Author: Ashtynn Caldwell

Holistic Innovation

On April 29, 2025

*The ACB Social Inclusion organization logo is the outline of Bangladesh, honoring the organization’s Bangladeshi founders.*

ACB Social Inclusion’s multi-faceted perspective on change and growth

Walking into the building that ACB Social Inclusion operates out of, I couldn’t help but think that the organization was hiding in plain sight. It was a short walk from one of Arezzo’s central streets. After sitting to visit with Paola Miraglia, the director of the local nonprofit, the physical space seemed to resonate with the overall mission of ACB Social Inclusion. There are two two key objectives that comprise this: helping the migrant community by acting as cultural mediators, and working with students from migrant communities to promote greater intercultural learning. These objectives are broad, and they set ACB Social Inclusion apart from other social service organizations. Beyond solely providing practical services, ACB uses innovative approaches to connect deeply with the Arezzo community. Paola spoke about the challenges faced by these individuals, opening my eyes to a part of the world that I had been ignorant of. The issues that ACB combats are ones that exist all throughout the community of Arezzo, just as the building exists off of one of the city’s central streets.

*A view inside one of the ACB Social Inclusion workspaces that is used for a variety of events, such as after-school tutoring for students*.

I went in visiting ACB wanting to use the perspective of technology as a framework to look at the innovations they implement. However, as Paola spoke, it became clearer to me that understanding the use of technology in progressing the mission of ACB is impossible without first understanding the importance of community. The very nature of the organization revolves around the Arezzo community and the ethnic communities that exist within. A census done in 2011, the most recent one done in Italy, found that over 12% of the Arezzo’s population consists of nationalities other than Italian. ACB Social Inclusion is central in providing services to non-citizens and members of smaller communities, ranging from practical services such as supplying housing and food to cultural immersion and adaptation opportunities.

Beyond this community impact, the organization is a community within itself. Paola recalled the year that Covid put a hold on funding for their projects. When this happened, ACB employees realized that resolution was possible only if they worked as a team. Each team member worked the same hours for significantly less pay. This shows the dedication that each individual has for pursuing positive change. Paola’s personal passion demonstrates this same attitude. When asked what drives her, she responded: “To learn every day.” To her, this means maintaining the desire to improve, understand, and maintain adaptability even after 20 years with the organization. “The world is unfair… even creating a change in your own localized community can make a huge difference.” One of the ways ACB Social Inclusion spurs this change is through technological innovation.

Technology allows ACB to connect with the community in various ways. One of the ways the organization approaches social inclusion and cultural immersion is by making foundational information easily accessible. They have created a system of posters that display QR codes, each poster providing detailed information on certain topics in several languages. For example, the poster produced for the local hospital answers the most commonly asked questions patients have. These QR codes are now displayed on site at the hospital. That being said, ACB Social Inclusion recognizes that not everyone has had equal opportunity to education, and literacy levels vary. To prevent inaccessibility, the QR codes present information in video format.

*Example of the QR code posters provided by ACB Social Inclusion.*

Not only does the organization exist to serve the communities of Arezzo, the information provided in each document must be supplied and verified by the larger community. Before ACB can begin producing the content, community members at each poster location provide extensive details on the most relevant information. The organization’s relationship with the community is certainly a symbiotic one.

Like all facets of ACB, the poster project has considerable depth. This intricacy caused a few problems to arise when implementing the innovation. One of the issues that arose involved the logistics of cultural mediators.

Many ACB employees act as cultural mediators, meaning they understand both the cultural context of Italy and that of the individual who has asked for help. This idea is important when producing digital media, as the information must be credible before being sourced out to the larger community. ACB works diligently to employ individuals well-versed in both cultures they are representing, guaranteeing that the information provided is not only accessible, but also relevant. The problem-solving approach that ACB Social Inclusion uses allows them to find well-suited professionals to record the videos for technology-based projects.

*The world map in the ACB Social Inclusion office echoes the organization’s dedication to serving all cultural communities within Arezzo.*

Oftentimes, innovation can’t simply be viewed through one specific framework. There is an interplay between the various aspects, such as community, technology, and teamwork. Each is foundational to the mission of ACB Social Inclusion. I find it fitting that an organization that deals intimately with sensitive, intricate social situations uses such a vast variety of approaches to innovation. This is an essential mindset, which has allowed them to continue moving forward in a complicated sector of work.

