ChangeX Archives - SOVA Innovation Hub

Unleash Positive Change with the Southern Virginia Community Challenge by ChangeX

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:07:30 +0000

Are you driven to create positive change in your local community? ChangeX is here to empower your vision through the Southern Virginia Community Challenge. This initiative provides funding for exciting community projects, allowing individuals, existing groups, and community organizations to make a real impact. Whether you have a new idea or an ongoing project, ChangeX is ready to support and amplify your efforts.

How it Works:

Getting involved in the Southern Virginia Community Challenge is a straightforward process. You can either choose an idea from the ChangeX website or submit your existing project. Follow these steps to bring your vision to life:

Step #1 – Select an idea from the ChangeX website or submit your existing project.

Step #2 – Register to create your project page on the ChangeX website.

Step #3 – Utilize your project page to complete the 30 Day Challenge.

Step #4 – Submit a photo and your action plan.

Step #5 – Keep ChangeX informed about the impact you are making in your community.

Who can Apply:

The Southern Virginia Community Challenge is open to individuals, existing local groups, and community organizations passionate about building thriving communities in the Microsoft TechSpark Southern Virginia region. This region includes Mecklenburg, Halifax, Charlotte, Lunenburg, and Brunswick Counties.

What you Get:

Successful applicants to the Southern Virginia Community Challenge receive a range of benefits to kickstart or expand their projects, including:

Seed funding to initiate or grow your project.

A free starter resource pack, mentorship, and technology tools to help you get started. Here

Additional impact funding once you report back on the social impact of your active project.

Don't Miss the Deadline Apply by Friday, January 12th!

Inspiring Success Stories:

In 2023, ChangeX funded numerous projects in Southside, VA, making a significant difference in local communities. Explore some of these impactful projects and discover how they are contributing to positive change:

Sappony Heritage
Camp

Get Fit with
Mother Nature

People’s Pantry
Express

Read
Box

Gifting Love
Through Play

Bluegrass in
Boydton

The Prizery
Youth Theatre

Pollinator Partnership
South Boston

Discover Existing Project Ideas:

If you’re still searching for the perfect project idea, consider these existing initiatives:

The Southern Virginia Community Challenge by ChangeX is your opportunity to be a catalyst for positive change in your community. Apply by Friday, January 12th, and join the ranks of impactful projects making a difference across Southern Virginia. What change will you create? Whether you have a new idea or an existing project, now is the time to make a lasting impact on your community.

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Upcoming opportunities: gener8tor Skills, RISE Business Bootcamp, and ChangeX

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 23:10:47 +0000

Upcoming Programs and Opportunities

Are you ready to soar to new heights in 2024? There are lots of upcoming opportunities at the SOVA Innovation Hub!

RISE Business Bootcamp powered by CO.STARTERS

Start, grow, or scaleup your business in Southern Virginia with a community of peers and mentors. For any entrepreneur in Southern Virginia (Halifax County and the 14 localities surrounding it). Apply by December 8th, 2023.

Apply by Dec 8th

ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge

Use your own project idea, or one of 12 projects from the ChangeX list of options, like starting a LEGO robotics team or a pollinator garden. For people in Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, or Charlotte County, Virginia.

Apply Now

gener8tor Skills Accelerator

Get skills and coaching to advance your career in Project Management. For anyone in Southern Virginia who wants to learn in-demand skills to apply in local companies or as a remote worker. Apply by January 14th.

Apply by Jan 14th

View our monthly flyer

Download PDF Flyer

Contact us for more information

MALLORY LAWTER

SOVA Innovation Hub Community Manager

(434) 570-1305 | hello@sovainnovationhub.com

COWORKING SPACE HOURS

Open Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Closed for Holidays & Weekends

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Community Fridge Halifax

SOVA Innovation Hub — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 18:44:03 +0000

The SOVA Innovation Hub hosted the Honor the Dream Food Drive from January 9-13, 2023. Over 150 items were donated for the distribution that Community Fridge Halifax hosted on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Elkhorn Baptist Church. Since then we had the opportunity to discuss Community Fridge Halifax with Juanita Johnson.

What is Community Fridge Halifax?

