Orange Sparkle Ball 12/12/23 Orange Sparkle Ball 12/12/23

Creating Shared Value in My Community

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 12:25 - 12:55 EST

2. Building Shared Value in Communities

In rural and underserved communities, access to equitable pipelines can be fragmented, posing unique challenges. This session will discuss the importance of intentionality in building innovative pathways that bridge these gaps and empower community members to thrive in the digital age in new markets.

Christele Parham, MBA, Macon Black Tech

As a social impact strategist, Christele is passionate about using design thinking to create positive change in my community. She currently serves as a Chief Creative Officer with Ham Designs, where she helps clients integrate social and environmental impact into their initiatives. In this role, she has developed a deep understanding of the importance of stakeholder engagement and effective communication in driving social impact change.
In addition to her work with Ham Designs, she is the founder of Macon Black Tech, where they curate experiences that create an equitable path for early-stage founders in the Middle GA area looking to build tech-enabled solutions for community challenges. As a young Black professional, she is dedicated to creating opportunities for underrepresented individuals to access technology and innovation especially in rural communities. Through her involvement with Macon Black Tech, she has had the opportunity to create programming while mentoring emerging leaders and supporting the growth of Black-owned businesses in her community.
With a background in design thinking, social impact strategy, and community building, she brings a unique perspective to the table. She is dedicated to helping organizations create positive change and leave a lasting impact on the world.

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Building a More Innovative Community

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 12:25 - 12:55 EST

2. Building Shared Value in Communities

Good things happen when people talk to each other. In any community of interest, it’s helpful to know who is – and is not – talking to each other. Network Mapping is a great tool for discovering, navigating and engineering the relationships that make a community stronger. Even the earliest, raw maps of anything are better than no map at all.

In entertaining style, Grant will present his methodology and results for mapping the Innovation Network in his metropolitan region, connecting it with sister cities in the industrial Great Lakes, and overlaying maps of other communities-of-interest (i.e. Arts, Human Services, Environmental) to strengthen our greater communities.

Grant Marquit, EDGE

Grant Marquit has been an economic development professional for 25 years, working primarily with mid-size ($20MM-$20Bn annual revenues) companies in northeast Ohio (Cleveland). He intersects with the arts, environmental, health and academic communities as part of his life work. Grant has been recognized particularly for his work in pioneering learning experiences that bridge the corporate world to those other communities, each enhancing the value of the others. If you can imagine CEOs learning from each other, from nature, yogis, sculptors or scientists, you can imagine some of what Grant’s work looks like.
Leadership, Strategy and Innovation are the central themes of Grant’s educational programs – each driving new value creation and improving quality and performance for participants and their respective organizations and stakeholders. The premise of this work is that helping companies grow in value creates dividends that improve Quality of Life for all, via well-paying jobs, local spending, philanthropy, tax revenues, more sustainable products and services, etc.
Grant can often be found playing music out in the woods, or tending to his guerilla garden in the city, or taking a kid or two to school. It's all about improving Quality of Life.

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IRIS Implementation: Building Shared Value

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 12:15 - 12:25 EST

2. Building Shared Value in Communities

Loretta Severin, Research Project Manager, Center for Public Partnerships and Research, University of Kansas

Loretta Severin wears many hats. Through collaboration with existing and potential community partners, she guides and develops continuous improvements to the implementation approach.

Every day is different but one thing remains constant: each new partner brings their needs and vision, a passion for their community and an excitement to move forward.

For 10 years Loretta coordinated state-level projects on topics including substance abuse prevention and developmental health promotion, pairing policy and system-level initiatives with locally implemented strategies and collaborations. Empowering communities to create change doesn’t get old.

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What’s Next?

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 2:50 - 3:00 EST

4. Closing

Speakers

Teri Garstka, Ph.D., Associate Director, The Center for Public Partnerships and Research, University of Kansas

Teri Garstka, Ph.D. (University of Kansas, 1997) is an Associate Director at the Center for Public Partnerships and Research at the University of Kansas and oversees a portfolio of research, evaluation, and data science initiatives in systems that serve children, youth, and families. Dr. Garstka leads the strategic development of several software applications that support impact measurement and good practice in seven states across the country. With over 15 years of experience in implementing or leading large-scale data efforts in academic, government, and social service settings, Dr. Garstka’s expertise includes establishing data governance structures, aligning technical infrastructure, analytic tools, methodologies, and measurement to address policy questions, and turning data insights into action for better decision-making at all levels of social service systems.

