Self-Guided Course

Beyond the Numbers: Understanding Your Main Street Impact

Move beyond economic metrics to understand the social, emotional, and cultural value your organization brings to your community.

This course explores how Main Street leaders can assess, articulate, and expand the true impact of their work. Using both Return on Investment (ROI) and Return on Emotion (ROE) frameworks, practical tools, and real-world examples, you'll leave with new confidence in how to measure and communicate what matters most.

Time: 30 minutes Skill Level: Launching Formal Learning: 100 points

In East Oakland, California, a young girl and an older man hold hands while roller skating together at an outdoor community event hosted by the Black Cultural Zone. — East Oakland, California. Photo by Black Cultural Zone.

Overview

Course Outline

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand and apply both ROI and ROE frameworks to assess your organization’s impact
Recognize how joy, trust, and belonging shape community outcomes
Confidently communicate your impact using data, storytelling, and emotion-driven narratives

Section 1: Introduction
- 1.1 Welcome
- 1.2 Course Design & Engagement
Section 2: Beyond the Numbers: Understanding Your Main Street Impact
- Beyond the Numbers: Understanding Your Main Street Impact
Section 3: Conclusion
- 3.1 Final Takeaways
- 3.2 Main Street Convo
- 3.3 Survey