It’s been a long and tireless 16 weeks for the Halloran Fellows, but they are ready for the big day. On Dec. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., the culminating event at which Fellows pitch to local leaders, funders and entrepreneurs, will take place in the Mukiyama Room of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
The Halloran Fellowship Summit, powered by Watson Institute, is a celebration of leadership and community impact, organizers said.
Over the course of 16 weeks, the Halloran Fellows — emerging leaders, many from Bradford, all from Pennsylvania — have honed their skills to drive positive change through job creation and economic development.
“The Halloran Fellows have worked through their ventures tirelessly, shaping their ideas and seeking wisdom from the Watson Network of Professionals, their own teams and the local community members,” said Mary Campbell, programs manager with the Watson Institute. “Through this collective wisdom, they’ve honed their ventures, have strategized to overcome hurdles and prepared diligently for expansion and growth. It has been months of relentless effort, fueled by the collaborative spirit ingrained in the very fabric that is the Halloran Fellowship.”
The doors will open promptly at 6 p.m. with a welcome address at 6:15 by Evie Flaugh, associate programs manager, and remarks by Campbell before the Fellows begin their pitches at 6:25. An intermission is scheduled at 6:45, followed by a note from Halloran Philanthropies Executive Director of Brian Halloran at 7. Pitches resume at 7:05. Refreshments and networking are on the agenda at 7:30.
The eight passionate Halloran Fellows will pitch their game-changing ideas to the Bradford community and leaders with a focus on gaining support and resources, and finding thought-partners in making their dreams a reality in the Bradford area.
Pitches from the Fellows will include impact areas such as affordable child care, total body wellness, financial literacy, tackling homelessness, youth trade skill development, community building opportunities and new facilities for local sport and exercise training.
Space for the free event is limited. Reserve a seat by registering online at Eventbrite. Go to Eventbrite.com and search Halloran Fellowship Summit to reserve a seat.
The Fellows signed up for the program because they are an aspiring, early-stage entrepreneur, innovator and leader, eager to commit to a robust entrepreneurial training program, representatives said. They demonstrated interest in leading or launching projects addressing key community issues in Bradford and surrounding areas. They are based around Bradford and are committed to supporting underrepresented and underserved communities through entrepreneurship.
Fellows have attended a program with virtual and in-person components to focus on creating local impact within their communities with a weekly time commitment of approximately six to eight hours per week. They also attended one- to three-day impact workshops, called Basecamps, led by Fellows to increase access and opportunities in their communities.
All of the robust entrepreneurial training, mentorship and venture development stipends have led these aspiring, early-stage entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders in the Bradford area to become Fellows able to deepen and expand the local entrepreneurial ecosystem with new and innovative ideas and ventures, program officials said.
