Data Spotlight Award Winner: AALEAD

THE ORGANIZATION

Asian American LEAD Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development (AALEAD) supports low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American youth with educational empowerment, identity development, and leadership opportunities through after school, summer, and mentoring programs.

THE RAISE DC GOAL

  • Every youth is prepared for a career

THE CHALLENGE

Low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American (APA) youth are often overlooked as being "in need", due to the model minority stereotype. This oversight not only poses a threat to the development of youth's positive self-identities and mental health, but it has also resulted in limited research and data currently available on the needs of this population and how to effectively address them.

THE PROCESS

Since 2003, AALEAD has tracked data on program effectiveness. Staff collect data from attendance sheets, report cards, and pre-/post- and satisfaction surveys conducted for youth at the beginning and end of the year. Staff also distribute and collect satisfaction surveys from parents and guardians. Additionally, staff accrue information directly from youth through reflection activities, discussions, and debriefs on programs throughout the year.

This data is used in daily practice to inform program staff's lesson plans and approach for each day of programming. Staff input data into AALEAD's data management software and a Monthly Management Report (MMR) on Google Drive, on which staff log and track youth information, program goals, and dosage across programs. Data into in the software and the MMR is reviewed by staff at monthly program meeting. In addition to tracking data throughout the year using the MMR, all staff analyze, review, and discuss collected data at AALEAD's annual retreat, using it to inform new goal setting and planning for the following year of programs. By tracking the types of activities and workshops offered in each program, staff have quantitative data to inform moving ahead and structuring programs that will ensure all APA youth leave AALEAD prepared for their futures, including education and careers.

THE RESULTS

Data collection has improved overall organizational performance management and impact on the youth AALEAD serves. Collecting and using data on youth's progress allows AALEAD to help each youth access academic resources available at school, advocate for their own educational development, make informed decisions about postsecondary education, gain a better appreciation of their personal identities and cultural histories and develop healthy self-concepts to lead to produce lives, and develop leadership skills in AALEAD programming, and take on more leadership positions in their schools and communities. 





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