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COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY COALITION
EVALUATION PROGRAM

presents



A Field Guide to Evaluation

This is a comprehensive, interactive, two and a half day workshop focused on outcome-based evaluation strategies, tools, analysis and results and designed expressly for Community Food Project (CFP) grantees and other CFP practitioners.

Held in New Orleans, LA for the fifth year, the workshop site and lodging accommodations are in parts of the city that are thriving, safe and beautiful. Come enjoy the Crescent City, support the rebuilding of New Orleans and learn how to evaluate your programs' impacts!

Meals will include local Louisiana products!

Monday, March 5th 4:00 pm to Wednesday, March 7th 5:00 pm New Orleans, Louisiana

Download registration form and workshop info (in pdf format)

Jump to: Location - Participants - Trainers - Logistics - Online Registration


Workshop Overview

Whether you are new to the evaluation landscape or a seasoned practitioner, this workshop will benefit you.

You will gain practical strategies and tools for:

  • assessing how well your project is working,
  • determining what is needed to make it better, and
  • telling the story of what you have accomplished!
Trainers will focus on all stages of developing, implementing and using your evaluation plan and results. Workshop components include:
  • Creating an environment for evaluation
  • Selecting program outcomes
  • Mapping logic models
  • Developing and customizing tools from the Community Food Project Evaluation Toolkit
  • Developing an evaluation analysis plan
  • Trekking through data analysis
  • Using data results for program improvement
  • Communicating results with stakeholders
There will be optional time for a brief one-on-one consultation on your program's evaluation plan, networking circles or a tour of the Audubon Zoo.

We will also include a training for CFP Grantees on the web-based Common Output Tracking Form requested by USDA for their end-of-the-year grant reports.

**A copy of the March 2006 Community Food Project Evaluation Handbook and Toolkit will be included with your full registration fee. These two documents include over 300 pages of practical information and sample tools designed especially for community food security projects.

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Workshop Sites

Monday Evening      Tuesday & Wednesday
Ambassador Hotel Audubon Nature Institute & Zoo
First Floor Ballroom Dominion Learning Center
535 Tchoupitoulas Street 6500 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130 New Orleans, LA 70118
(800) 455-3417 (504) 861-2537

*See important details on accommodations below

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Workshop Participants

Community Food Security Practitioners
This workshop is open to anyone interested in program evaluation for their community food security project. Community Food Project grantees are especially encouraged to attend. Thanks to a generous grant from the CRSEES Community Food Project Competitive Grants Program, CFP grantees receive a discounted registration. A special registration form is available by contacting Jeanette Abi-Nader at jeanette@foodsecurity.org.

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Workshop Trainers

National Research Center, Inc. (NRC)
NRC is one of the leading strategic planning and evaluation teams in the US, focusing on the information needs of the public sector, non-profits, health-care providers and foundations. NRC's Vice President, Michelle Miller Kobayashi, MSPH, will conduct the training with Jeanette Abi-Nader, CFSC Evaluation Program Manager. Check out NRC at www.n-r-c.com

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LOGISTICS

Recommended Accommodations
Ambassador Hotel
535 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
(800) 455-3417

The Ambassador hotel is located in downtown New Orleans. It is just a few blocks walk to the historic French Quarter, the Mississippi River, the Aquarium of the Americas, the Riverwalk Marketplace and several museums. It is also very close to both the Riverfront and the St. Charles streetcar lines. For more information, visit the hotel's website at www.ambassadorneworleans.com

Single or Double rooms are available to workshop participants at the discounted rate of $89/night plus tax and fees for March 5th, 6th, & 7th, 2006.

The discounted rate is only guaranteed until February 12th so reserve your room early! Be sure to mention you are with the group "Community Food Security Coalition" in order to ensure your discounted room. Please also be aware that parking for participants will be $15 per day, which is half of their usual rate.

Please contact local workshop coordinator, Kathy Parry, at cfscevalwkshp@gmail.com or 504-782-5284 if you have any questions or run into any problems when reserving your room.

Remember, the deadline to reserve rooms at a discounted is February 12th!

Meals Included with the workshop are many nutritious meals. We provide appetizers on Monday evening as well as breakfast and lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. Each year we make a special effort to work with local and organic food producers and chefs to provide you with healthy and sustainably-produced meals. We will take into consideration any food restrictions and/or allergies.


Travel
The New Orleans International Airport (the Louis Armstrong Airport, MSY) is located about 20 miles from the Hotel. Shuttles are available at the airport near the baggage claim for around $15. You do not need reservations. Shuttles leave the airport every 20- 30 minutes. Taxis are also available for under $30 each way.

New Orleans in March
New Orleans is a beautiful place to be in March. With Mardi Gras festivities coming to a close just two weeks prior to this workshop, you will most likely find beads hanging from every tree along St. Charles Avenue. Feel free to grab some! The weather will be cool at night (50's), and often warm during the day (around 70) with high humidity and an occasional rain shower. Audubon Park and the Ambassador Hotel are both in locations of the city that did not flood during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

Come join us in supporting the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans while enjoying the beautiful spring weather, local food, and array of live music venues that New Orleans has to offer!

COSTS
Full Registration: $135/person includes:
• Workshop registration fee
• Meals (Monday evening appetizers, Tuesday & Wednesday Continental Breakfast and Lunch)
• Complimentary copy of the Community Food Project Evaluation Handbook and Toolkit