“Why optiMize?” from Cohort 9 Fellows
What Makes the Social Innovation Challenge So Unique? Read what optiMize Cohort 9 Fellows Have to say!
As our 10th Social Innovation Challenge kicks off, we asked Cohort 9 Fellows about what they gained from participating in optiMize. We hope that their stories and projects inspire you to ask yourself, Why not me?
Hear from Yasmeen, Dallas, Deeksha, Tobin, & Stephany
Yasmeen Berry, frAIM
Pronouns: She/Her
Yasmeen is a junior at UM studying biomolecular sciences and anthropology. She is currently on student staff at optiMize and founder of frAIM. As a Cohort 9 Fellow, Yasmeen built frAIM, which seeks to increase public awareness of talented up-and-coming artists and shape the possibility for a more unified and supportive community within the art industry.
I have always found interpreting the world around me through art to be my creative outlet and love connecting with others who share this same appreciation. Through admiring the work of my peers in the art community, I found myself wishing to be able to not only see their featured work but also hear the artists’ stories. I looked into whether these emerging artists had their stories or brands present online, but many of them did not. It is from here that I had a vision for frAIM, an organization that works to combat insufficient access to community-based career building resources and inadequate financial support for up-and-coming artists.
Some of the ways in which optiMize has helped establish frAIM include providing us with the tools to learn how to work effectively with a project team, collaborate with peers, and communicate my project concept with others. Even after the Social Innovation Challenge, optiMize continues to provide resources and connections to help frAIM grow. One of our peer mentors was even able to help us establish a connection with the artist that originally inspired our work!
I love the fact that optiMize embodies not only an inclusive community, but also a collaborative mindset. While I was initially intimidated by the prospect of working on this project, I quickly learned that support from optiMize was readily available every step of the way. I found strength in being involved in a community based on diversity and inclusivity; a community that allowed individuals to come together for social change and a welcoming atmosphere for new ideas.
The experiences provided through the challenge are invaluable in that they not only allow you to learn how to take your projects from idea to concrete reality, but also provide you with a unique opportunity to be a part of an inclusive and passionate community. By completing the challenge, I learned that one of the best resources I received was the chance to hear feedback from a wide range of perspectives. Make sure to not only collect the feedback you are given, but also fully utilize it as a tool to help your project grow.
Dallas McGhee-Henry, Funding for Foster Youth
Pronouns: He/Him
Dallas is a senior majoring in Film, Television, and Media Studies and founder of Funding for Foster Youth. When Dallas joined the challenge last year, he wanted to start an initiative to help find, support, and advertise funds in which youth who experienced the foster care system can apply to support wellbeing. Dallas is a Cohort IX and Mellon Fellow, now part of student staff at optiMize.
Growing up, I had a foster sister in which, for specific reasons, my family couldn't keep her. Years after she left, I learned that if youth dont find support by the age of 18 by means of family, then the government makes them fend for themselves. No one should be alone to figure things out, especially at the young age of 18. This inspired me to start Funding for Foster Youth which provides resources and advertising funding opportunities to foster youth.
optiMize helped me realize that I can be passionate about multiple things in life and taught me how to effectively go about pursuing the things that I am passionate about. optiMize showed me that there are people in my corner and that even the small steps forward are giant. I learned how to fail with grace and get back up because optiMize helped pick me up in moments where I felt like I didn't do enough.
My favorite part about optiMize is the faculty. The optiMize team really all have genuine hearts. For anyone going through the challenge, know that you are capable, you are worthy, and you are enough.
Deeksha Gollamudi, To the Moon
Pronouns: She/Her
Deeksha is the founder of To The Moon, a pro-bono, student-run consulting club that builds, trains, and matches teams of young women in high school and college with women-owned businesses to work on business development projects. She is a Senior this year, majoring in Economics with a minor in Statistics and is currently a peer mentor with optiMize, supporting others on their optiMize journey.
To learn more about To the Moon, visit their website or check out their Instagram
I saw a clear need to inspire young women+ to be the leaders and CEO’s of tomorrow. Many women lack access to opportunities where they can learn about analytical and creative thinking processes that could help them in all aspects of their daily lives. More now than ever, young women+ require support and experience so they can launch entrepreneurial ventures and gain key interpersonal skills like confidence, public speaking, and leadership. Encouraging the ideas of young women is important, as their voices are instrumental in solving pertinent issues and empowering overlooked and underinvested communities.
