Last October, we received 680 project submissions for the eleventh annual optiMize Social Innovation Challenge. Over the course of the next five months, we hosted the SIC with workshops, mentorship sessions, and community building events to support students working on social impact projects. In February, these teams presented their work and requested up to $10,000 per project.
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As the holiday season approaches once again, the optiMize team wanted to ease your worries about finding the perfect gift. Many of these local, student-led businesses offer the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
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With the SIC underway, our Peer Mentors work to provide support to participants with a unique perspective of having undertaken the challenge themselves. They are a great resource and staff member to lean on with any question that comes to mind and we are so proud of all they have accomplished with their respective projects!
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We are so excited to introduce you all to Aja Gore, our new Associate Director to learn more about her journey to the University of Michigan and why she joined the opti-team.
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We are so excited to introduce you all to Candace Curtis-Cavazos, our new Mentorship & External Engagement Manager to learn more about her journey at the University of Michigan, vision for mentorship at optiMize, and why she joined the opti-team.
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Our staff came together to create a playlist that reminds us of our cherished optiMize community. Read about why staff members added their picks to the playlist, and feel free to listen along!
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We collected book recommendations from the members of our community. Here is a selection of nonfiction, fiction, and more reading recommendations!
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We are proud to release our 2023 booklet created by our Creative Team, featuring our funded Social Innovation teams, Transfer Bridge Fellows, and Organizing Team
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As the holiday season approaches once again, the optiMize team wanted to ease your worries about finding the perfect gift. Many of these local, student-led businesses offer the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
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We are so excited to introduce you all to Dallas McGhee-Henry, our new Marketing and Communications Manager to learn more about his journey at the University of Michigan, vision for the Creative Team, and why he joined the opti-team.
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We sat down with three fellows from Cohort 10 to talk to them about their experience with optiMize, how optiMize programming impacted their projects, and advice for going through the 2022 Social Innovation Challenge
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We are proud to release 2022’s Cohort X booklet created by our Creative Team, featuring our funded Social Innovation teams, Transfer Bridge Fellows, and Organizing Team.
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In preparation for the upcoming year’s SIC, five dedicated Support Team Members recently took on new roles as Challenge Leads. We look forward to their leadership next fall as they guide the organizing team in putting on a phenomenal program for our 11th Cohort of Social Innovators. We would love to give a warm welcome to Adele, George, Jonathan, Mara, and Connor!
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Paige joined optiMize’s full-time staff in October as the new Community Partnerships manager. We had Paige answer a few questions about her background, vision for Community Partnerships, and inspiration for joining the optiMize.
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We sat down with five fellows from Cohort 9 to talk to them about their experience with the optiMize, how optiMize programming impacted their projects, and advice for going through the 2021 Social Innovation Challenge
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Appreciating all LGBTQ+ optiMize Community Members!
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We are proud to release 2021’s Cohort IX booklet created by our Creative Team, featuring our funded Social Innovation teams and Organizing Team.
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This year, we are able to fund 36 projects and 46 Summer Fellows with $250,000. Even amidst a pandemic, these student projects continue to illuminate possibilities for a more just and sustainable world. We hope they inspire you as much as they inspire us!
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Last month, six students joined the optiMize Leadership Group as Social Innovation Challenge Leads. These students were selected from our support team to lead the organizing team in putting on the Social Innovation Challenge next fall. We are excited to introduce Tanvi, Tobin, Sahil, Sam, Linda, and Angela!
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The holiday season is once again upon us, and no matter what traditions you practice at this time of year, we all share a common thread; the joy of giving thoughtful gifts! Here are a few products, all from teams funded by optiMize over the last three years, that will take the stress out of gift-shopping and leave even the most eager of wrapping-paper-rippers smiling.
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