Jalessa Noel Bryant

I attribute my success to the joy I've consistently found in working with young people and the learning process. From my very first position teaching at my elementary school, where the kids thought I was so cool because I knew all the SpongeBob songs, to watching preschoolers navigate complex cultural identities, to seeing middle schoolers ask more questions after visiting college campuses - that constant outpouring of joy from the smallest things is what has fueled all the energy I've put into this work. The privilege of working in multiple all-Black research and evaluation groups has been very special to me and very rare, and it's something I carry forward. I also credit the energy I feel came from my grandmothers to my mother and dad to me - that legacy of getting the facts, helping the folks, feeding them, giving them good things to consume, and being of service. Everything is not always about money, sometimes it's just about the people you have in your corner. My community mother mentors, like Dr. Hazel Simonette, have shown me that all they want to do is see you be better than them, reminding me to keep doing what I'm doing but also to rest, find balance, and enjoy life. I do this type of work because it fuels me, not because I have to go to work.

The most impactful advice I've received comes from my community mother mentors like Dr. Hazel Simonette, who I run into randomly all over the place and who just lights energy under me every time. She and other mentors remind me that 95% of their lives, they were not famous - they were just doing the work. They tell me to keep doing what I'm doing, but also to rest, take a break, find a partner, enjoy life, eat good food, and travel. It's about staying grounded in your purpose while also taking care of yourself. They want to see me be better than them, and they share what they learned not as a prescription but as wisdom to carry forward. That balance between dedication to the work and dedication to living well has been transformative for me.

I would encourage young women entering education and evaluation to stay connected to what fuels them and not just what they have to do. Find work that brings you joy, not work that makes you tired. Be open to learning from young people - they will teach you about resilience, cultural navigation, and what really matters in ways that no textbook can. Don't be afraid to offer your skills freely to build experience and relationships in the community, because sometimes it's not always about money, it's about the people you have in your corner. Seek out spaces where you can work with people who share your identity and values - I've had the privilege to work in multiple all-Black research and evaluation groups, and that's been very special and rare. Find your community mother mentors who will light energy under you and remind you to balance your dedication to the work with taking care of yourself. And remember that the most meaningful work often happens in community-based spaces where you can honor lived experiences and help people unlearn what no longer serves them so they can thrive.

Right now, the job market in evaluation and education is very challenging. At the American Evaluation Association conference, there were only about two job postings, and in every session I attended, somebody was saying they were just laid off, including people who worked for USDA. The climate is not great at the moment, and I was not expecting this level of instability. However, there are significant opportunities in community-based learning models and culturally responsive evaluation. There's a growing recognition that we need to honor lived experiences and create learning environments that help people unlearn survival patterns that no longer serve them so they can thrive. Organizations are increasingly seeking support with program evaluation, board development, curriculum consultation, and quality improvement, but many lack the human resources and data infrastructure to access larger funding opportunities. The opportunity lies in building those structures and capacities while staying rooted in the communities we serve, ensuring that evaluation and education work is culturally grounded and truly responsive to the people's needs.

The values most important to me are rooted in what I learned from my lineage - get the facts, help the folks, feed them, give them good things to consume, and be of service. Community is at the center of everything I do. I believe in honoring lived experiences and creating spaces where people can unlearn what they had to learn to survive that no longer helps them and prevents them from thriving. Equity and cultural responsiveness are essential - I've seen how young people navigate multiple marginalizations from a very young age, and education must address those realities. I value the privilege of working in spaces with people who share my identity, particularly in all-Black research and evaluation groups, because that shared understanding is rare and powerful. Joy is also central to my work - I'm drawn to the constant outpouring of joy from young people and the smallest moments of connection. Finally, I believe that everything is not always about money; sometimes it's about the people you have in your corner and being willing to offer your gifts in service to community, even when there's no immediate financial return. I want my work to pay forward the energy and support I received from my grandmothers, my parents, and my community mother mentors.