Meaghan Kennedy, MPH, Founder, Orange Sparkle Ball

Meaghan Kennedy’s experience intersects innovation, public health, and social entrepreneurship. After an epidemiology research career at CDC, she founded Orange Sparkle Ball, an innovation and impact consultancy that accelerates initiatives in the private and public sector and works with both domestic and global partners. With an acceleration methodology rooted in design thinking and change management, Orange Sparkle Ball focuses on open innovation, innovation program design, social entrepreneurship and community activation. Meaghan has taught at Georgia Institute of Technology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has been a guest reviewer at Georgia Tech since 2007, a judge and mentor for the Global Social Venture Competition and Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA), a mentor for social entrepreneurs and is a frequently invited to speak on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Orange Sparkle Ball 8/15/23 Orange Sparkle Ball 8/15/23

Co-Design for Inclusive Technology

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 2:10 - 2:30 EST

3. Understanding Tech-Enabled Community Networks

The power of co-design with communities has proven to be an invaluable creative approach, fostering distributed collaboration among those impacted by the solutions being developed. As climate change intensifies, island and coastal communities are grappling with increasingly frequent and devastating disasters, such as hurricanes and floods. Our team, comprised of researchers, humanitarian practitioners, designers, and technologists with diverse expertise from both the local archipelago and the global stage, has been diligently exploring how to co-design inclusive civic solutions alongside those directly affected by these disasters. Together, we aim to bridge the last-mile disaster relief gap and establish enduring resilience within underserved communities. During our session, we will use our past co-design workshops as examples to share practices and insights learned while convening residents, community groups, and governmental and non-governmental entities from across Puerto Rico.

Speakers

Azury Wei-Ching Lin, MS, Product & Design Lead, re+connect

Azury is a design strategist with a system mindset, currently concentrating on sustainability challenges and advocacy for social changes through a humanity-centered design approach. She has mainly worked with early-stage startups to craft and deliver visions of products and services in a holistic approach – from branding, storytelling to product and service development.

Pamela Silva, MS, Co-Design Lead, re+connect

Pamela's passion lies at the intersection of technology, environmental sustainability, and social impact. She adopts a human-centered approach to co-design products and machines that address community challenges and opportunities. Her co-creation technique blends strategic design facilitation with engineering consulting and services.

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Measuring Community Networks

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 1:50 - 2:10 EST

3. Understanding Tech-Enabled Community Networks

A network strategy is an intentional set of actions and programs designed to bring cross-sector partners together, with the purpose of leveraging resources, sharing ideas and innovations, creating and maintaining new programming, and creating systems change. While investments in network strategies continue to rise, and a general “belief” that collaboration and partnerships will lead to outcomes persists, there is little data to help support those efforts. In this presentation, we will share best practices for measuring networks, examples of reliable measures, and growing trends that reflect the increasing interest in using network data to inform strategies over time.

Speakers

Danielle Varda, Ph.D., Visible Network Labs

Danielle is an impact entrepreneur, data scientist, public speaker, elected official, mother, and professor - but mostly a big network science geek who wants to make the world a better place! She has a demonstrated history of leading multidisciplinary teams in tackling complex social systems issues using technology, research, and translation to practice.

Skilled in Tech Startups, Business Development, Data Analysis, Applied Network Science, Public Speaking, Design Thinking, and Human-Computer Interactions. Value-based decision maker, with a vision to build the capacity of communities to work in collaboration to achieve social good. Associate Professor with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from University of Colorado Denver. Developer of the PARTNER (Program to Analyze, Record, and Track Networks to Enhance Relationships), Founder of the CU Center on Network Science, Host of the Network Innovation Summit, Jefferson County School Board Director, and Director of the Network Leadership Training Academy.

