Program development and evaluation for a non-profit.

Situation
Lyrik’s Institution, a community-based organization serving at-risk youth in Kansas City, sought to understand whether its multi-program intervention model was effectively strengthening critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and accountability among adolescents exposed to high levels of community trauma.

Task
As the lead evaluator and curriculum consultant, I was responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive program evaluation that assessed outcomes across four interconnected programs, documenting how each program contributed to the organization’s overarching goal of reducing youth violence, while also offering program content consultation.

Action
I developed and implemented an evaluation framework using pre- and post-test surveys, validated emotional intelligence and resilience scales, self-reported behavioral data, and qualitative feedback from students and educators. Beyond measurement, I conducted a process evaluation to examine how program content was delivered and experienced across seminars, in-school suspension interventions, classroom resets, and workforce internships. Insights from this analysis were used in real time to inform adjustments to program content, instructional emphasis, and facilitation strategies to better support student engagement and accountability.

Methods & Tools: Program evaluation design · Pre/post assessment · Validated scales (EI, resilience, ACEs) · Mixed-methods analysis · Data visualization · Evaluation reporting

Result
The evaluation identified measurable gains in emotional intelligence and critical thinking, including substantial improvements in post-test scores and increased student accountability following interventions. Evaluation findings directly informed refinements to program content and delivery, strengthening alignment between program activities and intended outcomes. Results were synthesized into a clear, actionable report with data visualizations and recommendations to support program sustainability and future longitudinal evaluation efforts.