At the Meetup kickoff event, we introduced the concepts of social innovation and design thinking. The participants were taken through a fun and interactive exercise that served as an icebreaker as well as an introduction to some of the concepts in design thinking, empathy, active listening, and prototyping. We discussed how design thinking can be used in our community, referencing examples from other communities in the US as well as abroad. We also discussed the different types of events, how to participate, and volunteer opportunities.

1. Weehawken/Union City
Social Innovation
hosted by MPACT! Lab

2. MPACT! Lab
About me, Sandy Soto…
and how this project came to be
• Live in Weehawken
• Have a son in WHS
• User Experience Design
• Discovered Design Thinking at work
• Also being used to tackle social issues
• Self Expression & Leadership Program
community service project

3. MPACT! Lab
Agenda
What we’re going to cover tonight
• What is… social innovation? design thinking?
• Examples in real life
• How can we use it in our own communities?
• ¡MPACT! Lab: about, where we’re at, what’s next
• How to participate
• Volunteer opportunities
• Q&A

4. MPACT! Lab
Activity
Create an object that represents your partner (20 min)
INTERVIEW - 6 min (3 minutes each person)
- Ask your partner about their life.
- Uncover something that means a lot to them (an event, person, place,
thing, hobby, etc.)
- Find out WHY this holds such meaning; what is the story behind it?
*Take notes
CREATE - 7 min
Using the tools provided, create an object that represents your partner’s
meaningful thing/person/etc.
PRESENT - 10 min
Introduce your partner to the group and present your creation.

5. MPACT! Lab
- This is (name).
- He/she (some things you learned).
- I discovered (meaningful thing) so I
created (briefly explain your creation).
Introduce Your Partner

6. MPACT! Lab
What is Social Innovation?
Coming up with novel solutions to social issues that are more effective, efficient,
sustainable, or just than current solutions. The value created primarily benefits
society rather than private individuals.
Social Innovation addresses topics like:
• Arts & Culture
• Civic Engagement
• Education
• Economy
• Housing
• Health & Safety
• Environment & Public Spaces
• Recreation
Solutions can include:
• Programs
• Systems
• Services
• Events
• Public Installations
• Physical Products
• Digital Products

7. MPACT! Lab
Design Thinking
A creative approach to problem solving with a
heightened focus on understanding the people
involved.
It draws upon logic, imagination, intuition, and
systemic reasoning, explores possibilities of what
could be, and creates desired outcomes that benefit
the end user.
“Human-Centered Design” is at the core of Design
Thinking.
It was developed at IDEO and Stanford University.

8. MPACT! Lab
Human Centered Design
Watch video: https://vimeo.com/106505300

9. MPACT! Lab
Design Thinking Framework
Stanford’s Design Thinking Framework

10. MPACT! Lab
How are other communities
and organizations using this?

11. MPACT! Lab
Design Thinking MN
Closing the Achievement Gap and Digital Divide
• Came up with personas and formulated
problem statements for each: “Tara needs a
way to help her child access digital learning
opportunities so that her son can receive the
same training as her classmates.”
• Formed two groups and came up with
dozens of ideas to respond to each need
statement.
• Picked their favorite idea, and developed a
detailed concept brief that allowed them to
develop a sketch, dig deeper and pressure-
test the idea.
http://reveconsulting.com/designthinking-meet-up/

12. MPACT! Lab
Design Thinking Miami
Make More Miami Public Spaces
• The Health Foundation of South Florida and the Office
of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Juan C. Zapata
invested $305,000 to make the top ideas a reality.
• Individuals, groups, for-profit companies and nonprofit
organizations submitted ideas to help make Miami a
more lively, engaged place to live, including:
- PLAY Stations Miami: Creative, fun & safe spaces for
Playing Learning Aspiring Youth (Recreation,
Education)
- Leah Arts District Community Event Series (Civic
Engagement, Arts & Culture)
- Marine Stadium Floating Park & Mangrove Sanctuary
(Environment, Education)
- Lighting the Way: NW 20th St/I-95 Underpass Safety
and Beautification Project (Health & Safety)
http://ideas.ourmiami.org/list

