Post by Thomas Jefferson University

When nonprofit leaders across Philadelphia gathered at Jefferson this spring for the first SPARK Innovation Academy cohort graduation, the celebration marked more than the completion of a nine-week program. It represented a growing collaboration between Jefferson and the City of Philadelphia to help organizations solve complex challenges through innovation, systems thinking and technology. Developed through a partnership with the Office of Innovation & Technology - City of Philadelphia, the SPARK Innovation Academy brought together nonprofit professionals to strengthen problem-solving, communication and technology skills they can apply directly within their organizations. The inaugural cohort of 20 participants graduated in March after working through collaborative workshops focused on design thinking, stakeholder engagement, data visualization, survey design and emerging technologies such as AI. “The goal was to combine design thinking and systems thinking with technology adoption in a way that helps participants improve processes and communication within their organizations,” says Jefferson’s Dr. Jeffrey Klemens. The academy helped SPARK graduate Zakia Ringgold think more strategically about innovation and program design as the director of business capacity and growth systems at the Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association. “SPARK was not just about learning concepts,” she says. “It created space to slow down, ask better questions and challenge assumptions.” 💡Read more: https://bit.ly/4dZC63Y