Information Shapes Reality
Information is powerful. That is clearer than ever. What we do—or don’t do—with it shapes how we make sense of the world. Our staff picks this month show what happens when information is erased, challenges our assumptions, and emboldens us to innovate.
April Staff Picks
CATHY’S PICK
Look, Ma, No Data!
“This recent Washington Post article highlights a troubling trend under the Trump administration that both terrifies and angers me: the disappearance and manipulation of data. Authors Amanda Shendruk and Catherine Rampell illustrate how the administration selectively determines what data is relevant, withholds access to inconvenient information, and fabricates figures to support its agenda. As a data-driven evaluator and someone who deeply values public access to information, I urge you to resist this in any and every way possible.”
LINA’S PICK
Look To The Data [Story]
“I enjoyed going through the visual data stories of the Annual Survey of Museum-Goers published in AAM. I particularly liked seeing specific ideas highlighted, such as the perceptions of community engagement for museum visitors. While this more general breakdown of museum visitation by type of museum reiterated my perceptions of frequent museum visitors as overwhelmingly white and older, the information on sporadic museum visitors was new and fascinating to me!”
STEPHANIE’S PICK
Look for the Openings
“As I struggle to make sense of the time we are living in, I found some very needed hope and inspiration in this interview with Rev. Bernice A. King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. As head of the King Center, she emphasized the importance of nonprofits listening closely to the language being used by the Trump administration and adapting their language (not their convictions as a non-profit) to align. She says there is a place for resistance and protest, but also a need for finding ‘parallel tracks.’ She acknowledged the challenges posed by Trump's policies on diversity and funding but sees this as an opportunity for innovation.”
New on the Learning Hub
What’s New At Kera?
Stephanie is attending the American Alliance of Museum’s Annual Meeting in Los Angeles from May 6-9. She’ll present the session “Evaluative Thinking: Tools for Creating Trust and Organizational Change” with Rebecca Shulman (Principal, Museum Questions Consulting) and Johanna Jones (Director of Evaluation and Visitor Insights, Oakland Museum of California). Say hi Stephanie if you’re going!
Have you checked out our refreshed website? Take a peek at a few of our favorite pages, like our dynamic vision, our action-oriented Audience Impact Strategy, and our lively Learning Hub, which now includes an archive of our past newsletters. Happy exploring!
In this new project summary, we highlight our recent evaluation of El Museo del Barrio’s Talk of the Town artist residency program. The program is a shining example of the great work that the National Endowment for the Humanities has done in supporting underrepresented communities.
Moment of Wonder
“For this newsletter, I thought I would take a moment to remember our company retreat! In January, we all gathered in Philadelphia. Since I work from home, I’m rarely in larger cities so, as a memento, I usually take a picture of the skyline. During the retreat, I loved catching up with my colleagues in person! Lately, I’ve been thinking about the importance of gathering together and supporting each other. So, I’m grateful I got an opportunity to do just that 😊"
— Ebony
