Partners Gather to Learn REM Method for Evaluation and Storytelling

A mini Ripple Effects Mapping exercise demonstrates how REM can be used to visualize impacts.

About 20 people from COO’s Evaluation Advisory Group, and COO team members, came together November 12 to collect rich stories and visualize impact through a process called Ripple Effects Mapping (REM). REM is an evaluation method that can be effective for programs doing complex work, the kind our partners are doing.

The REM process is a way to visually capture outcomes and subsequent "ripple" outcomes that can contribute to changes in culture, policy, and people's lives in intended and unintended ways. Those ripples can illustrate how our partners may be intersecting, contributing to each other’s success, or collaborating for greater impact.

REM uses a process that includes “Appreciative Inquiry” conversations, which can yield rich qualitative data and help participants see the connections and impact of their work. The "ripple effects map" generated from participants' input can be used for a variety of purposes, from evaluation to storytelling and grant-writing.

Our REM workshop leaders, Debra Hansen and Dr. Rebecca Sero, have a combined 38 years of experience in training and conducting the in-depth method of REM.

Dr. Rebecca Sero explains the Appeciative Inquiry process.

Partner organizations and partnerships who were represented at the workshop included A Supportive Community for All, Burien Collaborative, Choose 180, Disability Rights Washington, Kent Community Development Collaborative (KCDC), King County Play Equity Coalition, LGBTQ+ South King County Collaborative, Massage Parlor Outreach Project, SnoValley Pride, and STACC 4 Justice. 

The trainers started with a REM “fishbowl” exercise (pictured at the top). COO’s strategy leads and representatives from KCDC and A Supportive Community for All, the two partnerships that have been part of COO since 2018, took turns sharing their stories. This allowed attendees to get a taste of what a REM session looks like, the sharing, brainstorm, mapping and connection process, before the trainers moved into training content.

Debra Hansen leads some of the participants through a mapping exercise.

Workshop participants Jody Miesel of A Supportive Community for All and Greg Jamiel of SnoValley Pride are longtime colleagues. After the workshop, the A Supportive Community for All LinkedIn page shared a photo of Jody and Greg with the comment, “We're excited to put this new approach into practice and deepen our understanding of the lasting change we’re helping to create!”

 Greg Jamiel and Jody Miesel enjoyed the view of downtown Seattle from the Chinook Building during a break. Photo courtesy of Greg Jamiel.

How Partners Can Use REM

“I’d say it was a resounding success,” said our evaluation lead, Dr. Roxana Chen, who arranged the workshop. Dr. Chen said she’s been getting positive feedback from partners who participated in the training. According to feedback from the REM post-event survey and from staff who have heard directly from participants, partners have expressed interest in learning about and discussing how to use REM in their organizations or with their partnerships.

“I think the benefits of REM that appealed to folks are its flexibility, the ability to use it for the evaluation of complex work, for visually capturing intended and unintended connections and impacts that they could highlight for storytelling, strategic planning, and grant use,” said Dr. Chen, “and for using a REM process to bring partners together for celebrating progress and success.”

Dr. Chen said her goal is to do REM sessions with some if not all of our community partnerships, if possible; potentially some of the Systems & Policy Change partners; and at gatherings/convenings when it would be appropriate, such as Community of Practice meetings and Learning Community convenings.

“My hope is that we will be able to better capture some of the complexity of COO’s work through the data collected through REM sessions.”

To hear more about how we can support you to use REM, contact your COO program manager.

You can also join a national quarterly REM Community of Practice for REM learners, enthusiasts, and practitioners. To join, send an email requesting to be added to the distribution list to Scott Chazdon, schazdon@gmail.c.com.