Engagement for Equitable Outcomes: A Practitioner’s Playbook

Engagement for Equitable Outcomes provides practical suggestions for practitioners addressing urgent social problems and reducing inequities in their communities. Newcomer, Wilson, and Criner Brown offer approaches and models customized to local conditions and equity-focused guidance for innovating and adapting encouraging interventions. Their approach stresses intentional end-user engagement and collaboration, including a five-step Data and Engagement for Equitable, Measurable Outcomes Model: 1) inclusively collaborating to prioritize equitable outcomes; 2) identifying and developing promising interventions; 3) engaging and adapting to implement customized interventions; 4) scaling interventions for maximum impact; and 5) sustaining and improving equity-focused programming. The authors provide road maps, check lists, insights, and practical tips for navigating these five essential practices. Ultimately, this book is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and perspectives of policy makers, researchers, practitioners, and all who are interested in addressing urgent social problems with sustainable, equitable results.

Kathryn Newcomer is a professor in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at the George Washington University where she teaches graduate level courses on public and nonprofit program evaluation, and research design. She served as the Trachtenberg School director for over 12 years, until July 2019. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, and currently serves on the Comptroller General's Educators' Advisory Panel. She served as the president of the American Evaluation Association in 2017, and the president of the Network of the Association of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) for 2006-2007. Dr. Newcomer was recently selected by the board of the American Society for Public Administration's Center for Accountability and Performance to receive the 2021 Joseph Wholey Distinguished Scholarship Award for her scholarly work and lifetime achievement in the areas of performance management, government accountability, and program evaluation. Dr. Newcomer has published six books, including Evidence-Building and Evaluation in Government (2022 by Sage), U.S. Inspectors General: Truth Tellers in Turbulent Times (2020 by Brookings), and The Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation (4th edition 2015). She has received two Fulbright awards, one for Taiwan and one for Egypt. She has lectured on performance measurement and public sector evaluation in 17 countries outside of the U.S.

Quentin Wilson is a Distinguished Executive with the George Washington University's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, and has led performance improvement efforts in federal, state and local government, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors. His government experience as both an agency executive and a political staff member provides a rare perspective on the intersection of policymaking and goal setting with the implementation and scaling of promising products and programs. Prior to undertaking this effort, Wilson worked as a leader of multi-billion-dollar education finance entities in Missouri and California, and as the state Commissioner of Higher Education, Deputy Director of Economic Development, Director of Revenue and governor's Cabinet Director for Missouri. Previously, he worked in nonprofit and private organizations promoting international education and trade in Japan and Russia, and served as an aide to three Members of Congress.

Allyson Criner Brown, MPA, is a seasoned equity practitioner and trainer who has worked at the intersections of pre-K-12 education, family and community engagement, and environmental justice. She has appeared in Education Week, NPR, The Atlantic, ASCD, and ThinkProgress, and served as a presenter and advisor for schools, school districts, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, among other institutions. Ms. Criner Brown fervently believes that the systemic inequities that harm the rights, dignity, and potential of people of color and people with low incomes can be undone. She pursues this ambition through her work in education and environmental justice. Her recent accomplishments include producing the equity narrative and framework, the second edition racial equity impact assessment (REIA), and related trainings for the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment.Ms. Criner Brown's previous publications include an essay titled "Engaging and Embracing Black Parents" in Teaching When the World is on Fire(The New Press, 2019), edited by MacArthur "genius" fellow Lisa Delpit. She produced the Freedom Reads: Anti-Bias Book Talk mini-series (2020) and is the editor of three Teaching for Change publications: Parent-Principal Chats Manual (2019), Parent Organization Equity & Inclusion Tool(2017), and the second edition ofBetween Families and Schools: Creating Meaningful Relationships(2016). Originally from Oakland, California, she lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two children.