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A New Impact-Focused Model

  

The new model for NSF’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES (INCLUDES) National Network is launching!

We heard you. The Alliance Collective’s Community Workshop report asked for support from the INCLUDES Coordination Hub (Hub) to: move toward systemic change; coalesce around one big transformational and aspirational collective goal; tell the story of the INCLUDES community; utilize collaborative mechanisms that allow for collaboration and reflection; share and collect data together; and grow in a way that incorporates policy-related work. The Hub’s new model will launch in April and is tuned to support these community-based recommendations.  

We’re introducing a new structure that emphasizes impact and clusters projects based on the intensity of their focus on systems change and level of funding. To support and elevate systems change work, we’re structuring the National Network into three distinct but interconnected Clusters. 

Cluster 1 will have two groups within it. 

  • Incubator: We’re calling one group an Incubator for a community of practice for systems change-focused projects, such as Alliances and Collaborative Change Consortia, to explore problems of practice collectively and support each other in taking action. The Incubator is a space for projects to learn, share information about opportunities and barriers, and take collective action. 
  • Sustainability Consultancy: For projects in Cohorts 1 and 2, the Hub will offer a consultancy focused on providing supports geared toward sustainability, as defined by each project’s needs.  

The Hub will be a backbone for the Incubator. It will provide project management, data management, and facilitation supports for the projects’ collective explorations. The end result of these explorations will be learnings and recommendations that help document and make the case for the transformational changes occurring across the projects, move policy agendas nationally, and inform learnings for Clusters 2 and 3. 

Cluster 2, Scaling Capacity,  will be a space for other INCLUDES-funded projects, such as Conferences, Design and Development Launch Pilots (DDLPs), Network Connectors, and Planning Grants. This Cluster will support capacity building around scaling, institutionalizing, and sustaining these projects’ efforts, with a focus on moving into systems change-focused work. 

Cluster 3 encompasses the entire National Network. It is also open to individuals and institutions seeking to broaden participation in STEM that may not be funded by NSF through the INCLUDES Initiative. This Cluster will receive resources and communications for learning and engaging. 

For all Clusters, the Hub will provide support and information through its core learning functions: Shared Measures; Research; Network Engagement, Learning, and Community Building; and Communications. The Hub will be a capacity builder, knowledge developer, knowledge sharer, curator of information, and a connector for all Clusters. In the coming months, we will create opportunities for connection and collaboration between Cluster meetings and between Clusters. 

What’s Next 

In February and March, the Hub will convene Network members in a series of meetings to share information and receive feedback.   

In April, the Hub will host four webinars to officially launch each Cluster: 

  • Cluster 1: Incubator Community of Practice  
  • Cluster 1: Sustainability Consultancy  
  • Cluster 2 : Scaling Capacity
  • Cluster 3: National Network

After the initial webinar, each Cluster will meet on a regular cadence.  

In addition, we’re thrilled to share that Network members are leading a co-design process with the Hub to create two community-informed webinars. The first webinar, Understanding Intersectionality: Insights from the CEOSE Report (Making Visible the Invisible), will be on April 19, 2024 at 10 AM Pacific/ 1 PM Eastern with registration information to follow shortly. Plans for the second webinar are still in progress and are forthcoming.  

Please note, we will be sharing this information in multiple ways, so you might see it from NSF, on our online Community, and in your inboxes. Moving forward, we will share information and updates through the online Community and emails. Now is a great time to check the notification settings in your National Network account, as well as ensure emails from the Hub can land successfully in your inbox and not get stuck in spam. In June, we will launch a new site that is responsive to other needs articulated in the Alliance Collective’s Community Workshop report.  

To discuss these opportunities or share your ideas, please reach out to us at nsfincludeshub@sri.com. We are very much looking forward to working in partnership with Network members to support the vision of INCLUDES! 

