Global Collaboration Lab Network

 The Global Co Lab Network or Co-Lab is an excellent candidate for your Challenge:  an organization that thinks big and has created a successful platform and strategy for engaging a vast network of teens globally to address the world's challenges, focused on the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.  As its Founder, I am a passionate disrupter who can visualize and network connections with strong outcomes.  In 1996 I introduced and worked to help scientists at NIH and NSF collaborate with the Paris-based OECD Global Science Forum, resulting eventually in two organizations that today address neuro-informatics and bio-informatics.  In 2007 I started a consortium to connect scientists in the US with North Korean counterparts to build trust and a foundation for eventual research collaborations.  If supported with the Elevate Prize, we would use the exceptional advice and networks to determine the best course for scaling what we have created in seven years with Teens Dream.  While our inclination is to hire our first staff to articulate our impacts and advance fundraising and management of our Hubs, we would want to explore all options for how best to build on the foundation we have created. 

After connecting scientists globally for 25 years, at the State Department, White House Office of Science and Technology, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and CRDF Global, I created the Co-Lab to connect teens globally with established networks to be change-makers on the big issues of our day, utilizing living room gatherings, virtual hubs, and a global annual video contest.  I am excellent at visioning, networking, and utilizing team building, public speaking, and listening skills to bring ideas and solutions to challenges. I helped establish CRDF Global, now a 25 million NGO, by implementing an effort to take from legislation to actual organization; co-founded and directed U.S.-North Korea Science Engagement Consortium (2007-2014) supported by both US and DPRK governments, where I negotiated and signed numerous agreements, built partnerships, and secured over $800,000 to implement science capacity engagements (we are just finishing a documentary on the Consortium); proposed a Global Science Fund unveiled on Capitol Hill; visioned and helped direct the first major science engagement authorizing legislation on Capitol Hill; and secured two appropriations totaling $10 million resulting in the creation of the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST), the State Department’s now most visible global entrepreneurship initiative.

The Co Lab's Teens Dream is addressing four big challenges:  1) more effective engagement of Gen Z, born between 1995 and 2010, which is more “racially and ethnically diverse, progressive and pro-government” according to Gen Z data from the Pew Research Center; 2) tackling the complex, interdisciplinary challenges on our planet, utilizing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs as a framework for change; 3) scaling our free, inviting and accessible platforms for teens where they learn about the SDGs and are given the opportunity to be change-agents with other like-minded teens and mentors, working across time zones and cultures; and 4) empowering teens by putting them in charge where they learn through project-based work; are networked with mentors and organizations; given tasks that build confidence and a range of skills, including leadership, project management, social media, marketing, writing, research, and teamwork; all with a focus on creating change. There are many organizations that focus on older youth but less have a focus on connecting and empowering Gen Z, who are more tech-savvy, progressive, action-oriented, and great at amplifying messaging to change behaviors.  We reach them through a global video contest and virtual Hubs addressing the SDGs.

The Co Lab’s work is innovative in that schools don’t typically educate teens to be change-makers, and youth organizations that do typically work locally but don’t connect teens virtually on projects where they work globally: we connect teens from all over the world to work collaboratively.  Many youth programs have barriers:  money to pay for programs, age barriers as teens often don't qualify, academic requirements, need for a recommender, or be privileged to get into the program in another way.  At the Co-Lab any teen globally can join if they speak English or Spanish and can access the internet.  Our teens get an orientation before they enter the Hubs that includes a welcome by the ED and intern, a short intro video, a Hub Handbook, and a legal form.  Teens are welcomed to the Hub and connected with other teens and mentors and given assignments to help move agendas forward, including opportunities to lead the Hubs if they are inclined.  Teens not only learn about the Hubs topics but also learn project management, marketing, social media, public speaking, and a multitude of other skills, not to mention cultural awareness given that teens are from all over the world. 

We are empowering teens globally to address the planet’s grand challenges, a very ambitious and big agenda.  We have a proven approach ready to scale, having already engaged thousands of teens globally to be change-makers. We are in the 8th year of our video contest and this year partnered with the Smithsonian and nine of their affiliate museums which resulted in tremendous visibility; also new this year we gave $500 grants to our ten winners to implement their visions for change that will be showcased at our annual celebration this Fall. We have a multitude of impacts, from our London based rapper JAYO who has educated teens with his rap videos on the SDGs; our Romanian teen who dreamed of improving education secured funding and has created an NGO on her vision; our DC-based Plastics Hub that pitched a reusable to-go box to Amazon which gave us and them $25,000 to implement a pilot, and our Hunger Hub which just launched community gardens it wants to scale globally.  Our Spanish-speaking Hub works to amplify our Hubs' work and we are in discussions on launching a Chinese Hub. Our social media team highlights our work, including television news coverage!