Thursday evening, Feb. 4, teams of University of North Florida students will pitch ideas for social change at United Way of Northeast Florida’s Upstream Pitch Party.

The inaugural Upstream initiative, facilitated by United Way of Northeast Florida, pairs groups of UNF students with Stein Fellowship coaches to develop ideas for social change. After four months of project development, student teams will present to a panel long-term solutions for community challenges in the areas of education, income and mental health. Up to four winners, selected by the panel, will be awarded $2,500 grants to implement their ideas through a United Way initiative or partner.

Upstream was designed to engage millennials in creating positive and lasting change across Northeast Florida. Hosted by moderated by community advocate Angela Spears, Pitch Party student participants will be evaluated by by a prestigious panel of local leaders:

David Miller, Brightway Insurance, Founder and CEO
Russ Thomas, Availity, CEO
Audrey Moran, Baptist Health, Senior Vice President for Social Responsibility and Community Advocacy
Rena Coughlin, The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, President
Carlton Robinson, JAX Chamber, Senior Director of Entrepreneurial Growth Division
The Honorable Linda McCallum, Fourth Circuit Court Judge

Stay tuned for blog coverage of the evening. For more information on Upstream, including investment partners, visit unitedwaynefl.org/upstream.