Have you heard of the StartingBloc institute? StartingBloc is a 5 day institute for innovators, activists do-gooders, big thinkers, and anyone else interested in creating change through their work. They hold a number of institutes every year, and their alumni network is vast-spanning industries and countries.

I had never heard of StartingBloc until earlier this year when Shelley, Challenge Detroit’s Program Director, mentioned a leadership development and social innovation conference she thought I might enjoy. Her suggestion got me thinking, and when Year One Fellow Caroline Dobbins mentioned it again a few months later, I was immediately on board.

Last week, fellow-fellow Miguel Davis and I boarded a plane to Boston for one of StartingBloc’s 2014 institutes. I arrived without a clear idea of what the week would hold, but I left with a cohort of new friends, resources, and more excitement and inspiration than I’d had in quite some time. We spent the week learning from dynamic and passionate speakers like Scott Sherman and Gayle Karen Young, really getting to know the other 50 or so fellows, and experimenting with rapid prototyping techniques- all while having a lot of fun.

Now that I’m back in Detroit, I’m excited to take that inspiration, my new network, and the personal lessons I learned and apply them to my own work and approach to impacting the things that matter to me the most. Even though the 5 day institute is behind me, I know StartingBloc will continue to be a presence in my life and my network of fellows will continue to offer me support, advice, and inspiration. 

Want to know more about StartingBloc? Check out their website here, and if you at all like that you see, I HIGHLY recommend applying for one of their upcoming institutes.

Happy Innovating!