13. MPACT! Lab
Int’l Design Thinking Week
• Students of HPI and D-School as well as guests from
the US, Sweden, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa,
Switzerland, Greece and Egypt searched for innovative
solutions to help people with illiteracies through new
technologies.
• Identified the needs of the target group and came up
with several ideas, including:
- Software program that lets internet browsers read
texts, functions and links out loud so that people with
reading problems can still use news sites or social
networks like Facebook.
- A picture based app for mobile phones that helps to
orientate oneself – instead of using maps and street
names it leads the way step by step by using pictures
of buildings and streets.
- A video portal where the user can ask “how to”
questions via video to a community of helpers.
http://hpi.de/en/news/jahrgaenge/2015/design-thinking-week-
students-improve-the-daily-life-experience-for-people-with-
illiteracies.html
Improve the Daily Life
Experience for People
with Illiteracies

14. MPACT! Lab
VisionSpring + IDEO
• A social enterprise called VisonSpring and the design
firm IDEO observed and interviewed teachers,
students, and authority figures in several remote
villages in India.
• Identified the needs and concerns of children and
adolescents. Discovered that they want to be treated
like adults; they enjoy being compared to movie stars;
and they frequently influence their mothers’ decisions.
• Team split into groups and built prototypes for an eye
camp for kids, a screening and awareness program for
schools, and a promotional campaign through self-
help groups.
• Tested several prototypes (banners, take-home kits,
ID cards, group networks, data management systems)
and refined their approach.
• As of June 2009, in India, VisionSpring had conducted
5 eye camps for children, screened 1600 children,
provided transportation to the local eye hospital for
130 children, and provided glasses for 46 children.
https://www.ideo.com/work/childrens-eye-care
Provide vision exams
and eyeglasses to
families in poor, remote
communities

15. MPACT! Lab
How can we innovate together, HERE,
in Weehawken and Union City?

16. MPACT! Lab
Who Participates
The nature of the challenge determines who is needed
For-profit
Companies
Individuals
Organizations
Educators
Collaboration

17. MPACT! Lab
Individual Participants
Imagine what could happen when people
with various talents, skill, and expertise
collaborate to create a solution!
Individuals
People who simply
believe the world can
be a better place.
Anyone can become a
change maker.
People with skills
Professionals
Educators Students
Business Owners

18. MPACT! Lab
"Never doubt for a moment that a
small group of thoughtful, committed
people can change the world. Indeed,
it’s the only thing that ever has."
― Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

19. MPACT! Lab
¡MPACT! Lab
¡MPACT! Lab is a grass-roots social innovation collective in Weehawken & Union
City that empowers the people to transform their communities. ¡MPACT! Lab
organizes these Meetup events, which is where all the magic happens.
Individual
To access the untapped
creativity in each of us; to re-
ignite our curiosity of the
world and the people around
us; to awaken empathy
towards others; to empower
each person and experience
our impact on the world.
Community
To combine our efforts,
talents, and resources to
create the community we
want.
World
To create a society in which
empathy, free-thinking, and
creativity drive solutions to
our world’s problems.

20. MPACT! Lab
¡MPACT! Lab
How it started, where it’s at, what’s next
• Started in March 2016 as a
community project born out of the
Self Expression and Leadership
Program
• Researched and was mentored/
advised by several people
• Early stage of development (just me)
• Looking for volunteers to design and
grow the program with
• Intend to expand the program to
other communities as well as the
education system and local gov’ts
WHAT’S NEXT:
• Assign volunteers
• Develop partnerships and
sponsorships
• Hold events
- Workshops
- Social Events
- Community Challenges
- Youth Challenges
- Fundraisers
* Paid events: workshops and some social
events/fundraisers; FREE events: challenges
and some social events/fundraisers

21. MPACT! Lab
How to Participate
• Make sure we have your email
• We’ll send you an invite to the Meetup
• Sign up for the Meetup at meetup.com/mpactlab
• Indicate if you have a particular skill or expertise
• Keep an eye out for the upcoming events

22. MPACT! Lab
Volunteering
Interested? Talk to me after the presentation.
• Partnerships and Sponsorships
• Events Coordinator
• Social Media
• Community Liaison
• Program Development
• Facilitators
• Leadership

23. MPACT! Lab
Thanks!
• Thank you for participating!
• Thank you, Rita Mann and the Union City Public
Library, for your generosity in providing the space
and helping to make this event happen!
Check us out at mpactlab.org
Contact Sandy: info@mpactlab.org