THIS WILL BE A VIRTUAL CONVENING! WE’LL BE HACKING SOLUTIONS FROM HOME, TOGETHER!
Impact Hub Houston and Sketch City invite you to connect and collaborate with Houston at our virtual Open Project Night focusing on “Climate Action.“
Let’s connect and collaborate (virtually) with passionate people who are working on projects, ventures, and collaborations to improve the resilience and quality of life in Houston. If you have an idea, are working on something, or are looking for ways to collaborate with people who are doing work at the intersection of innovation and impact this event is for you! The event requires both a mixture of presenters and people from the community to support, listen, and collaborate with the presenters.
EVENT SCHEDULE: 5:00-6:00 PM
5:00-5:10pm Group Introductions
5:10-5:25pm Guest Presentations + Q&A
5:25-5:45pm Virtual Breakout Rooms to discuss potential solutions for the topic.
5:45-5:55pm Report Back! Your Open Pitch should be max of 2 mins each and answer the following questions before the community can provide feedback:
Brief personal introduction + What is your project/idea?
What stage are you currently at? (idea/testing/implementation etc)
What are your next series of steps?
What are you currently looking for in the way of talent/skills from the community?
Dakota currently serves as the chairman of the student board for the Johns Hopkins University Energy Policy and Climate program, while also serving as a leader of a grassroots network of over 2000 energy industry employees tackling the energy transition. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Technicology, L.L.C. and Footprint App, Inc., and is a well known environmental activist on social media. He has represented the United States as a facilitator of a United Nations innovation lab addressing the sustainable development goals (UNLEASH), and is also on the committee for the Gaia campaign for sustainable change within the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He has founded six organizations and served on the board of over ten community and educational associations across the United States, including Global Environmental Brigades and a Keep Texas Beautiful affiliate. Within these roles, Dakota has lead numerous successful sustainability campaigns, including a food waste reduction campaign, a carbon emissions reduction campaign, and an energy efficiency campaign that received state-wide recognition from the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. Aside from leadership and activism, Dakota has also worked on multiple innovation projects, including the solar tracking project that eventually won Shell Ideas360, an international innovation competition. He has been featured multiple times in the Houston Chronicle and was nominated by a Vice President of Shell for Forbes Under 30.
Impactathon for Future Flourishing is an interactive hackathon experience to innovate inclusive solutions to global poverty amid covid-19.
Calling all changemakers and social entrepreneurs driven to find new ways to uplift communities and alleviate poverty in a post-pandemic world.
Join participants from hubs around the world for a two-day virtual Impactathon® where you have a chance to deepen your understanding about what causes poverty locally and globally and work in teams to develop solutions.
Poverty, in this moment
Since launching this unique Impactathon in early June, covid19 cases have surged and systemic racism has emerged as a global movement. Poverty is a critical part of this story. Estimates for global poverty have been increased by 50M attributed to covid-19 (Brookings).
An Impactathon focusing on the mindset of “building an inclusive future”
For this 16th Impactathon® Innov8social is partnering with Join the Journey, an international empowerment organization, to take participants on a journey of discovery– diving into realities much of the world faces living day-to-day without stable electricity, water, and paved roads–and exploring how covid-19 affects these issues. Teams will work together to ask questions, research existing solutions, identify gaps, and brainstorm and build approaches to build a thriving future using innovative strategies and existing technologies in a sprint-to-the-finish 24-hour push. Teams with the best solutions can earn cash prizes.
Hear from a handful of speakers and mentors who have started social enterprises and impact organizations that have helped hundreds of thousands of people. You will hear their candid experiences in how they navigated unique challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset.
No background in social impact is required. Bring a deep curiosity, a sense of empathy, and a problemsolving mindset. We will walk you through design-thinking approaches to understanding a problem and developing solutions. If you have ever felt a deep desire to create positive impact, whether locally in your city or globally for the world, this event was designed for you
Don’t have a team? Don’t worry. You’ll have an opportunity to pair up either in the lead-up to the event or in the first few hours. This Impactathon is about inclusion…and we want you to feel included!
