HACKATHON
Have you ever wanted to be a part of the solution for issues in your community? Have you ever had an idea to solve those issues? Attend our Design Challenge Hackathon to partner up with like-minded students and find the resources to turn ideas into reality.

The Design Challenge Hackathon will allow students to learn a series of skill sets through workshops, mentorship, and curriculum provided and facilitated by GiveBackHack, an organization which brings people together to develop sustainable solutions to pressing social issues. Students will have the opportunity to pitch their own idea or join another team to work with through the event.
Over the course of 4 hours, students will work in teams to dive deep into their impact areas of choice. During this time they will prototype, test and pitch their way through new social enterprise ideas. Through this, they learn what it’s like to design human-centered solutions and consider what it might be like to start a social enterprise of their own.
Prizes will be awarded to winning teams.
Areas of Focus:



Meet the Mentors:
Ben has previously taught, coached teachers, and served as a school administrator, gaining first hand insight to the promise and potential of every child and the need for educational innovation.
Ben is the founder of KinderKits which provided over 6,000 families resources to prepare their child for kindergarten. He has his MBA from The Ohio State University where he participated in the BRIGHT Fellowship.
Topic: How can we help families find the best school for their child?

Benjamin Colas
Founder — Heights Academy

Ian Meadows
Place Programs and Social Media Manager — Downtown Cleveland
Topic: How can we make Cleveland a better place using urban planning, arts, culture, and economic development?
Prior to joining the Cavs, Danielle was a corporate sustainability consultant as the co-founder of a small firm, where she helped manufacturing and consumer product companies with sustainability strategy development, reporting, and project-based challenges.
Danielle is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Cleveland State University College of Law. She received an executive certificate from the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy.
Topic: To be determined

Danielle Doza
VP of Sustainability and Environmental Services — Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group

Kelsie Fields
Director of Operations — Women’s Fund of Central Ohio
Topic: To be determined
Before her work with YEI, Mallory served as the Senior Program Manager at SEA Change. Her career also includes a role with the Columbus Partnership's Smart Columbus project, where she coordinated engagement initiatives to make innovation more approachable in America's First Smart City.
She holds a BA in Public Leadership, Management, and Policy from The Ohio State University, with minors in Nonprofit Management and Social Work.
When she’s not working in entrepreneurship, Mallory enjoys supporting vibrant local food systems with organizations like Food-Conscious.org and North Union Farmers Market and getting her hands in the dirt as a Cuyahoga County Master Gardener Volunteer.
Topic: To be determined

Mallory Masarik
Program Manager, Entrepreneurship Education Consortium — Young Entrepreneur Institute at University School

Tahlayah Morrow
Founder — Carry a Mood
Topic: How can fashion improve people’s mental health?