Quotes in this article have been provided to the best of my ability, as the interview was oftentimes translated from Italian to English, with the Assistant Director of OUA Ursula Armstrong acting as a mediator.

Old But Gold

By Ashtynn Caldwell

On April 15, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

*OU in Arezzo Journalism Students visiting Italpreziosi*

How Italpreziosi has remained successful after 40 years of operation

In early April, I had the opportunity to visit one of Arezzo’s most prominent companies with my Innovators in Journalism class at OU. From the outside facade of Italpreziosi, I never could have guessed what was waiting within. Just behind closed doors is a company that is truly golden and glowing. This is in part due to the innovative approach Italpreziosi demonstrates, but also due to what they manufacture. Italpreziosi is a leading player in the world of gold. Based in Arezzo, the company deals with many services, such as precious metals trading, metal banks, investment gold, and refining gold. The list goes on. Italpreziosi has been active since 1984, yet remains ahead of the game even after decades of being in operation. One of the ways they do this is by maintaining a future-forward attitude regarding business organization and management.

Throughout the entire inspection process, Italpreziosi uses expert-level precision. They start with gold from mines or recycled gold, then send it through analysis, a refining system, and finally produce it into gold bars. Following production, the varying types and weights of gold are distributed to individuals, banks, and companies. This attention to detail is a meticulous process; despite the tedium, Italpreziosi has remained committed to ethical and sustainable gold since 2007. This commitment is evident within seconds of opening their 2023 Impact Report and reading their business model, but it is also seen from the start of the production process itself, with the use of recycled gold products.

*Silver bars manufactured at Italpreziosi*

Two major factors allow Italpreziosi to stay ahead as a sustainable company in the fast-paced business world. Those two factors are SDGs and ESGs. In recent years, the company committed to contributing to the SDG, or Sustainable Development Goals, of Agenda 2030. This is an action program that was signed by the governments of UN member countries in September 2015. Each goal allows companies to measure their impact both at a current level and potential (or future) level. Out of the seventeen development goals outlined in the agenda, Italpreziosi has already adopted six of them: good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, peace, and partnerships. Each initiative promotes positive growth inside the company, allowing Italpreziosi to stand out in comparison to companies that have yet to adopt SDGs.

ESG is another pillar of Italpreziosi’s business model. ESG stands for Environment, Social, and Governance. These topics are aligned with Global Reporting Initiative Standards, a system that allows companies to track material themes based on stakeholder interest and impact on the organization. Technologies such as these help Italpreziosi to remain connected to the interests of their clients, prevent mistakes or miscommunications, and work towards their goals at a faster rate.

“Engaging with our stakeholders is a fundamental and constructive step for Italpreziosi, to understand its current and future performance, but also to seek solutions for all those challenges that our industry is facing.”

Failure is something that threatens to loom over any company and is something that any good business must consider. Italpreziosi approaches the idea of failure from a preventative point of view. By implementing the use of SDGs and ESG, they have created a clear structure that promotes success. The governance aspect is especially important for this. Under the ESG model, transparency and due diligence are the primary subtopics of governance, meaning that companies implementing governance keep a very close eye out for corruption, money laundering, economic value being generated, and raw material traceability. In addition to this, Italpreziosi conducts frequent risk-assessment, creating specific plans and procedures for each possible outcome they face.

“[Risk assessment] is important for a company for reputation and potential sanctions, and you have to consider that… if you have a strong governance, you have policies, you have a structure that demonstrates that you did everything you could do… failure can [still] happen. The thing is, if you demonstrate that you did everything transparently in the possibility you had, there is nothing you can be afraid of.”

This response shows just how high of a standard the ideas of governance, SDGs and ESGs are held to within the company, and rightfully so. These models have helped Italpreziosi transform over the past decade, from a small company to a booming business.

“Then, if failure happens, you have to have a mitigation action plan. You have actions to resolve and remedy. Remediation is crucial.”

The organized and highly structured approach to business, risk assessment, and potential failure is one of the many factors that keep this gold manufacturing on top.