Community Fridge Halifax is a non-profit formed in 2020. Volunteers purchase fruits and vegetables weekly to distribute to elderly, homebound or less fortunate neighbors in western Halifax County.

Community Fridge Halifax Volunteers

“The support of the volunteers and the community has been amazing. Everyone has been extremely gracious and appreciative.”

How did Community Fridge Halifax get started?

When Juanita moved back to the area after retiring from a career in social work, she noticed many people were not eating the healthiest. “Individuals face daily challenges such as transportation, the inability to get to town, and financial challenges to name a few. People are having to spend money they would spend on food for transportation.”

As she was contemplating what she could do to help and how she would fund this effort she discovered ChangeX. Juanita applied and received $5,000.00. Community Fridge Halifax was born.

“ChangeX is such a blessing. We have been able to help so many families through the funds we were graciously awarded. When we were getting low on funds I received a letter stating we still had the second installment of $1,500.00.”

What is ChangeX?

ChangeX is a program supported by Microsoft that encourages positive change in communities. The program provides the support and network needed for individuals and organizations to improve the community in which they live.

Proven project ideas are listed below:

First Lego League
Recycle Across America
Hour of Code
Pollinator Partnership

Most recently ChangeX provided $50,000 for the ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge. Individuals and groups in Halifax, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Charlotte, and Lunenburg counties could apply for funding.

Prior community challenges enabled almost 40 local groups to start community projects. Check out some of the past projects here.

What is next for Community Fridge Halifax?

Community Fridge Halifax volunteers gather to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

After seeing how grateful and appreciative the recipients are, Community Fridge Halifax would like to do more to help. “We will still distribute fruits and vegetables for those in need, but we plan to grow. We would like to:

establish a food bank
educate others about healthy eating and specific medical issues that can be prevented from eating healthy
partner with some local groups to teach people how to plant raised gardens so they can raise their own healthy food
stop by and check on the elderly in the community
form a walking club

How can you help?

Host a Food Drive and collect fruits and vegetables for Community Fridge Halifax or if interested in volunteering contact Juanita Johnson at (434) 637-2797 or 1971jjohnson@gmail.com.

More Information

Community Fridge Halifax ChangeX link

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Community engagement platform ChangeX launches $50,000 fund to support local groups in Southern Virginia to start or expand impactful community projects

SOVA Innovation Hub — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 13:27:56 +0000

Do you want to start or expand a community project in Southern Virginia?

ChangeX has launched the fourth annual Community Challenge, supported by Microsoft. Prior Community Challenges enabled almost 40 local groups to start community projects. These projects have benefited more than 3,150 local people so far.*

The 2023 ChangeX Community Challenge will support community projects across five counties: Mecklenburg, Halifax, Charlotte, Lunenburg, and Brunswick

The deadline to apply for ChangeX funding is January 26, 2023.

Who is Eligible?

New this year, local groups may apply for up to $2,500 to develop or expand an existing community project related to digital skills or environmental sustainability.

Or, as in years past, local groups can get up to $5,000 to support a new community project from the list of proven ideas provided by ChangeX partners.

This year, the list includes 9 ideas. You could start a FIRST LEGO League, a hands-on program that supports children aged 4 to 14 to develop STEM skills and teamwork. Another option is to create a Repair Café, a free meeting place where people come together to repair things. Repair Cafés help communities connect, allow valuable practical knowledge to be shared, and reduce waste. View the full project list on the ChangeX website.

Local groups who apply for funding to start one of the ideas will have 30 days to build a small team and design an action plan. On completing these steps, they will be eligible for seed funding of up to $5,000. Funding will be allocated to qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Microsoft and ChangeX

ChangeX, supported by Microsoft, has funded more than 500 teams in communities across the US and Europe to start impactful community projects through a series of Community Challenges.

The Microsoft Community Empowerment Fund, which provides funding for the Challenge, is an initiative of the Microsoft Datacenter Community Development team. Through its partnership with ChangeX, Microsoft supports communities to thrive, as part of its wider aim to establish a positive presence in the communities where it operates datacenters.

