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    The Center for Social Impact and Innovation

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    Our Mission: Sustainable Innovation

    Through research, community engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration, the Center for Social Impact and Innovation seeks to re-imagine business and consumption as innovative forces for a regenerative future. The mission of the Center is heavily interconnected with IENYC’s broader “For the Common Good” mission. Leveraging IENYC’s international legacy, the Center provides opportunities for broad-range cultural and intellectual exchange in service to global scholarship, social impact and a circular economy.

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    Social Impact Events

    The Center hosts events, on campus and virtually, that bring together thought leaders in sustainability and social justice. Our students, alumni and the greater community have the unique opportunity to hear from industry leaders, entrepreneurs and applied researchers dedicated to sustainable innovation. Our speakers have included:

    • Debbie Wei – Activist, Community Organizer, and Educator
    • Stanley Litow – Professor and Innovator in Residence at Duke University and President Emeritus of the IBM Foundation
    • Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Founder of the Grameen Bank
    • Caroline Boudreaux, Founder, the Miracle Foundation
    • Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO, the African Leadership Academy
    • Michelle Bradley, Senior Data Analyst at B-Lab
    • Maxine Bedat, Founder, the New Standard Institute
    • Mariano Bernardez, Executive Director, Performance Improvement Institute
    • Venky Raghavendra, Senior VP Safe Water Network

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    Sustainability Final Project Partnerships

    One effective way organizations and businesses can contribute to the Common Good is through social impact and sustainability partnerships. GCNYC’s Center for Social Impact and Innovation offers students the dynamic opportunity to align their master’s final project and collaborate with organizations, social enterprises and governmental agencies. Working closely with these partners, students apply their projects to practical solutions for social improvement and the fulfillment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

    Past & Current Partnerships

    IENYC students have worked with the following companies and organizations for their master’s final project.

    • Forum for the Future

      Forum for the Future is a leading intern ational sustainability non-profit specializing in addressing critical global challenges by catalyzing change in key systems such as Food, Fashion and Energy. For over 20 years, Forum for the Future has been working in partnership with business, governments and civil society to accelerate the shift toward a sustainable future.

    • The image shows a logo with the text 'HECHO X NOSOTROS, MODA ETICA EN ACCION' printed on a textured paper background.

      Hecho X Nosotros Moda Etica en Accion

      Hecho X Nosotros Moda Etica en Accion works to create a new paradigm in the fashion industry by promoting a systemic change based on the principles of sustainability, circularity and social inclusion. Their work is strongly linked to natural fibers, sustainable development and local development—initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment, local development, economy and social well-being.

    • Resource Recycling Systems (RRS)

      Founded in 1986, Resource Recycling Systems (RRS)  is a sustainability and recycling consulting firm that strives to create a world where resources are managed to maximize economic and social benefit while minimizing environmental harm. The firm has industry professionals, engineers, economists, technical analysts and communication specialists who share this vision and possess core strengths in materials and recovery, life cycle management, applied sustainable design and collaborative action development.

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      The Michael Cohen Group, LLC (MCG)

      The Michael Cohen Group, LLC (MCG) is an applied research and evalua tion firm headquartered in New York City. MCG has been privileged to conduct applied research and scientific evaluations on behalf of international and federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofits, foundations, businesses and schools to develop and assess effective products, initiatives, services and strategic communications.

    • Logo featuring the letters MTI in blue, designed with a modern, stylized font.

      MTI USA

      MTI USA specia lizes in sustainable and traceable raw materials and garment manufacturing globally. MTI USA, Inc. is the original holding company started in 1995 by Francesco and  Tommaso Rulli who immigrated to the United States in the early 1990’s. Over the last 20 years, MTI USA Inc. has developed and strengthened its expertise in the art of conversation and dialogue between brands and customers, including audience segmentation associated to customers’ interests and life experiences.

    • Logo of Giortex featuring a stylized letter G in teal and green colors.

      Giotex

      Giotex is th e largest producer of cotton/polyester pre-dyed fibers and blends in the Americas. Producing about 500,000 kg monthly, Giotex have managed to attract and maintain a large portfolio of customers based on their quality and after-sales service. Giotex exports to over 12 countries with a view to attracting new markets and expanding the use of sustainable products in order to support their positive ecological impact.

    • Logo of COMISTRA in a dark theme, featuring a large letter C encapsulating the text COMISTRA inside it.

      Comistra’s

      Comistra's history starts in the Italian textile Prato district by the founder Rolando Tesi in 1951. Specialized in the marketing and transformation of raw materials, Comistra introduced high technology machineries to transform products in a shorter time with the goal of achieving better quality control. Comistra is proud to have one of the few complete carbonizing and water ragging plants in the world.