After learning more about Italpreziosi’s innovative approach to business, the other students and I had the opportunity to tour the facility and see behind-the-scenes production on-site. As we toured the facility, the careful attention to detail was evident in every step of the process. Every person we spoke to seemed passionate about the work they were doing. From the smelting to the lab analysis, the manufacturing process truly seemed to be expertly done. It is one thing for a company to claim a business model, but seeing these words put into action is what truly sets Italpreziosi apart. Through the use of their innovative and forward-thinking methods, they have transformed the production process, and the company, for the better.

The Complex History of Esimple

By Ashtynn Caldwell

On April 7, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

How innovation has set this e-commerce group apart from the rest.

The 21st century is undoubtedly marked by rapid advancements in technology. Every year, it becomes increasingly easy to purchase the things you want online, with the click of a button. There are over thirty million e-commerce websites worldwide today. Very few of these companies have existed for over a decade, and even fewer have existed for more than fifteen years. Esimple, a digital company that calls Arezzo home, has been operating within the context of e-commerce since 2007.

Who are ESimple?

*Poster demonstrating services Esimple can provide.*

Esimple focuses on using digital transformation to help other businesses achieve their goals. They fabricate custom solutions for clients through the use of technological consulting, creative design, and technical development. Some of the greatest innovations they have produced use artificial intelligence solutions, extended reality, and spatial computing. Innovation has played a key role in e-simple’s success, from the roots of the company to the daily progress they make. However, just because they make innovation in the digital world look simple, it hasn’t been the simplest journey.

E-commerce is one of the biggest industries of the modern world. While that means there is a lot of room to grow, it also means there are more competitors. This forces companies to think about ways to set themselves apart. The company Esimple has undoubtedly set itself apart by creating immersive applications for AI headsets. A few of these applications include well-known tools such as augmented reality and virtual reality. Beyond this, Esimple has developed mixed reality and corporate metaverses.

*Journalism Professer Ursula Armstrong testing a VR headset.*

For our Innovators in Journalism class in Arezzo, my peers and I had the opportunity to visit Esimple and experience some of this technology first-hand. As someone who has used VR headsets in the past, I can confidently say that the experience offered by Esimple’s mixed-reality application is completely unlike anything I have seen before. It truly felt like I was immersed in a space somewhere between the physical world and the digital one. More accurately, it turned the digital world into an almost physical reality. The experience highlighted important questions: How, and why, did it get to this point?

Then and Now

Esimple is always thinking ahead, applying new ideas and innovations daily in the work that they do. This is a value they have held since creating the company. The company initially began in 2001 as a creative agency that aided in marketing, creating websites and magazines, and more. However, this evolved by 2007, when the company swapped the title of creative agency for that of an e-commerce group. It began small: they created a virtual market and an avatar that could be used to buy items from an online marketplace. I had the opportunity to interview one of the company founders, Francesco Marcantoni, and I asked him about this interesting transition. Specifically, why did the company transition from a creative agency to an e-commerce group?

Francesco: “In that moment, 25 years ago, the websites were like business cards. No one was using a website for work…so the idea is that everything is already there, everyone is using it, but no one is using it professionally… so we created a CMS to make content [professional].”

Ashtynn: “And what sets Esimple apart from other agencies?”

Francesco: “The biggest difference is that we are in the Italian market. Most of our competitors are outside, especially in the United States… and mostly the competition is on hardware and on the engines, not on the solutions.”

This shift to suit the company’s clientele was an innovative one, but Esimple has yet to stop growing and adapting. Focusing on creating solutions, rather than simply creating, is key to the success of the company.

Esimple uses their applications for various projects. One of the examples they showed us was a mixed reality application that gave guests tours through a historical site in Arezzo. The tool is realistic and useful, and fits within the context of the tourism industry. Francesco shared his favorite project to date: scanning and digitizing thousands of artifacts at the archeological site of Pompeii. This project also serves the tourism industry, but could also be used for research or educational purposes. It makes the artifacts accessible to a wider range of people.

Francesco has a unique ‘it’ factor driving his innovation. But what is it? The dedication and drive to continue innovating, on a daily basis, has to stem from somewhere. But from where?

Francesco: “This is something that I say to my students: be curious… just be curious and try to understand what you can do with these technologies, not just be a passive user.”

