2023 CROWD Academy Report

Following the 2021 redistricting cycle, SCSJ began taking steps to conduct an evaluation of the CROWD Fellowship Program focused on identifying its strengths and weaknesses and assessing its overall effectiveness. To that end, SCSJ contracted with the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (“SERVE”) to provide third-party evaluation services, including collecting and analyzing data through a survey of the host organizations and in-state partners that hosted CROWD fellows for the duration of the program. In addition, SCSJ staff conducted one-on-one interviews and collected survey responses from CROWD fellows to get their feedback on the program.

This report summarizes the results of the various surveys and interviews conducted by SERVE and SCSJ of the individuals and organizations that make up the CROWD fellowship program, with the goal of providing a robust assessment of the impact and effectiveness of the program. The report also lays out the structure and goals of the CROWD fellowship, including a few case studies of CROWD fellows whose journeys are illustrative of CROWD’s vision.