Developmental, community-engaged research and evaluation focused on how programs shape the lived experience, well-being, and future pathways of young people.

What We Do

Grounded Futures Collective partners with organizations to understand and strengthen the programs and systems that shape the lives of young people and communities.We design and lead research and evaluation that helps organizations make sense of their work, identify what is working, and make informed decisions about what comes next. This work is grounded in a developmental lens, focusing on how young people experience programs and how those experiences shape identity, belonging, and future pathways.We work primarily with nonprofits, school systems, and community-based organizations to support program evaluation, learning, and design.

Our Approach

Our work is grounded in a developmental and ecological understanding of how young people grow, learn, and make sense of their experiences within the systems and communities around them.We approach research and evaluation as a collaborative, community-engaged process, working alongside organizations to:

This approach moves beyond evaluation as measurement and toward evaluation as a process of learning, meaning-making, and change.We work with organizations to build on their existing strengths, connect their work to relevant research and best practices, and strengthen their capacity to use data to support young people’s development and future pathways.As a collective, this work is grounded in partnership and collaboration. We create space for shared reflection and learning, and take a culturally responsive approach that centers the lived experiences of the communities organizations serve, including bilingual (Spanish/English) engagement.

Services

We support organizations through research, evaluation, and design that strengthen programs and support meaningful outcomes for young people and communities.

Why This Work Matters

Organizations are often asked to demonstrate impact while also navigating complex, evolving program needs. At the same time, many do not have access to research and evaluation that is both rigorous and truly useful in practice.Grounded Futures Collective supports organizations in:

This work helps organizations move beyond evaluation as a requirement and toward evaluation as a tool for learning, growth, and sustainability.

About

Grounded Futures Collective is led by Claudia M. Castillo-Lavergne, Ph.D., a mixed-methods researcher trained in Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University with close to twenty years of experience working at the intersection of education, health, and community systems.Her work draws on a developmental understanding of how young people make sense of their experiences within the systems and communities around them, and how those experiences shape who they are becoming and what they see as possible for their futures.As a first-generation high school and college graduate and a Colombian immigrant, her work is shaped by her experience as a member of the Latine diaspora and a deep commitment to supporting young people who are navigating complex developmental demands within systems that were not designed with their experiences in mind. She approaches research and evaluation with a focus on self-determination, well-being, belonging, and the importance of creating environments where young people can envision expansive futures for themselves and their communities.Across her work, she has partnered with school districts, nonprofit organizations, and community-based initiatives supporting youth and families, including work in youth development, arts and STEAM programming, and efforts focused on youth empowerment, well-being, and social determinants of health.While developmental research offers important insights into how young people grow and imagine their futures, it is not always translated into forms that organizations can use. Grounded Futures Collective was created to bridge that gap, supporting organizations in understanding these experiences more deeply and strengthening programs to improve outcomes, support young people’s self-determination, and communicate impact to funders and partners.The work operates through a collaborative model, partnering closely with organizations and drawing on a broader network of collaborators and expertise to support research, evaluation, and program design.Grounded Futures Collective is based in New Jersey and partners with organizations locally and nationally.

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