AAARI Innovation Workshop: Human-Centered Design, Social Entrepreneurship & Community Problem-Solving
Dates: Two-Day Intensive
Audience: Open to the general public, students, founders, nonprofit leaders, creatives, technologists, and anyone interested in creating meaningful community impact
Format: Interactive, hands-on, beginner-friendly (no prior experience required)
This two-day workshop is part of the 2026 AAARI Innovators Fellowship Program and is open to anyone who wants to learn how to design impactful solutions for real-world community challenges.
Participants will be introduced to human-centered design, social entrepreneurship, and practical problem-solving frameworks used by innovators, civic leaders, and mission-driven organizations. Grounded in real challenges facing Asian American communities, the workshop emphasizes empathy, systems thinking, creativity, and action.
What You’ll Learn
Human-centered design fundamentals: empathy, problem framing, ideation, prototyping, and testing
How to identify and validate community needs and root causes
Social entrepreneurship models for creating sustainable impact
Translating insights into actionable projects, programs, or ventures
Introductory exposure to AI-enabled tools and creative “vibe coding” for rapid experimentation
What You’ll Do
Work on real or simulated community challenges (e.g., access to resources, education, discrimination, civic engagement)
Collaborate in small teams through guided design exercises
Practice turning ideas into early-stage concepts and prototypes
Receive facilitation, feedback, and practical frameworks you can reuse
Who Should Attend
Community members and organizers
Students and educators
Aspiring social entrepreneurs and founders
Designers, technologists, and creatives
Anyone curious about applying design and technology for social good
Outcomes & Pathway Forward
By the end of the two days, participants will walk away with:
A clear understanding of human-centered design and social innovation
A practical toolkit for tackling complex community problems
A draft concept or prototype addressing a real challenge
Connection to the broader AAARI innovation and learning ecosystem
A new cohort of AAARI Innovators Fellows will be selected from workshop participants to continue into the sixteen-week fellowship program (February–June). Selected fellows will work collaboratively on some of the most challenging and complex issues facing Asian American communities today, deepening their projects with mentorship, research, technology, and leadership development support.
This workshop serves both as a standalone learning experience and as a gateway into the AAARI Innovators Fellowship for those ready to commit to sustained impact.