Trust in democracy isn't disappearing because people have stopped caring. According to Nick Vlahos, it's disappearing because too many people no longer believe the systems meant to represent them actually hear them. His work is focused on changing that from the ground up.
Renewable energy success relies heavily on local communities, not just state or federal policies. COSSA Institute's Jeremiah Garrick emphasizes that local support ultimately makes or breaks projects, a reality currently playing out across rural Colorado.
Megha Mehdiratta of the New York Climate Exchange discusses building a "living test bed" campus on Governor's Island. By fostering inclusive, interdisciplinary collaboration across finance and science, The Exchange accelerates early-stage innovations into viable, scalable global climate solutions.
While venture capital often focuses on finding the next unicorn, Baylie Evans takes a different approach: cultivating entrepreneurs and strengthening local ecosystems to create lasting value in places where opportunity is less concentrated.
What happens when AI removes coding as the barrier to building software?
How South Fayette Township’s Matt Callison is reimagining what school looks like and who it truly serves
Liam Kelly, Provincial Director of Research and Innovation at NL Health Services, outlines his “Living Lab” framework—a disciplined, clinical trials-based model that de-risks innovation by prioritizing acceptability and feasibility before focusing on efficacy.
Pet industry leaders are rethinking sustainability through innovation. Allison Rezer of the Pet Sustainability Coalition shares how collaboration and new approaches are helping the industry move beyond business as usual toward a more sustainable future for pets and the planet.
Maryland Energy Administration funds projects that deliver both lower emissions & lower costs for Maryland residents, no trade-offs allowed. Through a streamlined, equity-focused innovation program, they support scalable, real-world solutions to maximize public benefit.
Innovation in government is often framed around technology, but in Birmingham, AL, it starts with something far more fundamental: trust. As Innovation Team Director for the City of Birmingham, LaTisha “Tish” Fletcher is leading a different kind of transformation. One that's human-centered.
