InnovatorsforPurpose (iFp) is on a mission to spark students interest, especially those from under-resourced populations, in the unique power of Design, Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship to transform lives (most importantly their own).
What?
We bring together the most creative youth and the most analytical ones, especially those residing in under-resourced communities, to introduce them to the power of design, science, technology and the entrepreneurial mindset to solve today’s most complex problems.
Why?
There is a quiet storm brewing in the innovation economy. Persons who are as creative as designers, tech savvy as scientist and technologists and as driven as entrepreneurs are extremely valuable, highly sought-after and considering the complexity of today’s problems will remain in great demand for a long time.
How?
We create immersive hands-on experiences that places a high value on developing a sense of belonging in the innovation community. Once students develop a desire to be a part (will) they will seek the skills to participate. Skill follows will.
Now!
Our students are constantly challenged to take one step towards making their mark. They learn that doing, failing & iterating not infinite planning & talking is the pathway to becoming makers and doers that make things happen.
Our Real-World Approach
iFp Studios (8-12th grade) has evolved into a youth-centered design and innovation studio that deploys fresh youth inspired solutions to real problems for real clients. Working collaboratively with designers, technologists, makers and storytellers, youth weave the physical and digital worlds together to create immersive experiences with enduring impact. We like to think of it as a teen-powered consultancy analogous to design firm IDEO.
iFp Interest-Driven Integrated Learning Labs (7-8th grade): Starts with students’ interest in social issues, pop culture or emerging technologies, then introduce the underlying science and math principles. In our Robots that Make a Difference Lab, students use the design process to understand daily challenges of people with disabilities, then translate those insights into robotic prototypes to address issues of interest. A Virtual Reality StoryTelling and Filmmaking Lab is under development. Students will build on their fascination with video games to become producers of emerging media.
Integrated Creative Problem Solving
Our Integrated Creative Problem Solving (iCps) framework is a design process that helps youth unlock unique, innovative solutions to the problems they care about most. It actives both left-brain and right-brain, empathy and logic, creativity and analysis.
While this framework often directs students toward science, technology, engineering and math methods to solve problems, students naturally pull STEM concepts into their solutions in an integrated, non-threatening manner. Our approach broadens participation in STEM and broadens students innovation mindset.
Blog
Past Informs the Present: Genius of Osborn Triangle MIT
Former Polaroid employees share memories of the past to inform our Teen Creatives in the present. Read the letter in full here. Breath of Fresh Air by Elizabeth Foote Following a hot, humid, miserable morning filled with always more frightening stories of our world’s...
Sharing the iFp Learning Experience
We enjoyed sharing the iFp learning experience with students from the Davis Leadership Academy in Dorchester. We are quite pleased that several will be joining us on an ongoing basis. Our day started off with a visit to MIT's D-Lab. Students learned about the...
iFp Saturdays Kicks-Off at Fenway
We were extremely excited to kick-off our new iFp Saturdays program with a trip to Fenway. It was an incredible night in so many ways. A special Thanks to our friend, Jack Rummel, of the Cambridge Rotary for helping make this possible. iFp Saturdays is designed to...