Problem solvers unite! This week the office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging hosted a presentation by Reilly Brooks, Executive Director of Schoolyard Ventures, for students in Grades 10 and 11 about her organization’s Social Innovators Program––designed for high schoolers interested in social entrepreneurship. D-E has partnered with Schoolyard Ventures and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice to bring this 12-week online offering to our students, which will run from Feb. 16, 2026, to May 11, 2026. Students who complete the asynchronous program will receive a Certificate of Social Entrepreneurship from UPenn. “This program seeks to engage real-world problems and create social impact,” noted Dr. Ingram, Director of DEIB. 

During the interactive session, Ms. Brooks further explained that the idea was to “bring meaningful change in the world” and to counter misconceptions about social entrepreneurship. “It’s a mindset… a way to approach problems and navigate them,” she said. She presented an example that involved the removal of old landmines around the world and tasked the students to consider how to tackle the problem using innovative thinking. We encourage our US students to apply to this program by the application deadline of Thursday, Jan. 22, as it aligns well with our mission statement and is one step toward becoming real “whole-souled citizens!”