaluation in Minnesota.

This poster explores the transformation of evaluation to support equity-focused, Place-Based Approaches (PBAs) in community health. As the University of Minnesota Extension’s SNAP-Ed program evolved from individual education to addressing systemic inequities, its evaluation methods lagged, failing to capture systems-level impacts.
To bridge this gap, we present a multifaceted strategy that realigns evaluation with community-centered change. This approach integrates two key innovations: the application of systems change evaluation to analyze complexity and power dynamics , and the introduction of paid Community Navigators. These trusted community members partner in the co-creation of evaluation frameworks, ensuring the process is guided by lived experience and shared leadership. This work offers a practical model for embedding justice and authentic community ownership into the evaluation of complex change initiatives.

Mary Marczak