Andr�a Pellegrino, who is the author of the book “Design Revolution,” as well as a partner in World Studio and owner of Pellegrino Collaborative in New York City, will present a workshop on implementing social change, Thursday, April 18, at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center.

Titled “Strategies, Action and Communications for Social Impact,” it is a follow-up to the “Designing for the Divide Conference” hosted by the WVU Graphic Design faculty last March. That conference was a meeting of designers from all over, including the local community and various disciplines at WVU, to brainstorm ways to bring polarized groups together to accomplish goals in a climate of impasse.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Graphic Design Room 2453. It will include an interactive presentation in the morning, followed by small group collaborations in the afternoon where attendees will have the opportunity to apply their new skills to actual projects through a series of exercises aligned with the topics covered in the morning session.

The workshop will guide attendees through the critical processes of making solutions to social challenges with a sense of entrepreneurial spirit by exploring topics such as: concept assessment, establishing mutually beneficial partnerships, marketing communications, identifying resource needs, creating a simple budget and financial plan, developing an implementation plan, using funding models and sources, and measuring impact and outcomes.

There are still spaces available in the morning presentation. Those interested in attending should reserve a seat by calling the School of Art & Design at 304-692-1116.

“Now we will have an even more in-depth experience with her ideas and methods,” Faulkes said.

“This workshop will provide hands-on practical advice that should enable all of us to be smarter in our collaborations,” Faulkes said.

Those attending include representatives from: the Morgantown City Planning Office; the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center; Scott’s Run Park and Recreation; Charleston businesses; the WVU College of Business and Economics, School of Social Work Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design the WVU Extension Service and faculty from the WVU School of Art & Design, and top achieving graduate students and undergraduates in graphic design.

Faulkes said that today’s trans-disciplinary approaches to projects are seen as enhancing their success by allowing people to collaborate with various kinds of expertise, from the planning stage forward.

“But social capital and community development resources have become scarce as we become segregated into our own interest areas or communicate only via technology,” she said. “These areas can be revitalized as we come together with communities to co-design projects for public good.”

According to Pellegrino, even with the best intentions, statistics show that the current model for social innovation is highly dependent on contributions of time, resources and skills. Although honorable, this model is not economically sustainable, with less than five percent of social change concepts reaching fruition.

Pellegrino has developed this workshop aimed at equipping participants with tools to make their projects land in that elite five percent that achieve success.

See more of Pellegrino’s professional work on her website http://www.pellegrinocollaborative.com.

“We are hoping that this experience creates leaders and collaborators to help with lots of projects already underway and lots of initiatives in the talking stage, including the WVU Innovation Center, a Center for Tourism and Rural Economies, and other projects that involve community and university collaboration,” Faulkes said. “The public will benefit by the information that will be spread by these new enlightened collaborators.”

For more information, contact Eve Faulkes in the WVU School of Art and Design by calling 304-692-1116 or emailing Eve.Faulkes@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

cl/04/17/13

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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