Abstract
This paper explores the impacts of Coming Together for Racial Understanding (Coming Together), using Ripple Effect Mapping (REM). REM is a participatory evaluation tool that captures and analyzes intended and unintended outcomes. This method maps how individual change leads to wider changes in interactions and activities, from personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural levels to the widest ripple of the potential for change in policy, structure, and accepted practice. We adapted REM for virtual settings using Google Jamboard to hold two REM sessions with 20 participants and used mapping results to populate a follow-up survey for 2018 and 2019 training participants. Results identify impacts for all four levels of oppression and change, and in all three ripples of the mapping process. Most of the effects of Coming Together were focused on personal change. At the individual and interpersonal levels, results reflect changes in thought and behavior (e.g., becoming more comfortable engaging with others). At the institutional and cultural levels, there are indications of emerging changes in daily practice and policy (e.g., increased collaboration between institutions and the diversification of visual elements). This research demonstrates that changes can be observed in day-to-day behavior and at broader levels when people modify their mental models.
Recommended Citation
Emery, M.,
Choudhary, A.,
Stout, M. D.,
Langford, G.,
Walcott, E.,
&
Ostrom, M.
(2026). Evaluating the Lasting Impacts of a Dialogue-to-Change Program on Racial Understanding Using Ripple Effect Mapping.
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 14(1), 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55533/2325-5226.1537
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
