http://www.communitytrackingservices.com/

Community Tracking Services, Birmingham, AL (2026)

08/18/2026

This video from Blu Cauthen stopped me in my tracks. 💜 Thank you, Blu, for the incredible work you're doing and for capturing what community care really looks like.

It reminded me why “Feet in the Streets” has always been more than our motto at Community Tracking Services—it's how we work.

Real impact doesn't happen from a distance. It happens when we're willing to show up, listen, build trust, and meet people where they are.

That's how relationships are built.
That's how communities are strengthened.
That's how change happens.

08/11/2026

Working in research, you don't always get to see the impact of your work.

Sometimes the data informs future programming. Sometimes it shapes interventions behind the scenes. And sometimes, especially with longitudinal studies, it can take years before the findings are fully understood and put into action.

That's why I'm especially excited to share that this project has been published.

I had the opportunity to collaborate with Ta'Nia Johns, MPA on the focus group analysis for Birmingham's Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI), partnering with youth, families, community members, and individuals across the continuum—from prevention to incarceration. Together, we explored what it truly takes to build safer, healthier communities.

While this article highlights the RESTORE Games, it's important to know that the Games are just one piece of the larger CVIPI initiative. This work is ongoing, and the relationships, research, and community partnerships continue to shape violence prevention efforts across Birmingham.

Some of the biggest takeaways included:

Centering lived experience and community voice throughout the process.

Designing flexible, trauma-informed approaches that meet people where they are.

Using storytelling, celebration, and everyday language to build trust.

Listening to how young people define "safety" in their own words—and allowing those perspectives to shape programming.

One thing this project reinforced is that meaningful evaluation isn't just about collecting data. It's about listening with intention, honoring people's experiences, and ensuring those voices influence decisions that affect their communities.

I'm grateful to have contributed to this work and to see one part of this initiative documented. I'm looking forward to seeing how the continued work of CVIPI builds on these insights to create lasting impact.

If you're interested in learning more about the RESTORE Games and the broader Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, take a look at the article below.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/restore-games-when-community-becomes-intervention-uche-a-bean-mcece/

08/04/2026

As a qualitative research consultant, I’ve learned that gathering meaningful insights isn’t just about having a great discussion guide—it’s about creating conversations that matter.

Here are a few approaches my team uses to unlock deeper insights and richer stories for our clients:

➡️ Harnessing the power of silence – When we truly listen, participants open up and share their most authentic experiences.

➡️ Honoring participant autonomy – Every person is the expert of their own story.

➡️ Rolling with resistance – Instead of pushing back, we lean into different perspectives and what they can teach us.

➡️ Drawing out rich narratives – Often, the most valuable insights come from unexpected places.

Exceptional qualitative research starts with exceptional conversations.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡? 𝐈’𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰!
………………………..
🌐Visit our website communitytrackingservices.com to learn more about the impact we are making on underserved communities.

07/28/2026

I’m looking to speak at more conferences, workshops, and trainings —and I’d love your help making the right connections.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead conversations, facilitate trainings, and present on the power of community voice, qualitative data, and culturally responsive engagement. Now, I’m looking to bring those conversations to more in-person and virtual spaces.

I’d love to connect with conference organizers, event planners, and teams booking speakers in these areas:

• Community Engagement
• Public Health & Behavioral Health
• Qualitative Research & Data Collection
• Substance Use Prevention, Treatment & Recovery
• Data Storytelling & Community-Informed Decision Making

Some of my most requested talks include:

1️⃣ The Data Behind the Story
How qualitative data helps us understand the “why” behind the numbers—and why community voices are essential to meaningful change.

2️⃣ From Hard-to-Reach to Ready-to-Engage
Shifting how we think about community outreach by building trust, reducing barriers, and meeting people where they are.

3️⃣ Lived Experience is Data
Why community wisdom belongs in program design, evaluation, and systems change.

4️⃣ Focus Groups that Go Beyond Surface-Level
Practical strategies for facilitating conversations that lead to honest insights and actionable outcomes.

5️⃣ Turning Community Voices into Action
How organizations can collect, analyze, and communicate qualitative insights to strengthen programs, funding proposals, and impact reporting.

If you’re organizing a conference, summit, workshop, or panel—or know someone who is—I’d love to connect.

Let’s create spaces where community voices are heard, valued, and turned into action.

