Seattle Evaluation Association upcoming events

Social Justice Book Club (Saturday, April 18, 2026)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Dear Community,

One of our founding SEA officers, Hilary Loeb, recently gathered a group of local evaluators to ask: "Is it time for a Social Justice Book Club?" The answer was a unanimous, resounding yes.

Together, we are building a space to step back from our day-to-day work and dive into the "why" behind the systems we serve. Join us for:

Community: Connect across the fields of education, evaluation, research, and the communities we reach.
Curiosity: Go beyond the surface with deep reading and critical dialogue that fuels new ways of thinking.
Context: Unpack the social, cultural, and political forces shaping our professional and personal lives.

How this Book Club Works

Each book club registration lasts for one quarter and we will choose a new book each quarter (every three months).
Register for each quarterly series to join the discussion. This registration is for the Spring book club.
Buy or borrow a copy in any format (print, e-book, or audio). We encourage supporting your local library or independently owned bookstore and to donate your books to public libraries, non-profit or educational institutions when you have completed it. If you need assistance acquiring the text, SEA and WERA may be able to help so please reach out via email.
During the quarter, sections of the book will be discussed based upon 3-5 set reflection questions with additional questions asked by the designated facilitator for the meeting. We will rotate facilitators among the group for each meeting.

Reading for Spring Quarter

Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America by Mae M. Ngai. How did “illegal” become the defining problem of U.S. immigration policy? We are launching our book club with this text to trace the legal origins of citizenship and race in America. In a climate marked by ongoing ICE raids and human rights concerns, this history is more than academic. It is a vital lens for understanding the systemic forces that impact our lives and our work today. This book was the immediate, unanimous choice for our first series, reflecting our collective urgency to better navigate the complexities of immigration in the United States.

Meeting Schedule for Spring quarter

Kick-off Intro: March 21, 2026 (Virtual)
First Discussion: April 4th – in person/hybrid – library rentals
Ongoing: Saturdays throughout April and May from 11:00 - 12:30
Location: Hybrid / King County (TBD based on kick-off meeting preferences)

The recurring Zoom link for virtual sessions will be in the registration confirmation email.

Registration

SEA and WERA Members: FREE
Non-Members: $10 per quarterly series

Registration and membership fees directly fund community events organized by SEA’s 100% volunteer-led leadership.

Please register by: March 18th

We look forward to further building community with you!

Social Justice Book Club (Saturday, May 09, 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Dear Community,

One of our founding SEA officers, Hilary Loeb, recently gathered a group of local evaluators to ask: "Is it time for a Social Justice Book Club?" The answer was a unanimous, resounding yes.

Together, we are building a space to step back from our day-to-day work and dive into the "why" behind the systems we serve. Join us for:

Community: Connect across the fields of education, evaluation, research, and the communities we reach.
Curiosity: Go beyond the surface with deep reading and critical dialogue that fuels new ways of thinking.
Context: Unpack the social, cultural, and political forces shaping our professional and personal lives.

How this Book Club Works

Each book club registration lasts for one quarter and we will choose a new book each quarter (every three months).
Register for each quarterly series to join the discussion. This registration is for the Spring book club.
Buy or borrow a copy in any format (print, e-book, or audio). We encourage supporting your local library or independently owned bookstore and to donate your books to public libraries, non-profit or educational institutions when you have completed it. If you need assistance acquiring the text, SEA and WERA may be able to help so please reach out via email.
During the quarter, sections of the book will be discussed based upon 3-5 set reflection questions with additional questions asked by the designated facilitator for the meeting. We will rotate facilitators among the group for each meeting.

Reading for Spring Quarter

Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America by Mae M. Ngai. How did “illegal” become the defining problem of U.S. immigration policy? We are launching our book club with this text to trace the legal origins of citizenship and race in America. In a climate marked by ongoing ICE raids and human rights concerns, this history is more than academic. It is a vital lens for understanding the systemic forces that impact our lives and our work today. This book was the immediate, unanimous choice for our first series, reflecting our collective urgency to better navigate the complexities of immigration in the United States.

Meeting Schedule for Spring quarter

Kick-off Intro: March 21, 2026 (Virtual)
First Discussion: April 4th – in person/hybrid – library rentals
Ongoing: Saturdays throughout April and May from 11:00 - 12:30
Location: Hybrid / King County (TBD based on kick-off meeting preferences)

The recurring Zoom link for virtual sessions will be in the registration confirmation email.

Registration

SEA and WERA Members: FREE
Non-Members: $10 per quarterly series

Registration and membership fees directly fund community events organized by SEA’s 100% volunteer-led leadership.

