Insights on the Future of Corporate Action for Racial Justice
The +Impact Studio brings impactful ideas to life using business knowledge, design tools, and research expertise. Former Applebaum Impact Design Fellow & studio Founder Justin Woods shares his expertise and prespective on the future of racial justice in corporate America, what companies can do, and how his social venture EQuity is helping companies make meaningful change.Â
Design Equitable Enterprises in the Winter +Impact Studio Course
The award-winning Impact Studio course BA670 will be offered Winter term. This 3 credit course is open to all graduate students, and in the course you’ll tackle questions such as: How can you use the tools of design to create a more just and inclusive economy? To build enterprises that uplift rather than deplete their communities? To enable sustainable livelihoods rather than financial precarity?In Winter 2022, the Impact Studio course (BA670) will engage with IT-enabled changes that have transformed the raw materials of enterprise (labor, capital, supplies, distribution) and what that means for its stakeholders. Then, using the tools of design, we will prototype new forms of enterprise in an industry undergoing radical change around the globe right now: restaurants. Covid rapidly accelerated changes already underway, from a shift toward ghost kitchens and delivery to the use of QR codes in place of human servers. How might we use these same technologies to reimagine capitalism? To create equitable enterprises that provide a living wage and foster community?
Net Impact and GOOD Worldwide Team Up for Greater Impact
Net Impact and GOOD Worldwide have announced a Social Impact Alliance, leading to collective endeavors, including the launch of GOOD Institute, to scale impact initiatives, engage the next generation of leaders, and serve as a force for good for leading businesses. This social impact alliance leverages more than 45 years of combined experience and relationships of GOOD Worldwide, Upworthy and Net Impact to empower and influence millions of engaged citizens, students, corporations, employees, and activists throughout the world to create meaningful and lasting change. Michigan Ross lecturer and GOOD’s General Manager, Kevin Thompson, played a role in the partnership.
Ross Event Highlights:
Erb: CPRT Dialogue: Chad Spitler
Thurs, Nov. 18, 3-4:15 pm ET
Online
Admissions: First-Gen Students
Thurs, Nov. 18 @ 6 pm ET
Online
Admissions: Ask Me Anything: HBCU to Ross
Mon, Nov. 22 @ Noon ET
Online
Admissions: Ask Me Anything: LGBTQ+ at Ross
Tues, Nov. 30 @ Noon ET
Online
A Searchable Platform for All Things Impact at Ross and Across Campus
The Business+Impact Gateway provides you with a single location for all things impact. Here you’ll find all of the activities, people and key partners working to use their learning to make a real impact in the world.Â
Take a Social Entrepreneurship Road Trip with Open Road
Information Session
Tues, Dec. 7 @ 7-8 pm
Robertson Auditorium
Open Road is an action-based social entrepreneurship program developed by Ross students that gives small business owners extra hands in solving complex challenges. B+I sponsors teams of MBAs to trek across the United States during the month of May to take on projects with social entrepreneurs.
Learn more about this program at our upcoming recruiting event, listed above. Open Road @ Ross is a student club powered by Ford and co-sponsored by Business+Impact and the Zell Lurie Institute.
REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT
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Winter Course Features Utah Wilderness Expedition
InterMission (MO 330) is a self leadership course for undergraduate students adrift in a sea of expectations who are exceptional at fulfilling goals set by others but find themselves too busy to reflect on whether they’re the right thing to do. The goal of the course is to help you authentically lead yourself and others — everyday, in ways large and small. Taught by Kevin Thompson the course includes a one-week wilderness expedition in Utah’s Canyonlands with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
MORE INFO
Impact News & Notes
BlueConduit: The 100 Best Inventions of 2021 – TIME magazine
Black-owned bookstore blends culture and community in Flint
At U.N.’s COP26 climate summit, Indigenous voices are calling for more than lip service
Flooded basement? Experts say loss of wetlands could be to blame– featuring Joan Nassauer
Research initiative to spur collaboration on societal challenges
New Detroit home repair program can fix 1,000 roofs. Nearly 5,000 Detroiters applied – featuring Alexa Eisenberg
Climate solutions need to focus on human beings, McCarthy says
Faculty grants available for research to prevent, ease poverty
The Supreme Court just took a case on the EPA’s authority. Its decision could undo most major federal laws – featuring Charles Shipan
Laura Amtower and Michelle Ha Co-Create “Strive to Thrive”
Amid air quality concerns, districts embrace electric buses – featuring Sara Adar
How can we get more people to care about the climate crisis? – featuring Marcus Collins
Chicago is at risk as climate change causes wild swings in Lake Michigan water levels – featuring Drew Gronewold
At the University:
WILLIAM DAVIDSON INSTITUTE

