The shift began on a typical Tuesday afternoon, when Mia rolled out the whiteboard and simply asked, “What in our world needs fixing?"  One group circled back to their ongoing work on water access, reflecting on their earlier research about Navajo Nation communities till hauling water in the present day. Another began brainstorming additions to their solar-powered school garden, which had become a source of pride and learning on campus. 

With markers in hand, students listed problems such as access to clean water, food insecurity, school waste, then grouped ideas. Then came the hard part: turning those brainstorms into real plans. Instead of dictating direction, Mia asked facilitative questions: “Who might be able to help?" and “What’s the first small thing we could try?" 

Students led the process, collaborating in teams to sketch designs, prototype filters, and create pitch decks. In the clean water group, two students proposed testing their filtration system in real-world conditions. They reached out to local partners—city engineers, ASU mentors, and even an international contact in the Dominican Republic—gathering feedback and adjusting designs through iterative cycles.