By exposing students to unorthodox, multidisciplinary projects involving people, design, and technology, Innovators for Purpose (iFp) introduces high-potential diverse youth, especially those from under-resourced communities, to the creative and analytical skills necessary to take part in the “innovation economy.”  iFp teens have developed robotic prototypes to assist people with disabilities; partnered with MIT to tell the story of Cambridge’s inventive spirit in an inclusive manner; and created an outdoor augmented reality installation to speak out against systemic racism and provide a roadmap to a more equitable society. Their 2 Blocks project addresses education-based inequities that hinder Cambridge Public School students from developing careers in Kendall Square corporations just 2 blocks away. 

Volunteer activities have included:

• Mentorship

• Reviewing project designs

• Assisting in the Robotics Lab

• Giving tours of one’s workplace to iFp teens