Esimple does not always have it easy when innovating, but there is one ‘simple’ factor that makes it appear that way: the passion that each person at the company holds for the work that they put in.

Finding Affinity

By Ashtynn Caldwell

On March 23, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

Teleturia’s innovative approach in the community of Arezzo.

The foundation of a community consists of a wide range of factors. Each person adds something individualistic that is unique to themselves, yet remains interwoven into the larger group. The idea of connection helps to strengthen these bonds and is a crucial aspect of any community. More and more in the modern world, communities stay connected through the use of digital media. While national and international news outlets are undeniably useful tools, it is more important than ever for a smaller community such as Arezzo to have a sense of affinity for itself.

Who are Teleturia?

Teleturia TV Studios, a studio local to the city of Arezzo, was one of the first independent news stations in Italy. For fifty years, they have represented the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, largely emphasizing the importance of the Arezzo community.

They focus on issues of public and social interest, specialize in institutional communication, and focus attention on digital communication. They do this through various forms of journalism, marketing, and production, including 24-hour coverage, live broadcasts, and innovative ways of engaging with the community. This is all done by a core team of approximately 30 individuals.

It may seem difficult for a team of this size to produce such extensive productions, but their systematic structure of media and the passion they hold truly keep Teleturia as a leading news station for local provinces. Teleturia is also in a unique position, in which each representative of Teleturia is also representative of the larger Arezzo community. Having a diverse group of individuals from across the city helps immensely in producing a well-rounded image for the city.

*Brainstorm wall for various focuses in media.*

Innovation – Community in Media

Teleturia uses various innovative methods to include the community in the production, and consumption, of the local news. Since Teleturia is located outside of the city center, it is more difficult to come across stories naturally; rather, reporters actively search for the stories forged from the community. Journalist Maddalena Pieroni gave us more insight into this process:

“You have to stay outside… for instance, I work with the healthcare system. If I go to the hospital for a press conference, I have to stay very alert because I can get news there.”

This isn’t the only way Teleturia seeks public opinion. Teleturia frequently goes out into the streets of Arezzo and asks locals their thoughts and opinions on current stories. The way that the community responds to news is arguably the most crucial piece of the story, as it binds the circumstances of each production to the real lives of those in Arezzo.

“…after you have a piece of news, the second thing you do is to go among people and ask them what they think about it…. It’s fundamental.

Without the people’s opinion, it’s useless.”

This strengthens the publications at Teleturia of course, showing viewers that the information is affecting the lives of those around them. In addition to this, it benefits the individual community members.

“Because this is a small community, it is important. People at night, at 8:30, look forward to see themselves on TV… it’s in Arezzo and in the Province that people want to see themselves.”

The unique tactics implemented here foster a deep community bond, but they don’t stop at interviewing community members. Outside of actually collecting information for producing the media, Teleturia allows consumers to actively participate as the stories get told. For example, they occasionally have live audience news broadcasts. Another interesting feature is the on-site staged kitchen, where Teleturia invites chefs from across Tuscany to present their skills on screen. This provides an intimate connection with the community, not only representing individuals, but also representing the food culture that Tuscany is so well known for.

My peers and I personally experienced the unique way Teleturia includes the community of Arezzo. They invited us to participate in a live news broadcast, in which we got to speak a bit about our experience with study abroad. As international students, we are a demographic that doesn’t necessarily have a ton of representation in the community of Arezzo. Teleturia went out of their way to to give us a space to share our story. In addition to this, the live broadcast allowed viewers to send real time messages and questions to us. This made it clear that our story was being heard and appreciated by other members of the community. The fact that this is a system Teleturia offers such live shows frequently is an outstanding show of solidarity and connection through the use of media.

*Behind the scenes image of Teleturia’s live studio, Studio 16.*

Community is foundational in the production done at Teleturia TV Studios. The people of Arezzo add a unique life to the stories being told, both as the subjects and the viewers. In addition to this, the community of journalists, marketing experts, and professionals working behind the scenes are undeniably influential, carefully using their skills to construct an image for the city of Arezzo. Teleturia is a news station founded on interpersonal relationships, constantly innovating new ways to deepen the roots of community in their media.

