Ottawa Global Shapers host Impact Jam 613
On February 2, 2019, the Ottawa Global Shapers hosted Impact Jam 613, a civic hack-a-thon conference that brought together over 40 post-secondary students and young professionals from across the city to learn about and develop innovative solutions relating to civic issues.
Participants were assigned to teams and met with community leaders from local and national NGOs. These experts provided participants with insights on food security, homelessness, climate change, newcomer and refugee integration, youth unemployment, mental health, and accessibility. With this background, participants then worked together to develop and prepare pitches on how to address their assigned issue areas.
The event concluded with the teams each taking 5 minutes to pitch their proposals to a panel of judges comprised of local non-profit leaders, social enterprise CEOs, and elected officials.
Among the top proposals were: a mobile application to connect newcomers and refugees with local social services; an awareness-raising initiative on recycling and waste diversion through public art installations using recycled materials; and conducting a city-wide accessibility audit and mapping of local businesses and services. The top teams were awarded funding, professional development and networking opportunities, incubator space, and one-on-one mentorship to develop their proposals into tangible action.
Participants left the conference empowered with ideas, tools, and motivation to improve their communities. Impact Jam 613 received widespread recognition from various community leaders across the country. We are also pleased to announce that Global Shapers Hubs across Canada have reached out to us to learn how they can host their own “Impact Jams” in their local communities.
We would also like to thank the following organizations and people for their support:
The issue experts from Operation Come Home, Just Food, St Paul’s University, StopGap Ottawa, Refugee 613, CHEO’s YouthNet, Carleton University’s READ Initiative, Parkdale Food Centre, Hidden Harvest, and Street Smarts
Partners who were key to putting on this day were United Way Ottawa, Youth Ottawa, Impact Hub, and RBC.
The mentors for this event came from the Ottawa Community Foundation, Digital Opportunity Trust, Hill and Knowlton Strategies, Social Delta, Pronounced, and the J.W McConnell Foundation.
Our panel of judges, including Fahd Alhattab (Social Innovator in Residence at the University of Ottawa), Katie Miller (Managing Director at Impact Hub Ottawa), Jesse Cressman-Dickinson (Director of Communication and Community Engagement at Bruyère), Douglas Pawson (Former Director of Social Business & Finance at Causeway Work Centre), and Karen McCrimmon (Member of Parliament for Kanata-Carleton).
Notable community representatives in attendance, including City Councillors Jeff Leiper (Kitchissippi Ward), Laura Dudas (Innes Ward), and Mathieu Fleury (Rideau-Vanier Ward). We were also delighted to host many community leaders across the city from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Our prize sponsors, including CUSA (Carleton University Student Association), the Mauril-Bélanger Social Innovation Workshop, Impact Hub Ottawa, and the Carleton University Alumni Association. Our organizing partner United Way Ottawa and Youth Ottawa. And our event venue sponsor RBC.
We are currently in the midst of preparing an event outcome report, which will be shared widely on our social media pages. Stay tuned!
Ottawa Global Shapers
Born out of the World Economic Forum, the Global Shapers Community is a network of young professionals under the age of 30 driving dialogue, action, and change. With more than 7,000 members, the Global Shapers Community spans over 170 countries with nearly 400 Hubs around the world.
Situated in Canada’s national capital, the Ottawa Hub is comprised of emerging and accomplished leaders across the public, private, and non-profit sectors working in finance, technology, management consulting, law, academia, public policy, politics, and entrepreneurship.
The Ottawa Hub is engaged in projects to foster positive change and sustainable impact locally and internationally. The Hub’s recent projects and partnerships include: the MyCanada150 Photo Exhibit; nationwide youth consultations on “The Future of Work” in advance of the 2018 G7 Summit; a Refugee Art Showcase in partnership with Love Without Borders; a Financial Literacy Workshop for local youth; and Impact Jam 613 — a civic hack-a-thon focused on addressing local civic issues.
For more information on the Ottawa Hub, its current projects, and future volunteer and recruitment opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our official website.
