In 2023, Heart of Los Angeles administered its first-ever organization-wide survey of students and parents – part of an ongoing effort to connect with the current attitudes, feelings, and needs of the communities we serve. The bi-annual Student & Parent Feedback Survey is an evolution of a practice Heart of LA has carried out for decades; program-specific surveys have long been a part of the way staff and leadership collect feedback from students about their experiences. By creating intentional feedback loops that encourage open communication, Heart of LA can ensure that programming remains flexible, responsive to the emerging needs of the youth we serve, and – most importantly – that Heart of LA is continuously reinforcing a campus culture that fosters a sense of safety and belonging for students.
Deploying a single survey across all programs captures a much more holistic picture of the nuances of our community, but it’s also a huge job that requires an “it takes a village” spirit. To get as many responses as possible, Heart of LA’s “Survey Week” actually takes place over two full weeks in Spring, every other year. It’s a herculean effort, spearheaded by Heart of LA’s Volunteer & Corporate Relations Manager Colleen Guzman, Chief Programs Officer Loren Rubin, and Data Management Specialist Won Jung, with critical support from Heart of LA’s Family Services Department as well as Program Directors, Coordinators, and Administrators. It’s an all-hands-on-deck process that this year takes place between March 10 – March 21 – so if you see some unusual activity on campus this month, you’ll know what it’s all about!
Survey Week also relies on the hard work of volunteers, who take part in administering the surveys to students. The process takes up to 15 minutes per student, and survey proctors have to explain the context to students of all ages, make sure they feel comfortable and understand that their responses are anonymous, and answer any questions that may come up along the way.
Program-Vista facilitating survey.
Heart of LA staff are also deployed as survey proctors, and it’s a great way for non-youth-facing staff to interact with students and see the organization from a new angle and different perspectives:
“You get a sense of the breadth of services Heart of LA offers when you’re talking directly with a student who is cross-enrolled in multiple programs or a parent who has had different children chart unique paths. It’s inspiring to see the impact firsthand.”
-Cheyenne Durocher, Heart of LA’s Institutional Giving Manager-
Survey Week is almost over this year, but if you’re interested in volunteering for this or any of the myriad volunteer opportunities that come up throughout the year, follow the link below to learn more.
