#84 Dr. Bahby Banks

How do we know that the nonprofit programs we believe in are effective? Without evaluating them against pre-determined measures we cannot make a case for their efficacy, replication or scaling. It starts with a process that ensures that stakeholders are engaged in developing them, measurable goals are identified and the vision for success is shared. And, for these measures to be impactful, they must be shaped through a racial equity lens. Whether the policy goal is reductions in teen pregnancy, increases in child literacy or access to capital, we need to start with enough humility to know that evidence-based data empowers us to test and learn from our theories. And this is where Dr. Bahby Banks reigns supreme. As a doctoral student, she fell in love with logic models and metrics that form the basis of program design and evaluation. Now she is a much sought-after facilitator for organizations that pursue social impact change making. She has a great capacity to connect, listen to and honor the stakeholders in the room. And she teaches us all how to use data to negotiate effectively for community needs.