Since February, some of the area's brightest, most creative minds have been working hard to create projects that fit UpDayton's mission of spurring economic growth in the Dayton region by attracting and retaining young creative talent.
The 10th annual year for the Summit, the event has been a catalyst for monumental projects, including Dayton Inspires, Longest Table Dayton and the mural pedestrian bridge that connects the Oregon District and South Park neighborhoods.
These are the teams that have been selected by the UpDayton board to present at Summit X on Thursday, April 26 at the Dayton Art Institute. They'll present to a crowd of some 300 influential, energetic people from Dayton, who will then vote on their favorite three ideas.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
-Travis Small & Margherita Romano | The Dayton Jabber
-Christina Wolfer | Free Intelligent Conversation
-Jonathan Platt | Story Chain
-Jes McMillan | The Wall of Perseverance
-Maya Canaztuj | Market Momentum
-Tiffany Brown & Amaha Selassie | West Dayton Strong STEAM Lab
-Jamica Garrison | Rock da Vote
-Frank Buddy Pitts Jr. | One Block
-Marquinta Walker | Mission: Fit Dayton
-Casey Moninghoff | Fermentation Festival
-Antoine Walker | S.H.O.P Talk
Soon, the Red Carpet will be rolled out in front of the DAI for the teams who have been hard at work refining their ideas to be the best they can be. Each team will have three minutes to pitch their idea to the Summit X audience.
“Audience members then vote to decide which three projects receive $3,000 in seed funding plus UpDayton’s staff and volunteer support for the coming year,” according to an UpDayton press release.
The event will have a bigger footprint than usual, said UpDayton Director AJ Ferguson. The Summit will “overflow” into the Great Hall of the DAI, where a 3D scrapbook exhibition will be on display. The scrapbook will highlight all the accomplishments and memories of past year’s Summits.
In addition, a brand new UpDayton initiative will begin at this year's Summit. The Yes! Team project will challenge attendees to say "Yes!" to volunteering ten times throughout the year. Ferguson said the UpDayton team will send out monthly volunteering opportunities that circle back to helping some of Summit X's projects— a way he said, will help keep attendees connected to the projects they voted for. People not attending Summit X can join the Yes! Team by going to updayton.org/yes.
Credit: UpDayton
Credit: UpDayton
After volunteering twice, participants will receive a pair of official UpDayton sunglasses. After five, they’ll be able to sport a Yes! Team T-shirt. And for those who go all the way to ten Yes’s, an end-of-the-year Yes! Team party will be held in honor of everyone’s hard work.
For UpDayton Summit X tickets and details, please visit updayton.org. This is the last week to get Summit X Tickets for $25. General Admission ticket prices will go to $30 the week of the event.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Summit X
WHEN: 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26
WHERE: Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
INFO: Facebook | updayton.org
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