R-Eval Consulting, LLC

Through its Building Healthy Communities priority area, NYHealth has supported neighborhood-level approaches to improve access to healthy, affordable food and to activate spaces to encourage more physical activity.

To sustain the progress that has been made in these communities, it is important that neighborhood grantees have the tools and capacity they need to maintain and expand their initiatives and goals. Grantees have expressed a particular need for support in advocating for local policy change and solutions and effectively communicating their wins, goals, needs, and value. Strengthening these efforts will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the achievements and place-based work in each neighborhood. In 2021, NYHealth awarded R-Eval Consulting a grant to assist the Center for Court Innovation in developing strategies to advance community cohesion and safety in the Near Westside neighborhood of Syracuse.

Under this grant, R-Eval Consulting helped the Center’s Peacemaking Project grow and sustain its community-based conflict resolution work to improve the health and safety of residents in the Near Westside. R-Eval Consulting collaborated with 41 Prospects on a strategic planning process with the Center to refine the future direction of its Peacemaking Project in the community. R-Eval Consulting evaluated the project’s goals and operations for engaging residents and creating community cohesion. It then helped the Center develop and operationalize an evaluation framework and resource development strategy to better understand its impact and secure funding to ensure the sustainability of community projects. R-Eval also provided technical assistance and coaching to prepare staff members for any changes and adjustments needed to better advance the Center’s mission.