🌼 Spring Forward
Our work matters. Now more than ever.
Our Annual Solutions for Inequality Gathering this March was a tremendous success! The day brought together Difference Engineers from across the country for collaboration, connection, and vision-setting.
We enjoyed a full agenda including a Distinguished Innovation Fellows roundtable, an engaging “Art & Activism” session, and the official launch of our WPI 2025 Index. Special thanks to Chris Howard, ASU's Executive Vice President and COO, for joining us and sharing his insights on leadership and innovation.
The energy in the room reminded me why I started The Difference Engine - to bring passionate changemakers together around practical solutions to inequality. If you missed it this year, mark your calendars now for ASIG 2026!
🍔 Join us for lunch!
Are you thinking about starting something new? In the midst of a life change? Our Distinguished Innovation Fellows program continues to create pathways for experienced professionals to make a difference and build something new.
We're hosting a DIF lunch and learn with guest speaker Neil Urban on April 16th (12-2 PM) for anyone interested in joining our second cohort.
And mark your calendars: Our inaugural class of Distinguished Innovation Fellows will be presenting their projects at our DIF Pitch Event on May 14th in Los Angeles. This is your chance to see firsthand the groundbreaking projects our fellows have been developing all year - from Neil Urban's revolutionary Z-aXis city concept to Sian Proctor's inspiring EarthLight project.
Marla Stone & McKenzie Upson join The Engine
I'm thrilled to announce that Prof. Marla Stone has joined The Difference Engine as our newest Advisory Board Member! A renowned expert on populism, authoritarianism, and fascist movements, Marla brings invaluable expertise on what happens when inequality becomes extreme.
We've also welcomed Mckenzie Upson as our new Canon Social Media Extern. She joins us through the generous support of Canon, one of our key corporate partners.
🙋🏽♀️ Join the WPI!
Our graduating WPI team wowed us with their thesis project: "The Power in You" - a video training series explaining key aspects of our Women's Power & Influence Index.
Meanwhile, we're recruiting Barrett juniors from ALL majors to join our 2025-2026 WPI thesis team. Selected students will work directly with professors and industry leaders on hands-on gender equity research while earning honors credit and traveling to professional events including our annual Los Angeles trip (2 year commitment).
Applications are due by May 30th - spread the word!
💫 What’s Next
This is just the beginning of what promises to be a transformative year for The Difference Engine. With our move to University Affairs at ASU, we're better positioned than ever to bridge disciplines and create meaningful change.
Our roadmap for the rest of 2025 includes the launch of our second DIF cohort, expansion of the Creative Justice Lab, and continued growth of the WPI and New Policing projects (and a few surprises along the way). As always, we'll be looking to you - our community of Difference Engineers - to help drive this work forward.
💝 Become a Difference Engineer
Everyone can become involved in our work: you can support us financially - allowing us to hire more students and staff, apply to become a fellow (coming soon) or get involved in one of our ongoing projects.
Thanks for reading and for making a difference.
-Ehsan