 

Kathy Booth         Erin Lynch, EdD, CRA                            Andrea Venezia, PhD 

WestEd                 Quality Education for Minorities        SRI International 

Co-PIs, NSF’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Coordination Hub  

 

 

Alliance Collective’s Community Workshop report

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Kathy Booth
02-19-2024 10:59 PM

Cristo - your post gives me an opportunity to announce that we will be recommencing the Evaluation Affinity Group next month (3/19 at 3 Eastern/12 Pacific/10 Hawaii-Aleutian time) and using this as an opportunity to share a consolidated set of Shared Measures. At this session, we'll provide recommendations for ways that evaluators can document information on collaborative infrastructure, systems change, and student/educator outcomes that will support cohesion across the National Network and align with other NSF metrics. Anyone is welcome to attend the session and we will post materials after the meeting. We will be following up the evaluator meeting with professional development opportunities based on the new cluster framework, emphasizing ways to leverage these metrics to advance the work of broadening participation. 

We look forward to partnership with the Network to share the milestones and outcomes of our work,

Kathy Booth, WestEd

Andrea Venezia
02-19-2024 05:42 PM

Cristo! Hello and thank you. This thoughtful and detailed response made my heart sing. We (the Hub) so appreciate learning from and with you over the years and all the contributions you've made. Thank you, too, for reading the post and sharing your thoughts. We will be utilizing a Liberatory Design framework to drive our our engagements with Network members. Information about that framework is here: https://www.nationalequityproject.org/frameworks/liberatory-design, and will give a sense of how we're thinking about designing together. Our partners at WestEd are leading the Shared Measures vision and are utilizing FSG's Water of Systems Changes to support that work: https://www.fsg.org/resource/water_of_systems_change/. We will share more at the upcoming sessions, and we're here to share ideas and resources any time -- and we very much welcome reflections, suggestions, and questions. We are so excited for this next phase of Network development together!

All my best,

Andrea

Cristo Leon
02-19-2024 11:55 AM

The introduction of the new impact-focused model for the NSF's Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES National Network marks a pivotal moment in our collective journey towards systemic change in STEM. The strategic reorganization into distinct, interconnected Clusters not only demonstrates a deep understanding of the varied needs within our community but also sets a strong foundation for growth and sustainability. The thoughtful segmentation into Incubator, Sustainability Consultancy, and broader participation avenues ensures that every segment of our community is seen, heard, and supported. This structure is poised to foster unprecedented collaboration and collective action, crucial for driving transformative change. I am particularly hopeful that this inclusive structuring will open new doors for community colleges and smaller institutions, enabling them to thrive within this ecosystem.

The emphasis on a collaborative approach, especially the initiative to engage Network members through co-design sessions and information sharing, is commendable. It highlights the value placed on participatory design and feedback, ensuring that the initiatives are reflective of and responsive to the community's needs. This approach not only strengthens the foundation for significant advancements in systems change but also broadens participation in STEM fields. I am keen to learn more about how the group defines "co-design" and the methodologies involved in this participatory process.

Looking ahead, the vision for the INCLUDES National Network is nothing short of inspiring. The commitment to creating spaces for learning, engagement, and systemic transformation, alongside the focus on documentation, policy influence, and inter-cluster collaboration, signals a new era of STEM inclusivity efforts. The potential for cross-pollination of ideas and strategies across Clusters is especially exciting, promising innovative solutions and a more inclusive STEM community. Furthermore, I am interested in the development of shared evaluation metrics that would allow for the integration of our research efforts, particularly in how we quantify participation metrics such as attendance, recurring and unique participants. This would not only streamline our efforts but also enhance our collective impact.

The new model represents a bold step forward in our quest for inclusivity and excellence in STEM. It's a model that not only acknowledges the present challenges but also lays down a robust framework for future successes. I look forward to seeing how this initiative evolves and the impacts it will undoubtedly have on our community and beyond.

Cristo Leon, B.A., M.B.A., Ph.D. (candidate)
(he/him/his) 
Director of Research, College of Science and Liberal Arts
Office of Research & Development
New Jersey Institute of Technology
leonc@njit.edu • (973) 596-6426
https://www.njit.edu/
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success".- Henry Ford