California College of the Arts announces the launch of the IMPACT Social Entrepreneurship Awards. The program will enable interdisciplinary teams of CCA students to develop and implement social innovations through their studies in art, architecture, design, and writing. Three IMPACT Awards up to $10,000 each will be given annually, beginning in spring 2011.

IMPACT Awards are open to teams of undergraduate and graduate students from all academic programs. After a rigorous selection process, the college will award the best projects that emphasize interdisciplinary engagement, social entrepreneurship, and collaborative relationships with community partners. All projects will require a detailed action plan that supports social and humanitarian goals. The teams will benefit from the guidance of graduate student mentors from CCA’s MBA in Design Strategy program.

A critical element of the IMPACT Social Entrepreneurship Awards is the collaboration of CCA’s groundbreaking MBA in Design Strategy. Selected alumni and second-year students will serve as mentors throughout the processes of project development and implementation. They will bring valuable perspectives based on design thinking and integrative methods for effective and collaborative problem solving.

Students interested in applying should attend one of the following information sessions, to be held in San Francisco and Oakland:

Information Sessions

Friday, October 22
6 to 7:30 p.m. (Nave, San Francisco campus)

Wednesday, October 27
11 a.m.–noon (Center for Art and Public Life, Oakland campus)

Thursday October 28
11 a.m.–noon (Graduate Center Room 4, San Francisco campus)