Beeline Reader
Cambridge, MA, February 8, 2021— A marketplace for social impact innovation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Solve, is hosting a Virtual Indigenous Innovators Summit over two days on February 10-11 ahead of the 2021 Indigenous Communities Fellowship application launch on February 11.
The event will provide an opportunity for Solve’s current Indigenous Communities Fellows, Solver teams, MIT faculty, and social impact leaders from Solve’s Member organizations to connect with one another, as well as prospective applicants to Solve’s 2021 Indigenous Communities Fellowship.
Over the course of the two-day summit, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the leaders of a number of prominent Native organizations, as well as participate in panels that will cover important issues of today such as COVID-19, Native Wealth, and a screening of the film Gather.
The plenary sessions and the Gather film screening are open to the public with the breakout sessions and networking sessions being reserved for interested Indigenous Innovators.
Request an invitation to the Summit here.
To participate in the Gather film screening, register here.
Please note: All plenary sessions are open to press. Concurrent breakout sessions are closed sessions.
Speakers at the summit include:
· Edgar Villanueva, Founder of The Decolonizing Wealth Project
· Erik Stegman, Executive Director of Native Americans in Philanthropy
· Julie Garreau, Executive Director of the Cheyenne River Youth Project
· Christine Ami, Managing Director at the Navajo cultural Arts Program
· A-Dae Briones, Program Manager at the First Nations Institute
· Nephi Craig, Founder of the Native American Culinary Academy
· Luke Bastian, President of MIT AISES
· Rowen White, Seedkeeper at Seeding Sovereignty
· Heather Flemming, Executive Director of Change Labs
· Sanjay Rawal, Director of Gather
For the full Summit schedule, click here.
Since 2018, Solve has run an Indigenous Fellowship program that has supported 21 Native American innovators from across the country, awarding $275,000 to date and supporting additional partnerships. The Fellowship selects 6-8 Native-led solutions each year, that utilize traditional knowledge and technology to drive positive impact in Native communities.
For press inquiries, please contact press@nunaconsultgroup.com. The Fellowship is made possible in part by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
If you would like to learn more about the Fellowship and how to support these innovators reach out at solve@mit.edu.
About Solve
Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to solve world challenges. Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation. Through open innovation Challenges, Solve finds incredible tech-based social entrepreneurs all around the world. Solve then brings together MIT’s innovation ecosystem and a community of Members to fund and support these entrepreneurs to help them drive lasting, transformational impact. Join Solve on this journey at solve.mit.edu.