A Taste of Tuscany

By Ashtynn Caldwell

On March 3, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

Leonardo Bihal’s Innovative Approach to Producing Wine

A few images come to mind when picturing the Tuscan countryside: rolling hills, a lush landscape, medieval towns, and of course, charming vineyards. When I stepped out of the car at Pomaio Green Winery, this dream enveloped me. It was lightly raining, but this fact somehow reflected the intimacy of the experience offered by Leonardo Bihal.

Sustainability and Hospitality

Leonardo has owned the winery for just over a year and a half. Since purchasing the vineyard, he has strived to set Pomaio apart from other wine producers through the use of innovative goals and standards. These primary objectives are sustainable production and incomparable hospitality.

We took a walking tour of the property, and Leonardo explained that these factors are the driving force behind operations at Pomaio:

“When it comes to wine and olive trees, we strive to adopt sustainable practices not only by using products that are mostly organic-based but also by incorporating sustainability into our daily operations.”

From the treatments done to the growing vines to the fermentation process, all processes are held to the highest standard of organic production. The physical spaces of the winery reflect this as well.

The property is home to two Tuscan-style villas, which retain their historic feel even after being fully renovated. Each villa demonstrates the experiences and hospitality offered by Pomaio, and are built on the same sustainable foundation:

“…our heating and air conditioning systems do not use wood or gas but rather a geothermal system that combines solar and electric energy.”

Buying a bottle of wine from Pomaio is not simply a taste of Tuscany but an experience that imprints itself on your memory. Leonardo emphasized hospitality as he spoke. More than that, he showed it through his actions. We were given the opportunity to try rosé, straight from the tap to our glasses, as well as Pomaio’s signature olive oil. His passion for the industry was evident, and he carried this passion from the walking tour to the sit-down interview.

Technology as an Innovative Tool

The organic, sustainable practices of Pomaio and the mission of hospitality are both innovative in themselves; however, there are lots of underlying factors that drive both sectors. The goals set by Leonardo have required a variety of innovative thinking patterns. He has confronted challenges, set new standards, and worked to think outside the box. One way he has accomplished this is through the use of technology.

The world of technology is expanding exponentially. It is undeniably a useful tool, but a company’s approach to utilizing that tool can make or break their business. Leonardo recognizes this fact. He explains that the use of technology in both the vineyard and the wine cellar are crucial in supporting the production of quality wine.

“…we also have technology (in the wine cellar) because it’s important too. But if you don’t have good practice, of course, with technology in the vineyard, you can have the best quality of technology in the wine cellar and that won’t be enough. So it’s a mix.”

The use of new technology directly impacts the physical work being done on site. Leonardo expanded on this fact, explaining that new digital tools have allowed Pomaio to change the way they produce wine.

“We invested in tools to measure how much water we have in the soil. Knowing how the weather works in a year is really important to identify what product you’re going to have. It shows which part of the vineyard is struggling, which part has more water or less water… if you don’t have the technology to identify these things, it is impossible.”

Such advancements in technology have vastly increased Pomaio’s ability to identify the problems that are happening and solve them more easily than ever before. Incorporating this aspect of the digital world into production is an innovative mindset, which has enhanced the work done at Pomaio.

Another unignorable factor of technology is media and the internet. This has also played a key role in furthering the Green Winery’s missions.

“We work a lot with people from abroad… if you have a good project when we are talking about the website, Instagram, and social media in general, you can reach more and more people. This is something that we are really trying to do.”

Leonardo shared that the project of social media outreach has expanded over a few months. As they rebrand the business in preparation for new wine sales, social media has become a crucial tool in furthering the process. It aids in increasing the visits to the site, but also in connecting guests with various aspects of the hospitality.

“…so not just the reservations for the tour, but also for wine tasting, cooking classes, special dinners, the weddings, all the activities we can provide… it’s important to bring these reviews to other people, of course, and social media has had a huge part in that.”

Using digital technology, Leonardo is able to keep track of events for specific clients months in advance. In addition to this, it connects past clients to prospective clients in a way that was never feasible in the past. Pomaio uses this innovative tool to continue pushing the business toward success. Leonardo exudes dedication to his craft. Taking one look at Pomaio’s website makes this abundantly clear.

