Helping Communities Prove What Works and Improve What Matters
From June 1–5, 2026, community, public, and nonprofit professionals gathered virtually for Prove & Improve: Community Data & Evaluation Skill-Building Series, a free week-long program designed to help organizations strengthen their use of data, evaluation, and evidence-based decision-making.
Hosted by the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) and the Office of Evaluation and Applied Research Partnership (O-EARP), the series provided practical tools and strategies for organizations seeking to better understand their impact, improve programs, and build a stronger culture of learning through data.
“One of the best ways we can contribute to our communities is by helping local organizations use data to strengthen and improve their work. This can also lay a foundation for potential future collaborations,” said Jessica Sperling, Director, Office of Evaluation and Applied Research Partnership.
Over the course of the week, participants attended nine interactive sessions covering topics such as evaluation, survey design, qualitative data collection, mixed methods research, university-community partnerships, effective data visualization, and culturally responsive evaluation and research. Participants also had access to office hours for individualized guidance and feedback.
H’Nette DeTroy, Senior Business Services Analyst in the City of Durham’s Business Services Division, shared how the series will influence her work moving forward:
“The skills and information shared on survey design, evaluation, research methods, data collection and visualization, and centering community in the research process have been incredibly valuable. We enjoyed the discussions and reflections and are walking away with much to think about and apply—particularly within our data governance work.”
The feedback reflects one of the series’ central goals to help organizations move beyond collecting data to using it effectively for learning, improvement, and community impact.
The series was presented in partnership with Duke’s Center for Community-Engaged Scholarship, Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), and Center for Data Visualization Services, bringing together expertise from across the university to support community organizations throughout the Triangle and beyond.