07/21/2026

Life happens. People move. Phone numbers change. Some enter treatment. Some become incarcerated. Circumstances change—but their voices still matter.

That's why retention isn't something you can manage from behind a desk.

Sometimes it means making another phone call. Sometimes it means working with trusted community partners. And sometimes it means putting your feet in the streets and meeting participants where they are—literally.

At Community Tracking Services, we know every follow-up matters. Not just because it strengthens the data, but because it honors the commitment participants made when they agreed to be part of the study.

The best research doesn't happen because we checked every box. It happens because we build relationships, stay persistent, and never forget there's a person behind every data point.

That's the work. And that's why we do it.

Visit our website communitytrackingservices.com to learn more about the impact we are making on underserved communities.

07/13/2026

Reminder: Going live tomorrow!

Data can tell us what happened.

But it doesn’t always tell us why.

Behind every number is a person, a story, and a lived experience—and that context matters.

Join me tomorrow for my LinkedIn Live: Storytelling with Data: Why Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story as we talk about why storytelling is essential for understanding impact, building trust, and making data more meaningful.
July 14th at 12 PM CST

You can register here: https://lnkd.in/gY2t4eWg

We’ll cover:
-Why numbers alone can miss critical context
-How qualitative data strengthens decision-making
-Why lived experience belongs in every conversation about impact

How do you balance data and storytelling in your work? Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear them.

07/07/2026

Let’s talk about it.

What’s one challenge you’ve faced when trying to engage your community?

Not the polished version—the real version.

We’ve heard everything from:
– low turnout
– lack of trust
– people feeling over-researched but not heard

And the truth is… these challenges are more common than we think.

I’d really love to hear your experience 👇🏾
………………………………..
🌐Visit our website communitytrackingservices.com to learn more about the impact we are making on underserved communities.

07/01/2026

Data can tell us what happened.
But it doesn’t always tell us why.

Behind every number is a person. A story. A lived experience.

And if we rely only on quantitative data, we risk missing the context that gives those numbers meaning.

That’s why storytelling matters.

It helps us move beyond surface-level metrics to understand barriers, build trust, and create solutions rooted in real experiences.

Because impact isn’t just measured in percentages—it’s measured in people.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 14𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 12𝐩𝐦 𝐂𝐒𝐓

We’ll talk about:
-Why numbers alone can miss critical context
-How qualitative data strengthens decision-making
-Why lived experience should be part of every conversation about impact

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7475242859961700352?viewAsMember=true

06/23/2026

"Tomorrow, I may not be at the bus stop to pick you up."

Those are words no child ever forgets.

I was young when federal agents came to our home with a warrant. My grandparents arrived to take care of us, and my parents prepared us for the possibility that our lives were about to change.

I still remember the uncertainty. The fear. The feeling that decisions were being made about my family's future without my voice being part of the conversation.

That experience shaped how I see the world.

It taught me that the people most impacted by decisions are often the ones least likely to be heard.

That's my why behind Community Tracking Services.

We help organizations move beyond assumptions and truly listen to the communities they serve. Through community engagement, qualitative research, focus groups, surveys, and stakeholder feedback, we help ensure that programs, policies, and initiatives are informed by the voices of the people they affect.

Because when communities are excluded from the conversation, we miss critical insights.

And when they're included, we create stronger programs, better outcomes, and lasting trust.

Everyone deserves to have a voice in the decisions that impact their lives.

If your organization is developing a program, evaluating impact, or making decisions that affect a community, let's make sure the people most impacted have a seat at the table.

Click on our website below to learn more about how Community Tracking Services can help you gather meaningful community input and turn it into action.

Click on our website below to learn more about how Community Tracking Services can help you gather meaningful community input and turn it into action-🌐communitytrackingservices.com

06/16/2026

If you’re struggling with recruitment… it might not be your audience- It might be your approach.⁠
⁠
Over the years, we’ve seen the same patterns come up again and again—and they can make or break your ability to truly engage community.⁠
⁠
Here are 5 common mistakes we see 👇🏾⁠
⁠
Save this for your next project—and tell me, which one have you seen the most?⁠
……………………………………….⁠
🌐Visit our website communitytrackingservices.com to learn more about the impact we are making on underserved communities.⁠
⁠

Community Tracking Services

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07/28/2026

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