IRI: Champaign Cardano Meetups

[IMPACT]

The purpose of these events will be to allow Illinois students and industry professionals to meet and mingle in a relaxed environment where they can network and talk about Cardano.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has over 34,000 undergraduates and 20,000 graduate students. It is also home to the University of Illinois Research Park which hosts offices and research centers of some of the top technology companies. The local community also has its share of blockchain companies such as Runtime Verification and Wolfram Blockchain Labs.

We have recently formed a non-profit entity named "The Immutable Research Institute" (IRI) to organize educational, advocacy, and networking activities. The mission of our organization will be to educate the public about blockchain technology and advocate for good regulatory frameworks that support the industry. Helping connect

This project might not be successful if people do not hear about the events or are not interested in Cardano. Our hope is that Catalyst funding will help us with promotion and provision of the events.

[FEASIBILITY]

Beginning in April we will have monthly Cardano Happy Hour Meetups at a local venue - most likely the Houlihan's Restaurant and Bar located in the Research Park. The staff of the restaurant has already indicated that we could reserve a section for our social events and that they would cater to us.

Individuals who attend the Happy Hour Meetups will be invited to get more involved with the Immutable Research Institute and to attend our monthly Champaign Blockchain Meetups that cover industry events. Our industry meetups

We expect the following costs.

$3,000 - Appetizers and Soft Drinks for participants ($250 per month for 1 year)

Appetizers and Soft Drinks will be complimentary for all participants. Any speciality drinks or alcoholic beverages can be purchased from a server or at the bar.

Any leftover funds will be used for other activities that promote the Cardano community in Urbana-Champaign. We are asking for a very small portion of the challenge budget because we believe a little ADA would go a long way for this endeavor.

Adam Rusch holds a PhD from the University of Illinois in Education Policy where he works as a Lecturer in Information Sciences and eLearning Specialist. He is the organizer of the Champaign Blockchain meetup group with a passion for cryptocurrency education and public policy. He is also a Core Contributor to ADAO and wrote the ADAO Constitution.

[AUDITABILITY]

The Cardano Community will be able to verify that our events have been taking place through our social media posts and organizational updates. As a registered non-profit IRI must also account for all activities to show that received funds are being spent properly.

Success for this project will be a vibrant monthly Happy Hour Meetup for students and professionals interested in Cardano and blockchain technologies.

This is a proposal for a new project.

SDG Rating

We believe that blockchain technologies are inherently aligned with Sustainable Development Goals by virtue of the decentralization philosophy that empowers every individual to make a difference in their own community and the wider world.

This project would align with the goal of Reduced Inequalities because it will help members of the blockchain community connect with peers and mentors. There is great inequality that comes from the connections (or lack thereof) that one has in an industry or society. By providing a space where every individual is welcome, regardless of privilege or background, we are doing just a little bit to level the playing field.