Definitions

Accompaniment, inspired by the work of psychologist Mary Watkins, is the practice of walking beside others as they engage in processes of change, learning, and transformation. It is grounded in humility, care, and reciprocity — recognizing that meaningful change happens in relationship. Rather than “intervening” or “delivering expertise,” accompaniment invites shared reflection and co-creation. It holds space for emergence, supports learning-in-action, and honours the wisdom already present within individuals and communities.

Community Psychology is a field dedicated to understanding people within their social, cultural, economic, and political contexts, and to promoting collective well-being through systems-level change. It bridges theory and practice, bringing together research, action, and reflection to address the root causes of social issues such as inequality, oppression, and marginalization. Community Psychologists work collaboratively with communities to build on their strengths, amplify their voices, and support their aspirations for justice, inclusion, and belonging. At its heart, Community Psychology recognizes that individuals and communities are interconnected, and that meaningful change happens when people are empowered to shape the systems that affect their lives. Grounded in values of social justice, collaboration, and respect for diversity, it integrates critical reflection with participatory methods—encouraging learning, adaptation, and collective agency. The field makes space for both rigor and “messiness,” embracing the complexity of human experience while holding a deep commitment to hope, humility, and transformation.

Evaluation For me, evaluation is an intentional, thoughtful and thorough process of gathering and making sense of information about a program or initiative’s work to inform learning, decision-making and action. It is collaborative, engaging, and respectful; creative and flexible; and it contributes to lifting communities.

Positionality refers to the social and cultural position from which each of us experiences and interprets the world. It includes elements such as race, gender, class, age, ability, culture, and lived experience — all of which influence how we see, understand, and interact with others. Recognizing our positionality helps us see that our knowledge and perspectives are situated rather than neutral. It reminds us that we bring particular histories, privileges, and biases into our relationships and work. In community and evaluation practice, being aware of positionality encourages reflection, humility, and mutual learning.

Privilege describes the unearned advantages and opportunities that individuals or groups have because of characteristics that society values — such as whiteness, wealth, education, gender identity, or citizenship. These advantages often go unnoticed by those who hold them, while their absence can create barriers for others.Understanding privilege isn’t about guilt or blame; it’s about awareness and responsibility. It calls us to use our power and access to help dismantle inequities and create systems where everyone can belong and thrive.

Thought Partnership is a collaborative process that brings reflective, strategic, and creative thinking to complex challenges. As a thought partner, I walk alongside individuals or teams to help surface insights, explore patterns, test ideas, and clarify next steps. The focus is not on providing answers, but on deepening understanding — integrating multiple perspectives, evidence, and intuition to guide wise action.
Thought partnership can take many forms: co-designing strategies, sensemaking data, exploring systems change, or simply creating space to think more deeply together.

Transformative Systems Change is a process of deep, collective renewal. Rather than trying to fix broken parts of a system, it focuses on changing the underlying assumptions, values, and relationships that hold those systems in place. It acknowledges that inequality, disconnection, and environmental harm are symptoms of broader systemic patterns — and that true change requires collaboration, reflection, and courage. Through learning, experimentation, and partnership, communities begin to co-create systems that are grounded in care, belonging, and shared flourishing.