As we enter the second month of 2025 with some anxiety and trepidation about what lies ahead, here are three resources to inspire and encourage you to put people first, prioritize equity, and share the wealth moving forward.

We’re excited to share a thoughtful blog post by Samantha S. Snow, a valued data collector from one of our past projects and a graduate student in Museum Education at Tufts University. In this post, Samantha reflects on her experience and provides a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of collecting data in museum settings. Her insights offer a behind-the-scenes look at the data collection process and emphasize the critical role it serves in shaping museum research.

In this talk, Cathy Sigmond explores how formative evaluation supports the process of creating audience-centered exhibitions. Cathy covers the ins and outs of formative evaluation for exhibition development, from core principles to strategies for doing formative evaluation in all types of museums. 

This month, we’re reflecting on the importance of cultural context in shaping human experiences. Whether we’re assessing cognitive development, measuring program impact, or designing community spaces, context influences everything—from how we interpret behaviors to how we foster belonging.