Reflective Analysis of an Evaluation of an Initiative Focused on Increasing Capital Access for Healthy Food Entrepreneurs of Color

This session explores how community values and participatory inquiry shape findings from an evaluation of an initiative designed to expand capital access for food entrepreneurs of color. Through a reflective meta-evaluation framework, we assess how evaluation methodologies, power dynamics, and culturally relevant perspectives influenced both the evaluation findings and the initiative’s impact. Using quantitative and qualitative data from initiative designers, implementers, and participants, we examine: How community-driven values shaped both the evaluation process and outcomes. The extent to which co-created evaluation questions and shared leadership influenced learning about capital access barriers. The role of reflective practice in evaluation—how evaluators engaged in self-reflection to navigate issues of equity, power, and systemic bias. Participants will gain insights into integrating reflective meta-evaluation into their own work, shifting from traditional impact measurement toward learning-oriented and justice-centered evaluation approaches.
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