S02E02: Jennica Nichols and Maya Lefkowich: Arts, poetry, and imagining what is possible

In this episode Gladys sits in conversation with Jennica Nichols and Maya Lefkowich of AND Implementation. Jennica and Maya talk about their own evaluation origin stories and everything arts-based evaluation! The conversation meanders through the excitement, cautions, and learnings on their professional journey with arts-based practices and methods in evaluation. We talk about creating intentional moments of reflection, creativity, joy, and story and close our time together by creating a collective found poem, of course! Jennica was born and raised in Southern Ontario and is of European descent. She comes to evaluation from biology and public health research. Jennica is passionate about increasing research and evaluation relevance and use by changing who leads and benefits from the process. Use, respect, and thoughtfulness are core values that guide her work. Jennica helps clients with meaningful measurement, evaluative thinking, and creative problem-solving. Beyond evaluation, she is a scuba diver always looking for a good hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Check out Jennica's found poem from the episode...   What is possible? Arts-based methods are intentional, relational.   There is power in softness. It has to have roots in something. Grounding in values and deep breaths We are all messy weirdos   Disrupting. Transforming. Building new relationships with knowledge generation. Without a blueprint [but] a dream It’s an evaluation love story. More magic please. Jennica Nichols    Maya was born in Toronto Ontario and is of Jewish and Eastern European descent. She comes to evaluation from health research. Maya is passionate about transformative, community-led, and strengths-based approaches that promote equity in research and evaluation. Creativity, justice, and integrity are core values that guide her work. Maya helps clients tell meaningful stories about learning, growth, and impact. Beyond evaluation, she is a potter and creative writer always excited to read about an unlikely friendship blossoming during a misadventure. Check out Maya's found poem from the episode...   What if What if “possible” informs We don’t need to talk about arts as different Grounded in values, worldviews Not the tools in the toolbox, but you You using the tools   If the goal is to build joy and community It makes me excited The fundamental conversations that need to happen If it’s on the page, we can deal with it That’s where the magic comes from Passion   Maya Lefkowich  Resources from this episode Free Resources on Arts-Based Methods Stories: https://www.andimplementation.ca/resources/categories/arts-based-methods    These episodes in Season 2 have been made possible through support from Canada Council for the Arts. I am grateful for their support!  Email: [email protected]  To be added to the mailing list when this is announced please send an email with the subject line: SUBSCRIBE to: [email protected]  For more visit: https://gladysrowe.com/category/indigenousinsights/  If you are loving this podcast please leave a five star review on your favourite streaming service. If you would like to offer support please visit: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/InsightsPod