WDI’s DEI Global Case Competition
Information Session
Wed, Nov. 17 @ 10 am ET
Online
You are invited to enter our competition and support and strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) skills and knowledge for today’s students, who will become tomorrow’s global business leaders. WDI Publishing and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business are proud to present the second annual DEI Global Case Writing Competition.
More Info
The Human Right to a Healthy Environment
Panel Discussion
Thurs, Nov. 18 @ 4:15 pm ET
Online
In October of this year, the United Nations Human Rights Council recognized for the first time the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Why did the Council finally adopt this right? What effect will recognition have? How might the right contribute to the ongoing application of human rights to environmental issues such as climate change and the conservation of biodiversity?
Info and Registration
GSP Applications
Fall Deadline:Â December 10, 2021
Winter 2022 Deadline:Â December 3, 2021
Info Session: Thurs, Nov. 18 @ 7 pm
3145 North Quadrangle, 105 S. State St.
The Global Scholars Program (GSP) is now accepting applications for winter 2022 and academic year 2022-2023. The fall deadline for applications is December 10. There will be an Info Session November 18, 2021, 7:00-8:00 pm. Please RSVP if you plan on attending and the location of the meeting will be emailed to you.
Sustainability Honors Cords
Orders Due
Fri, Nov. 19
Pick-up in second week of December
The Excellence in Sustainability Honors Cord program is designed to recognize students who went above and beyond to advance their knowledge, skills, and practice of sustainability ethics while studying at the University of Michigan. The acceptance to the Excellence in Sustainability Honors Cord program will allow students to receive an Excellence in Sustainability Honors Cord for graduation, join an exclusive alumni LinkedIn network, and be part of a sustainability spotlight series.
Policy Talks @ the Ford School
The Ford School hosts a diverse array of timely, meaningful events that engage with students, community, and public policy leaders. During the coming month, the Ford School will host this wide-ranging and powerful series of talks on diversity, poverty and immigration.
- Reflections on Racial Justice Key Issues, Challenges, and Solutions from Ford School PhD Alumni – Nov. 17
- Taming Corporate Power in the 21st Century – Dec. 2
- Fatima Hassan – Health Justice – Dec. 6
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In the Impact Community:

Global Health Supply Chain Summit
The 14th Annual Global Health Supply Chain Virtual Summit (GHSCS-2021) will focus on Building for the Future: Review, Recovery, and Refocusing. Global Health Supply Chains have been under tremendous stress to address the burden of COVID-19 while continuing to meet routine healthcare delivery needs. GHSCS 2021 will explore these issues through a combination of keynotes, panel discussions, and contributed talks.Â

Epic Social Ventures
Do you have an idea for a product or service that is affordable to those impacted by poverty while creating employment opportunities? Apply for EPIC and your idea could be funded to impact the communities you care about most. OPEN to all social entrepreneurs who want to make a systematic change from the ground up on the #1 UN SDG: No Poverty.
Volunteer for VITA and Help Others with Tax Returns
VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Join a community of over 80 volunteers in working to complete federal and state tax returns for low to moderate income families in Washtenaw County. Volunteer to help clients save on costly tax preparation fees, and put over $1.4 million of refunds into the hands of those that need it most. No experience? No problem! United Way’s comprehensive training process will give you the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare basic tax returns.
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Some images in this newsletter are Pre-COVID.