Opening Day: i3 Launches 2017 Incubator

i3, UofSC’s newest social innovation endeavor, hit the ground running yesterday, launching its first year-long cohort to support creative community change in the Midlands area. This year, i3 is teaming up with the Autism Academy and the Richland County Public Defenders’ Office, who

seek to improve the quality of life for the Midlands area. The meeting space was filled with creative minds and abundant energy Thursday morning as the two teams came together for the first time to share ideas and plans for the future.

The i3 team kicked off the event with an overview of the i3 process and human centered design, followed by lively presentations from both teams. The Richland County Public Defender Office launched its project first, presenting a novel approach to addressing recidivism among juvenile offenders via coalition building. The Autism Academy followed by showcasing their No Couch Campaign, an innovative approach in assisting young adults with autism in gaining vocational skills to launch their careers. A sizable number of community partners were present to lend their support and encouragement during the day's big launch.

i3 is here to stay, and looks forward to partnering with a wide variety of agencies within the social service sector, in future incubator cohorts. Under the oversight of Dr. Robert Hock, i3 seeks to be a beacon of social innovation, new energy and growth, bringing together the most creative minds and biggest ideas to benefit our community for generations to come.