“Microsoft is committed to the Southern Virginia community, and we look forward to supporting a range of impactful projects through this fund, and building on the success of the previous Challenges. I can’t wait to see a range of exciting projects getting off the ground this year and am delighted to be able to support the local community through this fund,” said Kelly Lanier-Arnold, Microsoft Datacenter Community Development Team.

Learn more at https://sovainnovationhub.com/changex.

*Some previous projects have not yet submitted impact data, so the total number of beneficiaries is likely higher than the reported number above.

About ChangeX

ChangeX is a community engagement platform designed to get funding and resources into the hands of everyday people to lead impactful projects in their neighborhoods.

ChangeX was established in 2015. It works with social innovators to scale proven solutions to environmental, economic and social issues and partners with corporations and foundations to support communities with the necessary funding. Its funding partners include Microsoft, Accenture, the LEGO Foundation, and Amazon Web Services, among others.

ChangeX is an international non-profit organization, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with teams based across Europe and the Americas. www.changex.org

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SVHEC Career Tech Students Build Better Block Parklet in Downtown South Boston, Virginia

SOVA Innovation Hub — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 14:44:32 +0000

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) is an innovative destination for workforce development and educational degree programs. It is home to the Career Tech Academy, which is part of GO TEC.

If you drive into South Boston, Virginia from the south, going north on Highway 501, you’ll cross the Dan River, then look up to the left to see the impressive Southern Virginia Higher Education Center campus emerge. The SVHEC occupies three large, former tobacco warehouses. It is in the South Boston Historic Tobacco Warehouse District, which includes 15 buildings spanning 20 acres adjacent to the downtown commercial district. SVHEC is located within walking distance of many downtown businesses including Southern Plenty Cafe, Main Street Bar & Grille, Factory Street Brewing, and more.

One of the newest additions to the SVHEC campus is a Better Block Parklet. The Better Block Parklet was funded through a grant from the 2022 ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge. Students in the SVHEC’s Career Tech Academy were involved in the design and fabrication of the parklet, using 3D printers and other technology at ProductWorks.

The SVHEC’s Better Block parklet expands outdoor space for both students and the community. It created a new seating area with outdoor chess games to encourage people to gather together. It includes digitally fabricated outdoor furniture and a brightly colored parking lot mural.

We recently visited with Dr. Betty Adams to learn about SVHEC and the Better Block parklet.

About the SVHEC Campus in South Boston, VA

The SVHEC’s main campus can be found at 820 Bruce Street. It includes the 820 Bruce Street building and the Innovation Center. The Prizery, the premier performing arts center in Southside Virginia, is located between the 820 Bruce Street building and the Innovation Center. ProductWorks, a division of SVHEC dedicated to product development, is located just 0.3 miles down the street at 700 Watkins Avenue.

As you turn into the parking lot that serves SVHEC’s main campus and The Prizery, you’ll notice large art sculptures. The 820 Bruce Street building is adorned with banners of SVHEC’s college partners, which include Longwood University, Old Dominion University, Danville Community College, and Southside Virginia Community College. Depending on the day, the GO TEC mobile Training Lab might be parked outside.

As you enter the 820 Bruce Street building or the Innovation Center, you’ll find modern, brightly-lit spaces for gathering and learning. You’ll be greeted by friendly, professional staff from SVHEC and you’ll notice the place is a hub for SVHEC’s college and institutional partners.

Most importantly, you’ll catch the optimistic energy of students ranging from 11th and 12th-grade high schoolers to adults of all ages. The students’ fields of study will be as diverse as their backgrounds. SVHEC excels at delivering job training programs tied to specific career opportunities. Job training programs include Automation Technician, Information Technology (IT), Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Nursing, Teaching, and Welding. SVHEC also works with employers to develop and implement customized training for current and potential employees.

Find More Information:

https://svhec.org
https://productworks.tech
https://sovainnovationhub.com/changex

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ChangeX brings innovative new community projects to Southern Virginia

SOVA Innovation Hub — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 13:23:45 +0000

ChangeX brings innovative new community projects to Southern Virginia

$50,000 in funding available

(South Boston, Virginia – February 11, 2022) – The SOVA Innovation Hub is proud to announce the launch of the 2022 ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge supported by Microsoft. ChangeX is a global non-profit that helps connect ideas, people, and funding to bring about positive community change.