While the ever-developing field of technology is only one aspect of innovation, it is undeniably foundational in positive growth and change. This tool helps Pomaio Green Winery to build towards a more sustainable, hospital future, one bottle at a time.

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Systemic Solutions with Farhana Rashid

By Ashtynn Caldwell

On February 22, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

In a world that seems to push toward change at full speed ahead, it’s far too easy to overlook the challenges experienced by the masses in everyday life. Innovation has always been considered the creation of something new. More than this, it should be a way to build new systems within existing ones. Farhana Rashid launched her social enterprise “Bhumijo” in 2017, creating innovative solutions to one such overlooked issue.

Bhumijo operates out of Dhaka, Bangladesh. They provide hygienic, inclusive, and affordable access to clean toilets throughout the city. Expanding beyond this, Bhumijo provides extra services such as clean drinking water, laundry, and showers.

Farhana always knew she wanted to make a positive impact on the world, but was looking for a path that created change for underserved demographics.

“I wanted to do something for the most people, not only to serve the elite.”

Recognizing the toilet crisis and the lack of safe public spaces for women was the first step. It had been a problem directly affecting her world for years, but she became especially passionate about solving the issue after having a daughter.

Farhana explains that innovation occurs at different stages. This recognition of a problem was step one.

“You recognize a problem, ask why it is happening, and create a solution.”

Her approach could be described as a systemic solution. Using this pattern, you can identify the problem, analyze it, create and implement solutions, and evaluate and adapt the solutions. This is exactly what Bhumijo has done.

Farhana recalled having the initial discussion with her family. They debated all of these questions and she decided right then to pursue change. Farhana joked about the situation, showing that innovation doesn’t always happen in some formal setting.

“Sometimes innovation happens at the dinner table.”

There is a longstanding system of public restrooms in Bangladesh; however, that doesn’t mean that a push toward change should be off the table. While there are public restrooms, they are often inadequate. Women are especially affected by the unsafe spaces provided. This system is the context in which Bhumijo exists and builds upon.

“When we started, the percentage of women was almost 2 percent of total customers. Right now it’s around 20 percent… as a target, I would say I want my daughter and every daughter in Bangladesh to not worry when they are outside… I wanted to make a safe accessible space for them.”

The population of Dhaka is about 21 million people, condensed within the city. There are many ‘hot spots’ frequented by shoppers, storefronts selling anything from accessories to household items.

“Every day, thousands and thousands of people are coming to this space and most of them are women… we thought there should be women only toilets, and we didn’t find any.”

Upon discovering this, Farhana spoke with one market owner about installing a public toilet for women. To this request, she was told ‘women don’t come here to pee, they come here to shop.’ This was said in the context of thousands of women visiting the hotspots daily and more than 40 female employees at the specific site. Farhana continued to push her innovation in support of positive change and after a few more meetings, the market owner gave in and allowed Bhumijo to move forward with the project. Within 6 months, he contacted Farhana giving praise, and even requested a new installation for the men’s restroom.

Farhana remained innovative at all stages in developing the company. Various challenges arose, yet they were met gracefully by the team at Bhumijo. Resistance to change was a big obstacle to the team’s mission.

Now, Bhumijo operates 43 centers in Bangladesh. Over 10,000 are served daily, and the population of female users is consistently rising. Farhana takes great pride in being able to provide safe and inclusive spaces for the community, and rightfully so. Her approach to innovation was enormously successful. Bhumijo improves lives daily and continuously strives toward change.

Innovation in an Equilibrium

By Ashtynn Caldwell

On February 17, 2025

In Arezzo Innovation

Human beings have been innovating throughout the entirety of documented history. The idea of documenting history is an innovation in itself… even if the pioneers of the idea didn’t realize it at the time. Each piece of the past hints that humanity has always been shaping itself. From carvings in stone to written correspondence, there has always been the need to sculpt the world in a way that hadn’t been thought of before.

Innovation occurs for a variety of reasons. It is arguably an innate part of human nature, but it is more likely occurring due to a desire for growth or in response to external pressures. In any case, it is a new perspective that institutes some sort of change. But what happens when an organization fails to consider all of the possible impacts their innovations will have on themselves, their company, and society as a whole? Last week, I attended a panel discussion on innovation featuring four creative minds from varying backgrounds. Each individual produced a unique perspective on innovation, but they all seemed to gravitate toward a particular topic: What happens when innovation gains momentum and builds upon itself?

