Evaluation Strategy for Low-Carbon Construction Training Program for Black youth

Working at the intersections of climate action and community benefits, the Toronto Environmental Alliance, Social Planning Toronto, and CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals developed a collaborative theory of change to tackle existing socio-economic challenges through increased demand for building retrofits in marginalized neighbourhoods. With TAF funding, the collaborative hired a developmental evaluation coach to map out the shared goals and strategic approaches among its partners and develop a theory of change, strategy and evaluation plan for a joint project. TEA and its partners aimed to focus community engagement efforts on relevant socio-economic challenges such as the urgent need for capital repairs and improvements in affordable housing and schools, rising energy prices contributing to poverty (e.g. energy poverty), and unemployment levels in marginalized communities. With a slightly shifted focus, TEA continued this kind of intersectional, co-benefits approach through its subsequent TAF-funded community hubs project.