AUSTIN, Texas A new engine that aims to improve health and prosperity for 1 million vulnerable people in Texas and beyond by 2030 has been co-established in the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Dell Medical School atThe University of Texas at Austin. The Impact Factory, a first-of-its-kind, cross-sector collaboration, will foster civic innovation, entrepreneurship and service learning beyond the classroom.

Led by joint LBJ/Dell faculty member, pediatrician and entrepreneur Dr. Michael Hole, The Impact Factory will tackle longstanding social problems, such as poverty and inequality, in new ways through civic innovation and entrepreneurship. Hole and his team are already making a difference: One hunger-facing program under the Factorys umbrellahas delivered almost 800,000 pounds of food to nearly 26,000 people since its launch in spring 2020.

Were hitting the ground running, Hole said. Our scrappy, growing team is already scaling innovative programs and building an evidence base, cross-sector partnerships and talent pipeline for sustainable, positive change. America faces multiple crises, both longstanding and new, impacting peoples lives and livelihoods. Folks are hurting. Were in the arena now with a sense of urgency I hope is contagious.

Examples of projects in The Impact Factorys portfolio include:

The Impact Factorys core operations are fourfold:

Crafting solutions to todays complex societal challenges takes service-oriented leadership and an interdisciplinary lens, said David Springer, LBJ School interim dean. Through the Impact Factory, Dr. Hole and his team are disrupting the existing system to improve health and prosperity for all.

Social entrepreneurship is a critical mechanism for solving societal problems, said Dell Medical School Dean Clay Johnston, M.D. Michaels program creates a platform for impactful community interventions and also trains the next generation of creative leaders.

To learn more about partnership, research, learning, investment or volunteer opportunities, visit TheImpactFactory.org or email TheImpactFactory@austin.utexas.edu.

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New Civic Impact Initiative to Help Improve Health and Prosperity for Vulnerable Populations - UT News - UT News | The University of Texas at Austin