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Social Network Analysis Based Validation: Network Strength and Health Outcomes

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 2:30 - 2:50 EST

3. Understanding Tech-Enabled Community Networks

This session will examine and analyze community social care networks using the technology tool IRIS. Social network analyses allow us to explore how aspects of the network interact with community outcomes such as health, quality of life, socio-economic variables, and more. The presentation will present findings from social network analyses conducted on multi-sector communities using IRIS. We discuss the influence of network characteristics on community level health and well-being.

Speakers

Sushmita Samaddar, MPP, Senior Research Engineer, The Center for Public Partnerships and Research, University of Kansas

Sushmita Samaddar is a Research Engineer Senior at the Center for Public Partnerships and Research (CPPR) at the University of Kansas. Her expertise includes data science, statistical analysis including quasi-experimental methods and randomized control trials, data governance, and research transparency and reproducibility. At CPPR, she leads data science and quantitative research work in integrated data systems, early childhood development, social network analysis, and cash assistance programs. Prior to joining CPPR, she was a researcher at the World Bank where she focused on providing data-driven diagnostics to support reforms in national public procurement systems, conducting global studies on procurement practices, and building capacity on data analytics with government officials. She has also worked in developmental policy, organizational efficiency, governance, and environmental policy.

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Leveraging Technology to Build a Stronger Community

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 1:40 - 1:50 EST

3. Understanding Tech-Enabled Community Networks

Speakers

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Shared Value and Community-Led Innovation

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 12:55 - 1:15 EST

2. Building Shared Value in Communities

Discover the transformative power of shared value and community-led innovation at the Tech-Enabled Community Resilience Summit. Join my session to explore how I harnessed these principles to connect maternal and infant health dyads nationwide, creating a stronger, more interconnected healthcare ecosystem for mothers and babies alike. Gain insights into my journey of fostering collaboration and leveraging technology for a healthier future.

Speakers

Janauvia McCall-Anthony, Founder, The Milk Mouth Project

Janauvia McCall-Anthony is a light within the realm of maternal and infant health advocacy. As a devoted Mom, Public Speaker, Lactivist, and Maternal and Infant Health Advocate, she is making waves in the field of reproductive justice, childbirth, and postpartum care.
As the visionary Founder of The Milk Mouth Project, a grass-roots community organization, she is resolute in providing a safe and inclusive space for BIPOC families and Birth-workers, driving positive change in their lives.
Through her unwavering dedication to the community, Janauvia has achieved remarkable milestones, propelling her career through influential partnerships, volunteer work, and prestigious scholarships. Her mission to support families and their little ones in every way possible is a driving force behind her work. She is committed to raising awareness about maternal and infant health, addressing critical issues, and paving the way for a healthier, more equitable future.
Janauvia is truly honored to be at the forefront of such important work and remains committed to making a positive difference in the lives of families and birth workers everywhere. Her dreams and aspirations are driven by her desire to intersect social impact, innovation, and public policy, understanding that the disparities faced by the black community stem from systemic inequalities and a need for dynamic ethical innovation in policy-making.
As a young mom, Janauvia's personal experience with a traumatic birth journey with Zachariah became her driving force. The successful breastfeeding journey she shared with her lactation village empowered her to breastfeed for three years, leading her to realize that her true purpose lies in helping other Black families overcome challenges and celebrate their successes.

Orange Sparkle Ball 8/3/23 Orange Sparkle Ball 8/3/23

Building Shared Value in Communities

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 12:25 - 12:55 EST

2. Building Shared Value in Communities

Join us for an inspiring presentation designed to empower individuals, community leaders, and activists to learn about the community change in rural Illinois. Key highlights include community assessment, collaborative network-building, advocacy, resource mobilization, and policy/systems change. Whether you’re a concerned citizen or a community leader, this presentation will help you become a catalyst for positive change in your community.

Diana Merdian, MA, Regional Office of Education & Mayor, Sterling, IL

Diana Merdian was born and raised in Sterling, IL. She went on to get her Associate's Degree from Sauk Valley Community College, a Bachelor’s of Arts (Healthcare Studies), and a Master’s in Education (Family and Community Services) from Ashford University in Clinton, IA.

She served as a Level 5 Family Support Specialist for the Regional Office of Education #47 (ROE) in Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counties for three years at Riverdale Preschool For All program. She then went on to become the Family Education and Support Services Program Coordinator for the Nexus Program, Community/Data Systems Manager for the IRIS referral system within the community, and an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with the ROE.

