Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Hi, I’m Jesenia Angeles, MPH, founder of Cósmica Consulting, LLC. I collaborate with communities and organizations to bring arts based evaluation to public health, education, and creative initiatives, listening deeply and presenting findings in ways that reflect the people we serve.
Arts based evaluation uses creative, human centered methods to capture lived experience and turn it into actionable insight. I drew on this approach as I co-led the COVID-19 Emergency Response to Pregnancy and Postpartum Project in New Orleans with Kiara Cruz, MPH, PhD(c). This was a year-long grant-funded initiative, launched at the height of the pandemic, to support Black and Brown birthing people through a public health crisis that magnified existing inequities.
Our strategy addressed six key areas:
From the outset we followed a community based framework. Partnerships with Nola Baby Café, Covenant House of New Orleans, WIC, the City of New Orleans Health Department, and the Mayor’s Office for Youth and Families were central to our success. These organizations’ deep connections to Black and Brown birthing populations ensured that support reached those who needed it most.
Arts based evaluation shaped how we gathered and shared information. During the design phase, we conducted interviews and small focus groups to understand the realities of pregnancy and postpartum life during the pandemic. We highlighted participants’ own words and imagery in the Birthing During COVID Guide, a resource that blended evidence based information with community voices. The guide became both a practical public health tool and a collective narrative.
The impact reached multiple levels. Hospitals incorporated the toolkit into discharge protocols. Families reported feeling better equipped to navigate appointments and restrictions. Community partners used the guide to spark conversations and share resources. We paired these qualitative insights with traditional metrics such as referral counts and distribution numbers to maintain rigor.
With training in both public health and the arts, I found this integration natural. Arts based evaluation honored the complexity of lived experience while meeting the standards of evidence expected by funders and policymakers. It proved that data can be rigorous and human at the same time.
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