Agenda*
Friday, Aug 21st 2020
12:00 pm EST | 9:00 am PST | 7:00 pm Nairobi — Kickoff & welcome
12:30 pm EST — Release of scenarios + Impact Talks
1:15 pm EST — Virtual speed networking & team formation
2:00 pm EST — Impact Workshop + teams complete Milestone 1
3:15 pm EST — Pitch deck overview
4:00 pm EST — Impact Catalyst informal panel talks and OH + hackathon group time
Saturday, Aug 22nd 2020
10:00 am EST | 7:00 am PST | 5:00 pm Nairobi — Day 2 welcome + Milestone 2 + Pitch slot signup
10:45 am EST — Impact Talk
12:30 pm EST — Team tech checks
1:00 pm EST — Final pitches
4:00 pm EST — Winners announced + Judges’ comments + closing remark
*agenda is subject to change
Impact Talk Speakers include
Mike Sehzue, Partner at Global SouthxSouth, Founder of Miseh Distilling Company. Social Entrepreneur, Impact Investing Advisor.
Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza, Founder & Executive Director of the African Education Program. Systems thinker in poverty alleviation.
Impact Catalysts and Panel Speakers include
Ezenwayi Amaechi, PhD,Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship, Johnson & Wales University, Market Strategist. Social Entrepreneur.
Heather Arora, M.S. in Organizational Behavior, Founder of Purple Plants. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
Marc Alain Boucicault, Founder and CEO at Banj. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
David Babbs, PhD Social Work (Social Innovation), Activist, Macro, Veteran. Educator.
Brendan Barbato, Startup pitch expertise, Brand & Partnerships. Social Entrepreneur.
Chuck Brown, Founder of Orion Consulting, Social Enterprise Alliance Board Member. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
Nick Brown, Founder at Clear Purchase. International Payment System Expert.
Theresa L Carpenter, Navy Public Affairs Officer, Communication Professional, Advocate for women and companion animals.
Adam Cole, Founder of Join the Journey, US Navy Servicemember. Social Entrepreneur.
Gloria Ferrer, International Economic Development Specialist, Partner at COMPETITIVENESS. Founder of KINADONA. Social Entrepreneur.
Miloni Gandhi,Founder and Principal International LLC, Adjunct Faculty Foothill College. Impact Ecosystem Builder.
Andrew Hening, Co-founder Opening Doors Marin, Director of Homeless Planning & Outreach San Rafael. Systems Thinker.
Prasad Jaladi, Chief Facilitator of Suraksha.Social Entrepreneur.
Radha Basu, CEO of iMerit Technology Services, Founder of Frugal Innovation Lab at Santa Clara University.
Will Harris, CEO of Willpower Consulting, Chairman of Willpower Humanitarian Foundation.
Grace Rodriguez, CEO/Executive Director of Impact Hub Houston, Advisor to Social Enterprises
Eric Van Trump, Board Member at Join the Journey, Entrepreneur.
Cash Prizes
Join the Journey is awarding cash prizes of $2,000+ to top teams.
Who Should Attend
Social entrepreneurs with proven ideas and traction who are looking to scale their work.
Student changemakers
Young Professionals looking to learn more about social enterprise
Experienced/retired professionals seeking to leverage expertise for social good
The veteran tech community
Faith-based groups seeking to serve through social innovation
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
SDG Goal 1 is Eliminating Poverty. From the UN, “The decline of global extreme poverty continues, but has slowed…. People who continue to live in extreme poverty face deep, entrenched deprivation often exacerbated by violent conflicts and vulnerability to disasters. Strong social protection systems and government spending on key services often help those left behind get back on their feet and escape poverty, but these services need to be brought to scale.”
Open to All
This event is open to all participants and is not based upon participant race, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic background, sexuality, and gender.
