PLANO, Texas, Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Net Impact,
Toyota and the Toyota Mobility Foundation announced the second year
of the Next Generation Mobility Challenge, a competition to inspire
millennials to develop solutions to meet critical mobility needs
through design thinking. This year's challenges will focus on
tackling issues related to social equity and inclusion.
Net Impact is a leading nonprofit that is empowering a new
generation to use their careers to drive transformational change in
the workplace and the world. Toyota is again executing the
challenge through the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), which was
established in August 2014 to enable
more people to go more places.
"Mobility is a powerful equalizer. Together with Net Impact and
students across the country, we are working to tackle issues of
social equity through new mobility solutions. We're bringing our
know-how to campuses across the country and, we always say, when
good ideas are shared, great things happen," said Latondra Newton, Chief Social Innovation
Officer, Toyota and Chief Program Officer, Toyota Mobility
Foundation. "Year after year, we are amazed by the creativity of
millennials. We can't wait to see what great ideas come out of the
second year of the Challenge."
"Our goal is to inspire young people to frame social issues as
opportunities to create shared business and social value. Working
with the Toyota Mobility Foundation allows us to bring to life the
close link between business innovation and creating social good,"
said Liz Maw, CEO of Net Impact.
"Today's young people are passionate about improving their world,
and the Challenge is a perfect opportunity for students to build
practical design skills while tackling meaningful questions."
Throughout the Fall of 2016, local Net Impact chapters around
the country will host the Challenge events at university campuses.
During the events, multidisciplinary teams of students will work
together to develop solutions through a design thinking process.
Transportation, engineering and design experts from Toyota, as well
as local relevant experts, will offer feedback and real-world
perspective.
Solutions will be judged based on the clarity of their goals,
project design, feasibility, creativity, and social impact. The top
team from each event, as well as three "wild card" teams, will
enter the semi-finalist round and submit a pitch digitally to
Toyota, TMF, and Net Impact judges. The top three teams will be
invited to a "boot camp" to hone their pitch and develop other key
business skills. The finalist teams will participate in a virtual
pitch-off.
Judges will determine the winners at the end of the 2016-2017
academic school year. The winning team will be offered summer
internships through Net Impact and Toyota. Additionally, the
winning idea may be considered for funding from the Toyota Mobility
Foundation to develop the mobility solution as a foundation
project.
During the Challenge's inaugural year, nearly 670 students from
60 colleges and universities across the country participated in
fifteen campus events, pitching 154 ideas. The winning team pitched
a concept for an app that would help people who are blind or
visually impaired navigate their surroundings with greater
confidence. Members of the winning team received internship
placements to support Toyota's Partner Robot team. The interns
blogged about their internship experience; read their posts at this
link. During their internship they supported efforts to advance the
freedom of mobility for all as well as to delve into a deeper
understanding of the mobility needs of the blind community and
develop the design of their concept.
The winning team along with two finalist teams – will have the
opportunity to attend the 2016 Net Impact Conference in
Philadelphia, November 3-5, courtesy of Toyota. Toyota is the
title sponsor of the Net Impact conference for the third time.
For the 2016 Challenge, Net Impact will host the Challenge at 15
campuses, including:
- University of California, Los
Angeles
- Georgia Institute of Technology,
Atlanta, GA
- University of Colorado,
Boulder
- Texas A&M University, College
Station, TX
- California College of the Arts,
Oakland, CA
- Indiana University, Bloomington,
IN
- Ohio State University, Columbus,
OH
- Northwestern University,
Chicago, IL
- New York University, New York, NY
- University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, VA
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI
- University of Texas, Austin
- Howard University, Washington, DC
- Villanova University, Philadelphia, PA
- Boston University, Boston, MA
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top
automaker and creator of the Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle,
is committed to advancing mobility through our Toyota and
Lexus brands. Over the past 50 years, we've produced more
than 30 million cars and trucks in North
America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the
U.S.) and directly employ more than 44,000 people (more than 34,000
in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (1,500 in
the U.S.) sold more than 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.5
million in the U.S.) in 2015 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota
vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road
today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive
know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to
assist more people move more places.
About Toyota Mobility Foundation
The Toyota
Mobility Foundation was established in August 2014 to support the development of a more
mobile society. The Foundation aims to support strong mobility
systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. It utilizes
Toyota's expertise in technology, safety, and the environment,
working in partnership with universities, governments, non-profit
organizations, research institutions and other organizations to
address mobility issues around the world. Programs include
resolving urban transportation problems, expanding the utilization
of personal mobility, and developing solutions for next generation
mobility.
About Net Impact
Net Impact is a global
community of students and professionals who aspire to be effective
drivers of social and environmental change. Our programs—delivered
from our headquarters in Oakland,
CA, as well as globally through our 300+ chapters—connect
our members to the skills, experiences and people that will allow
them to have the greatest impact. With over 100,000 members, Net
Impact takes on social challenges, protects the environment,
invents new products and orients business toward the greater good.
In short, we help our members turn their passions into a lifetime
of world-changing action. Visit www.netimpact.org.
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SOURCE Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.