Please register by: March 18th

We look forward to further building community with you!

Seattle Evaluation Café: Show and Skills (Friday, May 15, 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Seattle-ish Evaluation friends,

We hope you can join us online for an informal time to connect and chat about a new topic every month at the “Seattle Evaluation Café.”

This month's topic: Show and Skills! People enter the evaluation field from many different paths and have different strengths they bring to the table. Whether you've been in the field awhile or are brand new, we all have different skills. This month, let's share those insights through a spin on "Show and Tell".

What skills do YOU feel proud of? How did you gain them?
What skills are you hoping to develop?
What skills are you noticing seem to be prioritized for various employment opportunities lately?

Our hope is that you meet someone who has the very skill you are hoping to learn more about!

This meeting will be on Zoom on Friday, May 15 from 12-1pm.

Join the Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3238854025?pwd=d3g1bFdRSkV0OEUvZitLTTcvb29wUT09&omn=86449997419

Meeting ID: 323 885 4025 Passcode: 741001

Can't make it but want to join a future virtual cafe? We use the same link each time and generally host every month on the 15th! Check out our website for future cafe topics: Upcoming Events

Social Justice Book Club (Saturday, May 16, 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Dear Community,

One of our founding SEA officers, Hilary Loeb, recently gathered a group of local evaluators to ask: "Is it time for a Social Justice Book Club?" The answer was a unanimous, resounding yes.

Together, we are building a space to step back from our day-to-day work and dive into the "why" behind the systems we serve. Join us for:

Community: Connect across the fields of education, evaluation, research, and the communities we reach.
Curiosity: Go beyond the surface with deep reading and critical dialogue that fuels new ways of thinking.
Context: Unpack the social, cultural, and political forces shaping our professional and personal lives.

How this Book Club Works

Each book club registration lasts for one quarter and we will choose a new book each quarter (every three months).
Register for each quarterly series to join the discussion. This registration is for the Spring book club.
Buy or borrow a copy in any format (print, e-book, or audio). We encourage supporting your local library or independently owned bookstore and to donate your books to public libraries, non-profit or educational institutions when you have completed it. If you need assistance acquiring the text, SEA and WERA may be able to help so please reach out via email.
During the quarter, sections of the book will be discussed based upon 3-5 set reflection questions with additional questions asked by the designated facilitator for the meeting. We will rotate facilitators among the group for each meeting.

Reading for Spring Quarter

Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America by Mae M. Ngai. How did “illegal” become the defining problem of U.S. immigration policy? We are launching our book club with this text to trace the legal origins of citizenship and race in America. In a climate marked by ongoing ICE raids and human rights concerns, this history is more than academic. It is a vital lens for understanding the systemic forces that impact our lives and our work today. This book was the immediate, unanimous choice for our first series, reflecting our collective urgency to better navigate the complexities of immigration in the United States.

Meeting Schedule for Spring quarter

Kick-off Intro: March 21, 2026 (Virtual)
First Discussion: April 4th – in person/hybrid – library rentals
Ongoing: Saturdays throughout April and May from 11:00 - 12:30
Location: Hybrid / King County (TBD based on kick-off meeting preferences)

The recurring Zoom link for virtual sessions will be in the registration confirmation email.

Registration

SEA and WERA Members: FREE
Non-Members: $10 per quarterly series

Registration and membership fees directly fund community events organized by SEA’s 100% volunteer-led leadership.

Please register by: March 18th

We look forward to further building community with you!

Seattle Evaluation Café (Friday, August 14, 2026)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

It is time for another “Seattle Evaluation Café.”

We hope you can join us online for an informal time to connect and chat about a this month's topic.

This month's topic: TBD

This meeting will be on Zoom on Friday, August 14 from 12-1pm.

Join the Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3238854025?pwd=d3g1bFdRSkV0OEUvZitLTTcvb29wUT09&omn=86449997419

Meeting ID: 323 885 4025 Passcode: 741001

Can't make it but want to join a future virtual cafe? We use the same link each time and generally host every month on the 15th! Check out our website for future cafe topics: Upcoming Events

Seattle Evaluation Café (Thursday, October 15, 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

It is a cozy fall “Seattle Evaluation Café.”

We hope you can join us online for an informal time to connect and chat about a this month's topic.

This meeting will be on Zoom on Thursday, October 15 from 12-1pm.

Join the Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3238854025?pwd=d3g1bFdRSkV0OEUvZitLTTcvb29wUT09&omn=86449997419

Meeting ID: 323 885 4025 Passcode: 741001

Can't make it but want to join a future virtual cafe? We use the same link each time and generally host every month on the 15th! Check out our website for future cafe topics: Upcoming Events