Financial Aid
Please email [email protected] or [email protected] in case in need of financial support. Early bird rates are also available until 8/7/2020.
Outreach/Ecosystem Partnership
We welcome aligned partners to share Impactathon with their communities and be featured in our marketing efforts. To learn more about how to become a media partner, email [email protected] or [email protected]
Impact Report + Sponsorship
Read the Impact Report to learn more about this event and the impact we seek to co-create! We welcome community and corporate sponsors to make this event come to life. Contact us to sponsor a team, sponsor an award, or be an in-kind supporter. Email [email protected].
Join us for this Core Conversation on how individuals and communities can work towards social and economic justice in America, today.
Join a virtual discussion with Phillip Yates, Founder/CEO of Equiliberty, on the impact of race on our current virus + violence crises; followed by best practices from the Impact Hub community’s work on AIDE – Access, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity – to support and empower change-makers of color in the United States.
We will discuss:
1. How COVID-19 threatens African-American communities and community-based businesses; and how social enterprises like Equiliberty can help expand access for underinvested communities to asset-building opportunities through shared ownership.
2. How persistent police violence has inspired a generation of new civil rights leaders that has America re-thinking power structures, long-standing institutions, and governance.
3. How this new movement to end racism and violence against Black Americans and people of color has influenced so many people across the country and around the world to action, that 2020 may turn out to be a pivotal moment in human history.
4. How we can collaboratively envision what our world can look and work like under new systems that offer economic growth and justice for all, and co-create what might be.
Helping spark and lead discussion:
Phillip J. Yates – Attorney (Yates & Associates, PLLC); CEO/Founder of Equiliberty, Inc.; Board Chair of Impact Hub Houston.
Phillip founded Equiliberty to end poverty by helping people learn how to use their existing resources and talents to grow thriving businesses, create jobs, and develop strong local economies that contribute to global prosperity. It leverages technology to democratize access to credit and provides the tools for creators to build infrastructure and self-sustainable revenue models that ultimately promote economic growth and justice for all.
Phillip Yates is also a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Diversity Fund Houston. The Diversity Fund Houston is a micro venture fund created to invest in black and brown tech founders during the “friends and family” round. Prior to founding Diversity Fund Houston, Phillip helped establish a pre-venture business incubator for minorities at the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL). In this role, he focused on identifying key resources to assist startups and early-stage founders with opportunities to scale . Since its inception, this program has helped over 5,000 minority entrepreneurs join the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Phillip is a licensed attorney in the State of Texas and the Southern District of the United States where he practices Bankruptcy and Corporate law. He also sits on the board for Lone Star Justice Alliance, League of Women Voters Houston, 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, and serves as General Counsel for the Business Angel Minority Association (baMa) and Chairman of Impact Hub Houston, which connects and empowers people working to solve social problems in our city and around the world.
Grace Rodriguez – CEO/Executive Director of Impact Hub Houston
Grace has helped spread ideas, create experiences, and spur action as a speaker, facilitator, producer and community developer for diverse companies and organizations, directly reaching over 296,000 people in the past decade. During Hurricane Harvey, she helped disseminate information to a quarter of a million people throughout Houston, and helped Sketch City’s tech volunteers connect with resources to effectively inform, rescue, shelter and feed people across the region. Grace has promoted Houston;s creative and startup communities to over 17,000 people over seven years of leading “Houston at SXSW;” and was responsible for engaging and energizing 800+ high-profile participants as TED’s “TEDActive” Creative Director.
Grace mentors startups and entrepreneurs at MassChallenge TX, Rice University’s Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (LILIE), Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at UH Bauer College, Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute (TMCx), and Capital Factory. She serves on the boards of Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH) and Writers in the Schools (WITS), and is the lead organizer of Women In Tech: Houston (WIT:H) and TEDxHouston.
Grace is also as an active member of the: Nationswell Council; Kauffman ESHIP Ecosystem Developers community; Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE); City of Houston Women and Minority Business Task Force; Houston Exponential Startup Development Organizations Roundtable; and the Page 30 Coalition.