To The Moon aims to break down the barriers to opportunity by improving the diversity of entrepreneurial ecosystems. We help women-owned businesses and nonprofits get support and recommendations that help their business succeed, and help students collaborate and develop consulting, leadership, and business experience.
optiMize helped me take my abstract idea and turn it into an operational, sustainable, and innovative organization that is generating tangible impact to fix inequities that exist for women in business. The guidance and mentorship offered through optiMize helped me think through my idea and improve it, and the space optiMize offers to learn from other people in the community was incredibly beneficial and supportive. The best part of optiMize is their strong sense of community, commitment to learning and growing, and collaborative nature.
The optiMize experience is what you make of it. Take advantage of the invaluable mentorship and workshop experiences as well as the connections that you build with others in the optiMize community because everyone really wants to help you. Don’t be afraid to reach out and be open to feedback as it really will help your organization grow and become better!
Tobin Brenner, 3 Degrees
Pronouns: He/Him
Tobin is a Junior this year majoring in PitE with a business minor. Last year, Tobin joined 3 Degrees, an organization that works with fraternities, sororities, and co-ops on campus to implement personalized waste-reducing initiatives and educate members of these entities about the importance of eco-friendly practices. By selling affordable compostable products bought in bulk, 3 Degrees aims to challenge the idea that sustainable practices are expensive and inaccessible. Tobin was a Cohort IX fellow and is currently the SIC mentorship lead at optiMize.
Visit the 3 Degrees Instagram to learn more
My sophomore year I was elected sustainability chair for my social fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, and quickly noticed how ineffective and unsustainable waste management was. After noticing this, I teamed up with other motivated students who noticed this same issue and wanted to address it. We researched local compost kitchenware providers and understood that this switch from single-use plastics/paper products to 100% compostable kitchenware was feasible with the right support structure and education, and 3 Degrees wanted to be that support.
optiMize helped us hone in on our mission, connected us with invaluable mentorship, and surrounded us with a community of supportive peers. We came into the challenge with an idea of the impact we wanted to have on campus, but without a prototype or any advertising/marketing campaign. After the challenge, we not only fleshed out these facets of our business, but also had enough funding to allow our team to make the impact we had hoped to make.
My favorite part about optiMize is the welcoming and diverse community it engages at UM. I have met some of my closest friends through this organization and feel that optiMize really emphasizes the importance of having a close-knit group you can truly rely on. Every member has treated me with respect and honesty throughout the challenge and I don't think there's a closer community on campus!
My biggest piece of advice for participants going through the challenge is to not worry if you don't have a fully fleshed out business plan when you begin. All teams start at different stages and optiMize has a unique way of effectively working with teams, regardless of if the project is just an idea or if it is already making revenue. Come motivated and ready to pursue your mission but don't be discouraged when you see other teams "ahead" of you. We are all in this together!
Stephany Mendez Ortega, u.Balance
Pronouns: She/Her
Stephany is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Communications & Media with a minor in Latina/o Studies. She is one of the founders of u.Balance, a subscription wellness care box that prioritizes social, mental, physical, environmental, and financial wellness. u.Balance was created to show that self-care as a form of wellness does not have to be an extravagance but a daily routine. Stephany is a Transfer Bridge Coordinator and Cohort IX Fellow, and she currently works with Community Partnerships at optiMize.
My inspiration towards starting u.Balance came from my own experience as a college student. The accumulation of balancing academics, work, and a social life is oftentimes difficult and stressful. Juggling many things at once can create a lack of attention to wellness. Thus, I wanted to create something that would encourage college students and young adults to think about all aspects of their wellness like physical, mental, social, environmental, and financial health.
optiMize has helped me transform my idea into existence! Thanks to the mentors I was connected to during the Social Innovation Challenge and the feedback my team received, we were able to develop and flourish our idea into something tangible!
The one thing I absolutely love about optiMize is the community! Everyone is so welcoming, inspiring, and encouraging! Every time I attended an optiMize event, I always came out of it even more eager to change the world and make a positive impact! For anyone looking to join and be part of a collaborative and uplifting community, I totally recommend to join optiMize!
My advice for participants going through the challenge is to not give up -- you can make your idea a reality! optiMize is here to help you and your teammates succeed! This is a community that truly encourages one another's ideas and so I would advise all participants to reach out to optiMize staff and peer mentors if help is needed during the Social Innovation Challenge!