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