Applications Now Open for Fall 2025 Social Innovator in Residence Program

Grinnell College is happy to share that applications are now open for the second year of Grinnell College's Social Innovator in Residence Program, continuing to build on the College's legacy of promoting social justice and engaged citizenship. This program brings world-class innovators to campus, offering expanded opportunities for civic collaboration and learning. Through the Social Innovator in Residence program, students will have the chance to engage with inspiring leaders who are making an enduring difference in the world, fostering interdisciplinary creativity, and promoting civic engagement and systemic change. Applications are open until August 14, 2024. 

About the Program  

The selected individual will participate in a five to seven-week residency on campus, interacting with Grinnell's students, faculty, staff, and the wider community. Through a range of programming and activities, the social innovator will have the opportunity to continue their primary social innovation work and engage with the community to create lasting social impact. The program aims to provide social innovators with opportunities to advance their work by leveraging the resources of Grinnell College. Goals include fostering reflection, receiving research support, developing collaborations, teaching workshops, building professional connections, amplifying their work and message, and allowing time for renewal. 

Students at Grinnell College will benefit from the program in numerous ways. Each residency will be tailored to the selected social innovator's unique expertise and vision, potentially exploring civic dialogues around pertinent social issues. These interactions will help students draw connections between the social innovator's work and similar issues within their classes and the broader community. Additionally, students will develop the knowledge, skills, and coalitions necessary to transform or disrupt inequitable systems. 

President Anne F. Harris emphasized the importance of the program, saying, "The Social Innovator in Residence Program is a testament to Grinnell College's commitment to civic engagement and social justice. We are proud to learn from social innovators who inspire our students and our community by driving meaningful change. This program is a critical component of our efforts to foster a campus environment that values creativity, collaboration, and transformative impact." 

Welcoming Monica Sanders this Fall  

Earlier this year the College shared news that, Monica Sanders is the distinguished inaugural recipient of the Social Innovator in Residence Program. Sanders, founder of The Undivide Project, brings a wealth of experience in addressing the climate crisis and digital divide, particularly in marginalized communities. Her journey, marked by determination following Hurricane Katrina, underscores her commitment to equitable recovery and community empowerment. During her five to seven-week residency, from September 3, 2024, to October 18, 2024, Sanders will lead the Rural Internet Access Enhancement Initiative, a collaboration between her organization and Grinnell College, focused on improving internet infrastructure in rural Iowa. 

The project will include a thorough assessment of existing internet infrastructure, mapping and testing of internet speeds, and the development of a terrain and political map to aid community advocacy for funding and technical support. Additionally, Sanders and her team will research funding opportunities and produce advocacy tools, such as an asset map and outreach templates, to empower the community. Sanders’s residency promises to inspire students and foster deep connections, promoting inclusive excellence and innovative social change on campus and beyond. 

Sanders said, "As the first person to participate in the Grinnell College Social Innovator in Residence program, I will experience firsthand the transformative impact of the engaged community, intellectually and socially engaged students, and community that surround this program. This residency provides a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth and a platform to mentor and inspire the next generation of social impact entrepreneurs. I encourage all innovators dedicated to addressing complex social challenges to apply and leverage this unique opportunity to amplify their work and create community." 

For Additional Information  

Applications opened today on June 14, 2024, for the Social Innovator in Residence Program. The application period will run until August 14, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. (CDT). The winner will be announced in February 2025, and their residency will begin in the fall of 2025.  

For more information about the Social Innovator in Residence Program, Eligibility and Application guidelines and important dates, please visit www.grinnell.edu/about/social-innovator-residence.