Do you have an idea that can improve the lives of Detroiters? Is it worth $12,000? Learn more at our upcoming STEAM Kickoff event on Tuesday, October 29, from 3-5 p.m. at the WSU Student Center (Room 285).

Are you a Wayne State student looking to make a difference in your community? Is there a problem or hurdle faced by fellow Detroiters that you would like to solve? If you have a desire to understand the root causes of a social problem, leverage the expertise of your Warrior community and create a sustainable solution, then the STEAM Challenge is for you!

The Wayne State University School of Social Work and the Mike Ilitch School of Business are proud to host the third annual STEAM Challenge, which brings interdisciplinary student teams together to address a social problem in our city. There are four priority areas under this year’s challenge theme of Innovating Change and Developing Solutions Towards a Just Society:

• Promoting youth development and educational opportunities.
• Improving employment opportunities for returning citizens and/or hard to employ populations.
• Enhancing financial literacy and other capabilities and capacity in an effort to reduce economic inequalities.
• Advancing and monitoring environmental justice initiatives (i.e. clean water/air) in impoverished communities.

The competition will include access to comprehensive business development services, coaching and mentoring support that leverages the time and talents of individuals and organizations that make up Detroit's growing social entrepreneurship ecosystem.

This competition is open to WSU students from any discipline with $25,000 in cash prizes split among the top three teams. Students will be guided through the competition by STEAM Challenge Champions and taught how to utilize business and entrepreneurship principles to solve pressing social challenges facing Detroiters. The idea can be a product, service, technology component, app, or other venture that will help empower social change in Detroit and beyond.

To get the process started, attendees at the STEAM Kickoff event will engage in an experiential learning workshop with a local design thinking expert, Sarah Gallimore, senior design strategist with the City of Detroit Innovation Team. Students will gain a greater understanding of the consumer they hope to target, what to make or do next, and how to continue to develop and communicate their ideas.

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