BIG IDEAS 2021: Urban Living, Equity, and Safety Summit
Date and time
Location
Online event
We all deserve to live in a safe and equitable city. Come ideate and network with fellow Houstonians and make this a reality for our home!
About this event
All participants will come together to hear from experts in urban living and safety; attend workshops on design thinking and innovation, creativity, project management, mentor identification and engagement, and data management; and together, dream up the BIG IDEAs that will make our hometown not only smarter, but also safer and more equitable.
Register HERE to participate in The Vision Zero Hackathon! We are looking for Hackers, Mentors, and Judges. Get ready to make Houston a better place!
Prize Package for Hackathon:
- 1st Place Team - $2,500 in cash and prizes + Meeting with the Vision Zero Implementation Group (This is a chance to see your ideas come to life!)
- 2nd Place Team - $2000 in cash and prizes
- 3rd Place Team - $1500 in cash and prizes
Friday, April 30th | 10:15AM - 5:00PM
Keynote Address and Fireside Chat
10:15AM - 11AM
The State of Urban Living, Equity, and Safety in Houston with David Fields, AICP!
The Ion Programs Team Education Series
12PM - 12:45PM
Creativity and Design Thinking 101
If you've heard the term design thinking and aren't sure what it means, this workshop is for you! Even if you're familiar with the design thinking model, join and brush up on your skills. We'll do a deep dive on creativity and design thinking, learning about what these terms mean and how you can use them in your projects.
- Develop a working understanding of creativity and design thinking
- Apply design thinking process to a short case-study
Presented by Dr. Christine Galib
1PM - 1:45PM
We Love Our Idea - Now What?
Have you ever come up with a great idea but didn’t know what to do next? Or have you started a business but aren't sure what next step is best? Then join us as we discuss how to level up your start-up!
- Get to know the Houston Innovation Ecosystem and how to utilize its resources
- What steps you can take to level up your start-up
Presented by Courtney Cogdill
2PM - 2:45PM
Data Visualization 101
You often hear about data but what’s the big deal? To understand any challenge that the world presents, data is your best friend to find a solution. Data ultimately is able to tell a story, providing insight into a situation that helps you better understand what occurred. This introductory session will highlight how to collect meaningful data, understanding your data once it has been collected, and what questions to ask to form conclusions.
- Understand the value of collecting and cleaning data
- Recognize the importance of organizing your data to tell a story to your audience
- Learn how to present your data in ways that others will understand
Presented by Lauren Brooks
3PM - 3:45PM
Mentorship 101
Everyone needs a mentor as they move through their education and career journey, the key is finding the right one or more. In this session, we will talk about how to determine mentor fit and timing as well as a little relationship management!
- Discover how to approach a potential mentor and determine if they are right for you.
- Learn tips and tricks on how to manage mentor relationships
Presented by Chelsea Wessels-Self
Virtual Hackathon Introduction
4PM - 5PM
Lauren Grove and The Ion Team will introduce the Vision Zero Action Plan, outline the problem set for the Hackathon, and go over the prize package. The resource guide and data set will be sent to teams following the presentation. This will also be your chance to ask any initial questions to the Vision Zero Team!
Saturday, May 1st | 10AM - 12PM
Mentor Meetings
Hackathon Participants will have the opportunity to meet with professionals to advise the group on their project!
Mentor Office Hours will be sent in the Vision Zero Hackathon Participant Guide.
Sunday, May 2nd | 2PM - 4PM
Hackathon Finals - Project Presentations & Judging
2PM - 4PM
Hackathon Teams will present their ideas to the panel of judges and three will be awarded prizes!
Judges: Charlie Finch, Laura Lundell, Harisprasad Subramani, and Alex Gallardo
Prize Package for Hackathon:
- 1st Place Team - $2,500 in cash and prizes + Meeting with the Vision Zero Implementation Group (This is a chance to see your ideas come to life!)
- 2nd Place Team - $2000 in cash and prizes
- 3rd Place Team - $1500 in cash and prizes