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SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY CAREER AWARENESS & “Virtual” GRAND INNOVATION CHALLENGE

program overview

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OVERVIEW

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Sustainable Mobility Career Awareness & “Virtual” Innovation Challenge program is designed for young adults aged 18-25 years of age (as of February 1, 2026).  There is no minimum education or work experience requirement for youth participants.

We intentionally cast a broad net. Since inception,  local youth participants competing in the Grand Innovation Challenge have included young adults employed in the transportation/mobility sector – including Local Host Organizers (approximately 35%).  This is a local decision that has been well received by transit management labor as a meaningful professional development and retention tool.

The Program runs from February – July 2026, starting with Local Host Onboarding (February) and ending in late July with the “virtual” Grand Innovation Challenge Competition, Career Awareness Trivia Contest, and 2026 Program Recognition Ceremony.  Local Youth Participant Onboarding is in March 2026.   

All national “iyai+” programming is recorded and available online across four time zones, using a combination of real-time and asynchronous formats. This arrangement allows participants to complete or view programs independently at different times.  In 2026, we are also introducing a Youth Starter/Resource Kit to assist with local/national youth participant onboarding, including expanded program content resources.

The Program includes three (3) components:
 

  1. CAREER AWARENESS/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.
    National and local speakers from the public and private sectors, as well as organized labor, professional industry associations, community organizations, academia, and philanthropy, present information, share experience and insights to raise awareness about a wide variety of career paths.
    We also share information on youth-focused industry resources, mentoring programs, networking opportunities, advancement prospects, hard-to-fill jobs and business opportunities, and emerging trends within major industries. Career opportunities related to the selected Critical Conversation topics are also highlighted.
    The top Career Awareness Trivia Contestant wins a $1,000 USD stipend.
  2. “virtual” GRAND INNOVATION CHALLENGE COMPETITION.
    Local Organizers are encouraged to offer youth multiple ways to identify and tackle local mobility challenges – and opportunities.
    Each Local Host Organizer may advance one (1) youth team (4-7 members) to compete in the “virtual” Grand Innovation Challenge.  During this event, teams present their creative solutions to local mobility issues.
    National Judges select a 1st place winning team ($1000 USD stipend/each youth member) , 2nd place ($500 USD stipend/each), and 3rd place ($250 USD stipend/each).
  3. "YOUTH VOICE": Critical Conversations.  Topics are selected based on input from industry professionals, iyai advisors, program alumni (organizers and youth), and the wider community. The purpose is to elevate the importance of youth perspectives, broaden the discussion and encourage innovative solutions and fresh insights that might not emerge from traditional viewpoints alone.

    In May, iyai+ hosts a national webinar, and works with Local Organizers to encourage and support aligned local programming re: youth views on the selected topics of industry-wide significance. In 2026, there are two (2) areas of focus: Transportation Funding; and Autonomous Vehicle Innovation.

Paul Skoutelas

A Special Word about the Innovation Challenge

“Virtual” GRAND INNOVATION CHALLENGE

THEME CONTEXT

Advancing “Safety, Sustainability, and Opportunity” is the overarching theme of the Innovation Challenge. This theme draws from USDOT policies, programs and plans, Canada’s “Transportation 2030”, and the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, which provides a shared blueprint for outcomes that will provide peace and prosperity for people and the planet into the future. 

  • Enhancing safety and security of transportation/mobility facilities, services, and systems;
  • Enhancing Sustainability and Strengthening Resilience;
  • Expanding Opportunity that advances access to essential services, economic growth/shared prosperity, and quality of life for all communities.
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General Innovation Challenge Evaluation Categories: 

Broadly Stated below.

Enhance Transportation/Mobility Safety, Security, Accessibility, Reliability, Efficiency, Affordability (People and Goods) – with particular attention to improvements that enhance access, reduce travel costs to daily necessities/essential services. 

Transportation/Mobility Related Actions that Improve Efficiency (including life cycle considerations and future needs), Expand Economic Opportunity, Improve Community Sustainability, Strengthen the Resilience of Transportation Infrastructure against Physical, Natural, and Cyber Threats.

Actionable, Innovative “People-Readiness” and “Workforce Development” Strategies, Programs and Plans specifically focused on addressing current workforce shortages in “essential”,  high needs,  hard-to-fill positions; and projected career growth areas – with emphasis on “job-readiness “education/training (including upskilling and re-skilling), recruitment, hiring, career advancement, retention, succession planning, leadership development and institutional knowledge transfer; advance continuous learning and proficiency in digitalization, computing, and cybersecurity hygiene practices; and support the successful workforce transition associated with the deployment of new technologies in the workplace.

Innovation Challenges that Improve Data Quality, Data Collection, and Ready Access to Useful Information that Enhances Data Analytics, Critical Thinking, Performance Assessment, and Better Decision-Making; Use of New Technologies that Improve the Transportation/Mobility Network; 

Collaborative, Cross-Sectoral, Interdisciplinary Approaches and recommendations that advance creative, user friendly and cost-effective solutions to identified mobility needs.

Creative ways to Enhance Community Participation (including governance), Transparency, and  Affordable Access to Public Information re:  public transportation and related services, systems, plans, business, and decision-making processes – with emphasis on youth, special needs populations, and communities with historically low community participation levels. 

All Grand Innovation Challenge submissions must include a clear Communications/Marketing Plan, including social media, to increase community and public awareness and gather industry feedback on the project.

K-12 PROGRAMMING

*iyai+ is also extremely interested in working with local K-12 educational programs (including after school) to advance greater youth, family, and overall community awareness of our nation’s transportation and other critical infrastructure careers.

A section in our annual Program application includes a place for you to indicate if you are interested in this and/or other potential collaboration opportunities.  So, please let us know.

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