A discussion about the importance of quantifiable impact with leaders in the space
About this Event
Join us for the last Quantifiable Impact series event of the year
This event will encourage conversation amongst social entrepreneurs about the importance of quantifying impact. As this ever-changing space begins to take shape, stakeholders and donors are looking for transparency across operations and projects to ensure their money is acquiring the highest social ROI. The ability to understand and quantify impact is trending to become one of the cornerstones of sustaining longevity of any social venture. Come join us to hear from leaders in this space regarding the opportunities as well as introduce challenges in running social organizations in a data driven world.
5:30 PM Sign-in/Registration/Networking
6:00 PM Key Note and Workshop
7:00 PM Q&A
7:30 PM Networking
Speaker Info:
Ivonne Cruz – Ivonne Cruz is a consultant for GAA and the Puentes Consortium administrator at Rice University.
Ivonne Cruz, Ph.D., holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in sustainable human development and social public policy from the Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña. Her primary interest focuses on the human dimensions of global environmental change, corporate social responsibility, human rights issues, and sustainability reporting. Ivonne has been an independent consultant for over 15 years and has served in a variety of roles and institutions including academia, international agencies, and public sector entities. She has worked for the Environmental Defense Fund, the United Nations Environmental Program, the United Nations Industrial Program, the Global Environmental Facility, NOAA, the Mexican and Cuban Environmental Protection agencies, and other local governments in Europe. She has lived in several countries and has published several papers and book chapters on social policy issues, sustainable development strategies and has participated in the elaboration of sustainability reports for private and public sectors.
*Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Thanks to our Co Hosts Global Affairs Associates, LLC and Impact Hub Houston
Impact Hub Houston and The Cannon (Downtown) invite you to break bread together at our final Community Potluck of 2019!
Our goal for the lunch is to gather more fantastic people in this city, connect and learn more about the awesome things that we are all up to… oh and of course, share some great food & drinks! Plates, utensils, napkins, cups, ice and water will be provided.
Sign-up to bring your favorite dish, dessert or drink. We won’t judge if your food is store-bought (wink, wink) just make sure you add your dish to the sign-up sheet.
*Note: Please be sure to include an ingredient list for all homemade dishes to avoid any allergic reactions.
This event is open to the community but all must RSVP to attend.
Heard about social entrepreneurship but don’t really know what a social venture looks like? Impact Hub Houston invites you to roll up your sleeves and join us at Houston’s only Social Entrepreneurship meetup.
The meetup brings together like-minded individuals from the non-profit, social enterprise, impact investing, technology and many other fields to understand the concept of social entrepreneurship and be inspired to find new ways to tackle local social issues. At each meetup, you’ll 1) Get an intro to Social Entrepreneurship 2) Hear from a Social Entrepreneur in Houston 3) Network with other changemakers from across the entrepreneur ecosystem.
When traveling to Merida, Yucatan in 2014 Yvonne noticed two things while in the city. First, artisan women and men would gather in the main plaza daily and sold their craft in an organized manner. Second, she noticed that the women and men were part of cooperatives, learning from each other while sustaining their household by using their skills. Yvonne began to study what was thriving and working for artisans in Mexico and asked herself, “What could work for the artisans of Mexico who now live in the U.S.?” After this trip, Tierra began to form. Tierra is a marketplace where customers can shop for ethically-made, Mexico-goods. We believe in social sustainability, economic empowerment and fair-trade principles. The diverse regions of Mexico and the hard work ethic is now showcased at our store. We began with our online market in 2015 and happily opened our 1st brick and mortar in 2016. We mix our social work ethical values and love for our mexican heritage to continue to create and cultivate Tierra.
6:45pm Open discussion on Impact topics
7:00pm Networking
Come learn about Yvonne’s journey! Who knows, maybe you will walk out of the meet up with your own idea for a social venture. #socialentrepreneurship
