What is the optiMize Social Innovation Challenge (SIC)? 🌐
The optiMize Social Innovation Challenge helps turn your ideas into impactful realities. Throughout the course of 15 weeks, you will engage in interactive workshops on visioning, prototyping, stakeholder engagement, budgeting, and pitching! 💡
You will have the opportunity to connect with a diverse community of social impact-driven individuals at the University of Michigan through events, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. 📚
At the end of the challenge, you will pitch your idea and may secure up to $10,000 in funding to bring your vision to life and create sustainable change! 📈
Any questions, contact us at [email protected] or DM us on here! 🤩
Discover @aMplifyumich 🌐
A bi-weekly Monday Night Community dinner for transfer students, by transfer students. Form connections with peers, mentors, and campus partners through engaging activities and discussions on time management, stress management, self-care, and professional development. 💡
Build a supportive community with those who share similar experiences, including first-generation, international, non-traditional, students of color, and low-income/SES students. 🌎
Access academic assistance, career advice, and essential resources to thrive at the University of Michigan—all while enjoying a free dinner. 🍽️
We are aMplify; here to amplify your presence and transfer experience. 🌐〽️
Today is #GivingBlueday! Can you help optiMize continue our work? 🌐
We help U-M and prospective transfer students turn their ideas into impact. Our Social Innovation Challenge and moMentum programs offer workshops, connection to resources and mentorship, and funding for students to create projects with a positive impact. 🌎
Most importantly, however, we’ve given students a loving and supportive community, one that encourages them to ask themselves, “Why not me?” when tackling the world’s most pressing issues. 💙
Every dollar raised on #GivingBlueday goes directly toward funding programs and student projects that are making a positive impact.🤝
Can you help us reach our goal of $50k? Give today - Link in bio. 🔗
#UMich #optiMize TransferJAM
Tomorrow is #GivingBlueday — a one-day fundraiser that helps us fund student impact projects and programs each year. Money raised tomorrow will primarily fund students through two of our biggest programs — the Social Innovation Challenge and our moMentum Fellowship.
These programs offer mentorship, workshops, and funding for U-M and prospective transfer students to build community and create self-directed projects that make a positive impact.
Each donation also gets us closer to winning bonus funds from U-M — so every contribution matters, no matter the amount.
Can you help us reach our goal tomorrow of $50k from 200 donors? Link in bio. https://myumi.ch/P3MV9
#UMich #SocialInnovation #optimize
Drumroll please…we are so excited to announce our 14th cohort of optiMize Funded Fellows! 🌐
This year’s SIC, reimagined with the help of our fantastic staff, challenged our teams to learn and grow through their ventures. We had so many amazing projects and pitches throughout the challenge and couldn’t be happier to usher in a new era of social impact.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Social Innovation Challenge, and congratulations again to all of our Cohort 14 teams!🩵
Workshop 4 was all about prototyping!
Participants created low-fidelity prototypes, gathered feedback, and shared ideas across the cohort to keep refining their solutions.
Iteration is everything. 🌐💡✨
#whynotme #socialinnovationchallenge
Giving Tuesday is HERE!
Today’s the day! optiMize is raising funds to provide Bamboo memberships for Cohort 14, giving student innovators the tools, mentorship, and community they need to bring bold ideas to life.
Your gift TODAY can unlock even more impact:
If we raise $5,000, a generous match will unlock an additional $5,000 and helping us reach our $10,000 goal!
Cohorts 12 & 13 benefited directly from Bamboo memberships, and now we’re paying it forward for the next generation of changemakers.
Donate now & help us unlock the match!
🔗 Link in our Linktree (in bio)
Thank you to everyone who has donated and continuing to support us!
#GivingTuesday #optimize #BambooMemberships #UMich #lsa #goblue
NEEDS & LEADS RECAP!🌐
This past Sunday, we hosted an amazing Q&A panel with SIC mentors to answer our participants’ burning questions!
Following that, we continued to solidify our statements, talk about project checkpoints, and identify our “needs” in order to propel the work further. After that, we offered “leads”, or actionable suggestions, to those needs. Come on collaboration!
Thank you to our amazing mentors and engaged participants who made this our best Needs and Leads yet.🩵
This past workshop, we dove deeper into understanding our stakeholders because every project is built on them, but how well do we really know them? 🤔
From fun icebreakers like guessing each other’s morning routines to mapping out pains, gains, and desires, we painted a clearer picture of the people at the heart of our work.
We also enjoyed some delicious Indian food and had pod conversations about what we’re looking forward to in the next workshops and events.
👉 Join us for Needs and Leads on November 9th! Don’t miss it 🌐
✨ Social Innovation Challenge Workshops 1 & 2 Recap! ✨
Thank you to our incredible participants and staff for making the first two workshops such a success!
💡 Workshop 1: Social Innovation & Mentorship
We kicked off the challenge by introducing participants to optiMize. We shared our mission, built mentor connections, and heard from our Presidents, Staff, and courageous participants beginning their journeys.
🤝 Workshop 2: Problem & Stakeholder Exploration
Each track dove deep into defining stakeholders, sharing feedback, and exploring gaps in their communities to shape meaningful, impact-driven ideas.
& we’re just getting started...stay tuned for Workshop 3 👀
#optimize #socialinnovationchallenge #umich #mentorship #socialimpact #innovation #changemakers
As we kick off a new season with optiMize, we’re excited to share some of the unique pathways launching this year!
Each track is a space to explore your passions, build solutions, and create change.
Whether you’re a builder, thinker, creative, or visionary, there’s a place for you. 💡
Ready to find your path? Explore our tracks and start your journey today!🌐