Panel member Katie Richie shared her experience. Katie is the Partnership Manager for the Gathering Place, a nonprofit park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Gathering Place aims to serve as a cornerstone for the community and support the mission of equal opportunity for all. Katie was a member of the opening team for the project. The work she contributed helped launch the idea of the park into its current physical state. Since the Gathering Place is unique, there was nothing to compare it to and no way to predict the outcome. The opening team only had the context of their community and their collective goals to guide them.

It can easily be said that the city of Tulsa has a broken history, particularly when it comes to race. One mission the Gathering Place set out to accomplish was to find a way to fill those cracks in Tulsa’s foundation.

“Diversity was not a thing that was celebrated [in Tulsa]… the Gathering Place was a really unique opportunity to find a way to MEND that… but because of the location of the Gathering Place, that mend was a lot more difficult than expected.”

Katie explained that the Gathering Place is situated in a fairly affluent neighborhood in Tulsa, which initially made it feel like the park wasn’t for everyone. The team quickly worked against this narrative.

“So the immediate idea for that was to host different cultural events that felt like an open invitation to different areas of the community… The [other] solution was to include people based on demographics other than race and culture. So maybe we host a painting class or a fitness class… and we saw that be wildly successful with our five-year anniversary celebration.”

This is an example of innovation being used to combat an existing issue and work towards some sort of change. The team was able to adapt to the problems they faced by developing creative solutions. However, Katie also informed us of an instance in which the team implemented an innovation before fully considering the potential outcomes.

“I think another huge challenge in innovation is the momentum of it. You can get so excited around the momentum at the beginning of an innovative idea that you don’t think in the long term…”

“…When our park opened, we decided to do 100 days of events. It was the big kickoff… all of these things had momentum and a beautiful community impact… but what does this mean for our employees? Do we have the staff to work 100 days of events? What does the turnover look like during this period? What does this mean that we’ve now establish a community expectation… but will we have the budget long term to support an expectation like that?”

This perfectly encompasses the idea of innovation spurring innovation. The team at the Gathering Place created a beautiful idea and enacted it; however, it created unexpected shockwaves. To set a precedent and go from daily events to less frequent events could have created a natural void of energy and community engagement. While the innovation was positive, it pushed the organization towards a system they weren’t sure they were prepared to support.

“So however excited you are to get the needle moving, make sure you have just as much bandwidth to actually follow through on moving it, or else that’s a really quick way for innovation to die and for those new ideas to not get to come to life.”

Ultimately, the 100 days of events was a huge achievement for the park and fast-tracked the Gathering Place to success. The challenges presented spurred the team toward even greater innovation. Luckily this scenario was a positive one, but Katie’s story sparked a conversation among the panelists. If this had occurred on a greater scale with a larger margin of error, how devastating could the resulting impacts be?

The truth is, that scenario is happening on a larger scale right this moment with the development of Artificial Intelligence. Ashley Coffey, the CEO of Coffey & Consult, added her input on the topic of AI:

“Can you try to excel toward innovation too quickly?… These companies, and the world right now, are racing towards innovation without asking the questions of impact on humanity…as we interact with these tools that are innovative, [we need] to ask ourselves what are we trying to accomplish? What is the long-term impact?”

This is not to say that technological advances are not useful. Each panel member was able to provide an example of technology having a direct positive effect on their organizations. It certainly is a helpful tool. The problem stems not from the application of the tool but from the lack of understanding of its implications.

This collection of stories gives context to the purpose of innovation. Human-kind has used innovation as a direct source of growth and problem-solving for centuries. In turn, varying reactions to innovative implementations can push even greater change as a result. Being able to consider the results of varying perspectives before enacting a new plan helps to prevent unwanted or adverse outcomes. If society as a whole cannot slow down and consider the implications of emerging innovations, then there is no way to measure the threats that loom. The opposing forces of the desire to change and the ability to do so should not outweigh each other; rather, approaches to problem-solving through innovation should be seen as an equilibrium, carefully balanced to support our collective humanity.