Community Tracking Services

Working in research, you don't always get to see the impact of your work.

Sometimes the data informs future programming. Sometimes it shapes interventions behind the scenes. And sometimes, especially with longitudinal studies, it can take years before the findings are fully understood and put into action.

That's why I'm especially excited to share that this project has been published.

I had the opportunity to collaborate with Ta'Nia Johns, MPA on the focus group analysis for Birmingham's Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI), partnering with youth, families, community members, and individuals across the continuum—from prevention to incarceration. Together, we explored what it truly takes to build safer, healthier communities.

While this article highlights the RESTORE Games, it's important to know that the Games are just one piece of the larger CVIPI initiative. This work is ongoing, and the relationships, research, and community partnerships continue to shape violence prevention efforts across Birmingham.

Some of the biggest takeaways included:

Centering lived experience and community voice throughout the process.

Designing flexible, trauma-informed approaches that meet people where they are.

Using storytelling, celebration, and everyday language to build trust.

Listening to how young people define "safety" in their own words—and allowing those perspectives to shape programming.

One thing this project reinforced is that meaningful evaluation isn't just about collecting data. It's about listening with intention, honoring people's experiences, and ensuring those voices influence decisions that affect their communities.

I'm grateful to have contributed to this work and to see one part of this initiative documented. I'm looking forward to seeing how the continued work of CVIPI builds on these insights to create lasting impact.

If you're interested in learning more about the RESTORE Games and the broader Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, take a look at the article below.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/restore-games-when-community-becomes-intervention-uche-a-bean-mcece/

I’m looking to speak at more conferences, workshops, and trainings —and I’d love your help making the right connections.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead conversations, facilitate trainings, and present on the power of community voice, qualitative data, and culturally responsive engagement. Now, I’m looking to bring those conversations to more in-person and virtual spaces.

I’d love to connect with conference organizers, event planners, and teams booking speakers in these areas:

• Community Engagement
• Public Health & Behavioral Health
• Qualitative Research & Data Collection
• Substance Use Prevention, Treatment & Recovery
• Data Storytelling & Community-Informed Decision Making

Some of my most requested talks include:

1️⃣ The Data Behind the Story
How qualitative data helps us understand the “why” behind the numbers—and why community voices are essential to meaningful change.

2️⃣ From Hard-to-Reach to Ready-to-Engage
Shifting how we think about community outreach by building trust, reducing barriers, and meeting people where they are.

3️⃣ Lived Experience is Data
Why community wisdom belongs in program design, evaluation, and systems change.

4️⃣ Focus Groups that Go Beyond Surface-Level
Practical strategies for facilitating conversations that lead to honest insights and actionable outcomes.

5️⃣ Turning Community Voices into Action
How organizations can collect, analyze, and communicate qualitative insights to strengthen programs, funding proposals, and impact reporting.

If you’re organizing a conference, summit, workshop, or panel—or know someone who is—I’d love to connect.

Let’s create spaces where community voices are heard, valued, and turned into action.

Reminder: Going live tomorrow!

Data can tell us what happened.

But it doesn’t always tell us why.

Behind every number is a person, a story, and a lived experience—and that context matters.

Join me tomorrow for my LinkedIn Live: Storytelling with Data: Why Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story as we talk about why storytelling is essential for understanding impact, building trust, and making data more meaningful.
July 14th at 12 PM CST

You can register here: https://lnkd.in/gY2t4eWg

We’ll cover:
-Why numbers alone can miss critical context
-How qualitative data strengthens decision-making
-Why lived experience belongs in every conversation about impact

How do you balance data and storytelling in your work? Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear them.

Data can tell us what happened.
But it doesn’t always tell us why.

Behind every number is a person. A story. A lived experience.

And if we rely only on quantitative data, we risk missing the context that gives those numbers meaning.

That’s why storytelling matters.

It helps us move beyond surface-level metrics to understand barriers, build trust, and create solutions rooted in real experiences.

Because impact isn’t just measured in percentages—it’s measured in people.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 14𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 12𝐩𝐦 𝐂𝐒𝐓

We’ll talk about:
-Why numbers alone can miss critical context
-How qualitative data strengthens decision-making
-Why lived experience should be part of every conversation about impact

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7475242859961700352?viewAsMember=true

If you’re struggling with recruitment… it might not be your audience- It might be your approach.⁠
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Over the years, we’ve seen the same patterns come up again and again—and they can make or break your ability to truly engage community.⁠
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Here are 5 common mistakes we see 👇🏾⁠
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Save this for your next project—and tell me, which one have you seen the most?⁠
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🌐Visit our website communitytrackingservices.com to learn more about the impact we are making on underserved communities.⁠
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