As current mayor of Sterling, IL she works with families experiencing homelessness and students at risk of dropping out on a typical day.

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What Do We Mean By Shared Value?

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 12:15 - 12:25 EST

2. Building Shared Value in Communities

Speakers

Orange Sparkle Ball 8/3/23 Orange Sparkle Ball 8/3/23

An Evolving Understanding of Community: From Food Systems to the University

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 11:30 - 11:50 EST

What is Community?

Speaker

Ellen Barnidge, Ph.D., MPH, Professor, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University

"Ellen is a dedicated and passionate public health leader. She is an Associate Professor in Behavioral Science at Saint Louis University with a demonstrated history of working on health equity related to nutrition and food security.
Her research interests include environment and policy change to promote nutrition, household food security, and health equity. Her research team recently completed an intervention to screen for and respond to social needs during pediatric well-patient visits which resulted in a systematic change in the support provided to families made vulnerable to resource insecurity. The intervention included interdisciplinary training of medical, social work, and public health students. Currently, she is working with colleagues in economics, law, and data science to understand Medicaid expansion and economic resilience in Missouri. "

Orange Sparkle Ball 8/3/23 Orange Sparkle Ball 8/3/23

Understanding Community Ecosystems: Lessons from Puerto Rico

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 11:10 - 11:30 EST

What is Community?

Solving pain points of communities through sourcing ideas and co-creating through cross-sector collaboration is the source of innovation. This talk will explore the case for Open Innovation– how and matching expertise, with lived experiences can bring government, academia, communities, social sector and tech together through see exponentially more solutions to the same problems many communities face. Strategic, managed exchanges of information with actors outside of the boundaries of an organization can help catalyze change for those who have the technology or innovations to solve big problems and those who experience them. Through agile processes, this talk explores how bringing together communities, governments, technologists and the private sector help catalyze data-driven digital solutions to solve our nation’s most pressing challenges, an unique examples from The Opportunity Project: Puerto Rico.

Speaker

Lorena Molina-Irizarry, Senior Advisor for Puerto Rico, Department of Commerce

Lorena Molina-Irizarry serves as Senior Advisor for Puerto Rico Strategy and Implementation to the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau. Additionally, Mrs Molina-Irizarry and served as liaison to the White House Puerto Rico Initiative, integrating the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts around economic growth for Puerto Rico. Prior, she also served as Senior Advisor to the American Rescue Plan (ARP) implementation team at the White House in the implementation of ARP equities and investments in Puerto Rico, like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. Previously, she served as Director of Operations at the Census Open Innovation Labs within the U.S. Census Bureau, bringing together technologists, government and communities through open-tech collaboration, human-centered design and innovation models, tapping into the power of open data and tech for good; implementing open-innovation initiatives like the Open Data for Good Grand Challenge and scaling The Opportunity Project. In this capacity she also managed strategic partnerships with Big Tech, media, entertainment and civic-tech organizations to protect the integrity of the 2020 Census, creating data-sharing initiatives through public-private partnerships, and scaling innovation programs to address misinformation/disinformation about the decennial census and increasing data-driven decision making at all levels, across sectors and industries— this work led to the creation of the first ever Trust & Safety team in government. Previously, she served as the Deputy Chief of the National Partnerships Program, creating and implementing enterprise-wide infrastructure for engaging and collaborating with national, regional, and local partners in industry, tech, academia and the civil sector to increase open data use and awareness— promoting the importance of the 2020 Census as the cornerstone of our democracy, and other Census Bureau economic, demographic, geospatial programs. Prior to the decennial census she also served as the Technology Communications Liaison for the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of the U.S. Census Bureau, leading technology, cybersecurity, innovation communications and public relations for the agency. She has been instrumental in architecting and implementing innovation strategies across government and in local communities, implementing strategic workforce planning initiatives and building civic digital talent pipelines within and outside government.

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Welcome to the Tech-Enabled Community Resilience Summit: Why Are We Here?

Virtual | 09.15.2023 | 11:00 - 11:10 EST

What is Community?