Now in its third year, the ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge provides funding, technical assistance, and mentorship to community members who apply to lead a ChangeX project in Microsoft TechSpark Virginia localities: Mecklenburg, Halifax, Charlotte, Lunenburg, and Brunswick Counties. The past challenge winners included multiple community kitchen projects, pollinator plots, and the Grow It Yourself project at the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market.

“Our first ChangeX Grow it Yourself Grant project has been a huge success,” said Megan Throckmorton-Harris, manager of the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market. “The funds have given us the ability to host multiple giveaways that have helped folks in our community discover their inner gardener. The printed educational resources, plants, and seeds we were able to provide set a fire for learning and had a powerful impact. In fact, I have had families contact me already this year to inquire if we were going to keep Grow It Yourself going. The answer is definitely ‘YES’ and we plan to continue this program for years to come.”

The Downtown South Boston Farmers Market was also awarded a ChangeX grant in 2021 for the Urban Thinkscapeproject, which creates an opportunity for kids to engage in playful learning during their time in the downtown area. The Town of Halifax also received a ChangeX Urban Thinkscape grant to bring light and learning opportunities to a forgotten alleyway.

The 2022 ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge is giving away $50,000 to fund the next round of community projects. Options include everything from starting an open orchard or a community composting site to installing a parklet, hosting an Hour of Code, or launching a FIRST Robotics Lego League.

Apply for a 2022 ChangeX Community Project

Individuals or organizations in Mecklenburg, Halifax, Lunenburg, Charlotte, and Brunswick County, Virginia can apply. Projects are approved on a rolling basis until all 2022 funds have been allocated, so interested citizens and organizations are encouraged to apply soon. A group is already organizing around the PlantPure Communities Pod project, with a kickoff meeting scheduled for February 17, 2021 at 6pm at Factory Street Brewing in downtown South Boston, VA.

Find more information about the ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge on the SOVA Innovation Hub’s Facebook page or at https://sovainnovationhub.com/changex.

SOVA Innovation Hub
Contact: Lauren Mathena
Email: lauren.mathena@mbc-va.com

Microsoft TechSpark
Contact: Jeremy Satterfield
Email: jeremy.satterfield@microsoft.com

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ChangeX Brings Innovative New Projects to Southern Virginia Communities

SOVA Innovation Hub — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 14:26:59 +0000

The SOVA Innovation Hub is proud to launch the 2021 Southern Virginia Community Challenge with ChangeX and Microsoft. This year’s challenge was announced on January 27, 2021 by Jeremy Satterfield, Microsoft TechSpark Virginia Program Manager, and Niamh McKenna, ChangeX Co-founder.

ChangeX is a global non-profit that helps connect ideas, people, and funding to bring about positive community change.

Supported by Microsoft, ChangeX is currently in its second year of hosting the Southern Virginia Community Challenge. In the first year (2020), several community members applied for and received funding to complete a community project. Some of the project winners included a teacher who started a Bee Friendly Pollinator plot on her farm, a retired social worker who started a Community Kitchen to help bring healthy food to hungry people in northern Halifax County, and the South Boston Farmer’s Market manager who launched a campaign called Grow It Yourself to teach kids about growing their own food.

Bee Friendly Pollinator

Community Fridge

Grow It Yourself

Apply for a 2021 ChangeX Community Projects

The 2021 ChangeX community projects include everything from starting an open orchard or a community composting site, to installing an interactive ThinkScape in a public space to support child development, to hosting an Hour of Code or launching a Community Fridge or a FIRST Robotics Lego League. Individuals or organizations can apply for grant funding to launch one of 15 projects. Check out the project list at https://sovainnovationhub.com/changex to see if any of these would be a good fit for your community or organization.

ChangeX funding is open to people and organizations in Halifax, Mecklenburg, Charlotte, Lunenburg and Brunswick Counties only. Eligibility and other guidelines are here: https://www.changex.org/funds/southern-virginia-community-challenge

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