The Bakken

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

THE BAKKEN MUSEUM WILL ENHANCE ITS CAPACITY TO CONDUCT EVALUATIONS BY DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A NEW INTERNAL EVALUATION SYSTEM AND TRAINING STAFF ON RESEARCH AND EVALUATION TOOLS AND PRACTICES. THROUGH AN ITERATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, PROJECT STAFF AND PAID COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS WILL DESIGN AND TEST THE NEW SYSTEM, WHICH WILL POSITION THE MUSEUM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO VISITORS’ NEEDS. STAFF WILL RECEIVE TRAINING ON TECHNIQUES FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH-BASED EVALUATION METHODS, SUCH AS SURVEY DEVELOPMENT, OBSERVATIONS, AND INTERVIEWS, AND WILL ATTEND CONFERENCES TO FURTHER THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SHARE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT. AS A RESULT, THE BAKKEN MUSEUM WILL BE BETTER SITUATED TO SERVE ITS CONSTITUENTS AND STAFF WILL BE EMPOWERED TO ASSESS PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS, COMMUNICATE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES, AND FOSTER ONGOING ENGAGEMENT.

SPARKS

THE BAKKEN IN MINNEAPOLIS WILL HOST A COVID-19 RESPONSE RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ITS STAFF TO IMPLEMENT RESEARCH-BASED EQUITY AND INCLUSION PRACTICES. THE MUSEUM BELIEVES THAT ITS STAFF MUST CONFRONT THEIR OWN INTERNAL BIASES AND INHERENT DISCRIMINATORY CULTURE TO BETTER ENGAGE WITH MINNESOTA'S AFRICAN AMERICAN, INDIGENOUS, AND LATINO COMMUNITIES, WHO HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONALLY AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. EVERY MEMBER OF THE BAKKEN WILL RECEIVE TOOLS TO ENGAGE THEIR MUSEUM WORK IN A MORE EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE MANNER AND BETTER SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.