New INAR report measures Highland Center's significant community impact

New INAR report measures Highland Center's significant community impact

SHREVEPORT - Madison Poche witnesses the daily impact the Highland Center has on the historic Shreveport neighborhood for which it's named.

But now Poche, the Center's executive director, has comprehensive data to measure that impact.

The Highland Center is "associated with measurable improvements" for residents across a variety of areas through its 21 partners and programs, according to a study conducted by LSU Shreveport's Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (INAR).

Highland Center participants were significantly more likely than community respondents to report improvements in reading and computer skills, increased education or training, new job skills, increased financial stability, improved housing situations and participation in community events.

"The research confirms something we have seen through our work for years: well-being is interconnected," Poche said. "Education, financial stability, housing, health and community connection do not exist in separate boxes.

"A community hub can help people address multiple needs in one place, while also creating opportunities for people to build skills, strengthen their finances, improve their homes and become more connected to their neighbors."

Compared to community respondents in general, Highland Center participants experienced increases in education or training (68% compared to 55.6% of community respondents), financial stability (61.7% to 49.5%), participation in community events (59% to 45.5%) and improved housing situations (66.2% to 54.5%) at higher rates.

The comprehensive study surveyed a total of 321 community members over three months in 2026 - 222 who engaged with Highland Center programs and 99 who did not.

The surveys contained 40 questions that measured five areas of well-being based on the Social Determinants of Health framework: health, education, economic stability, neighborhood and housing, and social and community well-being.

"We are proud that more than 20 partners and programs located in the Highland Center serve nearly 20,000 guests each year, all in a neighborhood where one in three households lives below the federal poverty threshold," Poche said. "That financial struggle affects every part of a person's life, yet the impacts of education, economic, and wellness solutions are often measured separately. Connecting those dots gives us a clearer picture of how our neighbors are doing as a whole-and how, together, the services under one roof can create meaningful change across the neighborhood."

Funded by a grant from the Carolyn W. and Charles T. Beaird Family Foundation, the study was designed to look beyond individual program statistics and examine the broader relationship to community well-being, service utilization, and outcomes for people who participate in Highland Center programs and with its Building Partners - commercial tenants who conduct mission-driven work.

The report illustrates one method in which INAR supports the local and state nonprofit sector through education, research, consulting and leadership development.

"Rather than focusing solely on providing a set of concrete data points, this project demonstrates INAR's ability to help nonprofit organizations establish a sustainable and consistent framework for data collection and evaluation across programs," said Dr. Heather Carpenter, INAR executive director and research lead. "Previously, INAR had worked with the Highland Center through a cohort program to evaluate a single initiative.

"This project expanded that work by seeking to understand both programmatic impact and the broader effects of participation on individuals' lives."

Carpenter added this evaluation framework could be applied to other Shreveport neighborhoods to "provide a structured way to understand community strengths, needs, and outcomes."

For Poche and the Highland Center, the study supplies an understanding of its comprehensive influence, strengths, and areas of need.

"This report gives us a baseline for understanding the collective impact of the programs, services, and amenities available under one roof and how they affect the people we serve holistically," Poche said. "It helps us move beyond measuring individual programs in isolation to better understand the broader needs of our neighbors, identify where gaps remain, and see where our partners and resources can have the greatest impact.

"The findings will also strengthen our fundraising and grant-writing by giving us data to demonstrate both the need in our neighborhood and the collective impact of the Center's work. Most importantly, the report will help us make better decisions about where to invest resources, where new partnerships or services are needed, and how we can continue to fulfill our mission of creating a stronger, healthier, and more sustainable Highland neighborhood."