Revisting SIC: Our Alumni Teams are Thriving
In 2012, optiMize had a vision of being a program where students at the University of Michigan could test out their ideas and explore their interests through their own self-directed projects. Twelve years later, we are the largest student-led social innovation program now supporting more than 1,000 students annually in their efforts as they ask themselves “why not me”. Because of you, we’ve been able to lean into our mission of cultivating a community where people can confidently pursue their visions for a more socially just and sustainable future. Because of your generous support, we have funded 303 startups of which 35% are still active. Below are just a few who are continuing to make significant progress and impact. We are so incredibly thankful for your support of our program and our students - we could not do this without you.
Read More
Reimagined SIC: Part I - PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCE
Learning from feedback, our team took time this summer to reimagine the Social Innovation Challenge — from the curriculum and mentorship model to the involvement of Transfer Bridge Fellows in the SIC! We’ll be presenting these changes through a 3-part blog series, starting with the participant experience and how we updated it from feedback and collaborative change.
Read More
Welcoming the 2024-2025 SIC Challenge leads!
In preparation for the upcoming year’s SIC, six 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 13th Cohort of Social Innovators. We would love to give a warm welcome to Ava, Kavya, Rishika, Casey and Adhi!
Read More
Introducing our new Graduate Wellness Intern!
We are so excited to introduce you all to Kamryn Attanasio, our new Graduate Wellness Intern to learn more about why she joined the OptiFam!
Read More
Celebrating Pride Month 2024!
Appreciating all LGBTQ+ optiMize Community Members!
Read More
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
Appreciating all AAPI optiMize Community Members!
Read More
Cohort 12 — 2024 Booklet
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.
Read More
optiMize 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
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.
Read More
Introducing our Peer Mentors!
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!
Read More
Introducing our new Associate Director!
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.
Read More
Introducing our new Mentorship & External Engagement Manager!
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.
Read More
An optiMize Playlist
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!
Read More
opti Summer Book List
We collected book recommendations from the members of our community. Here is a selection of nonfiction, fiction, and more reading recommendations!
Read More
2023 Booklet
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
Read More
A guide for the Holidays: optiMize edition
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.
Read More
Introducing our new Marketing and Communications Manager
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.
Read More
“Why optiMize?” from Cohort 10 Fellows
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
Read More
Cohort X Booklet
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.
Read More
Welcoming the 2022 SIC Challenge leads
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!
Read More
