Tradition, Meet Innovation

Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Make STEAM Work For You

(Logo courtesy of UNICEF USA, and used with permission.) For Trick or Treat for UNICEF, 2020 is a landmark year. It's the seventy-year anniversary of the beloved program. And this year, Trick or Treat for UNICEF is going virtual! Ryan Modjeski is Managing Director of UNICEF Ventures. In response to the pandemic, he and his team created the new all-virtual program, which launched on October first. Participants can support UNICEF's outreach to children around the world from now through November 15th. But "support" doesn't necessarily involve monetary donations. Individuals, families and classrooms can also participate in activities which support Trick or Treat for UNICEF's mission: empowering kids to help kids. Trick or Treat for UNICEF started in 1950 with a Philadelphia Sunday School class. According to UNICEF's website, that first Halloween, the class raised $17 by collecting coins instead of candy. Since then, Trick or Treat for UNICEF has saved the lives of literally millions of children, around the world. Among the ways UNICEF uses the funds are immunizations, health care and nutrition. (Education, safe water and emergency relief are also among the uses which UNICEF lists in their FAQ's!) And Virtual Trick or Treat is just one of the programs which UNICEF Ventures offers. Their flagship program is UNICEF Kid Power, an ed-tech intervention program which has garnered awards including Time Magazine's "Best Inventions of the Year". An innovator's journey (Photo courtesy of Ryan Modjeski, and used with permission.) Ryan's background includes not only work as a game designer, but as an educational innovator. In 2011, he founded his own digital studio, Honeybee Labs, which pioneered several interactive reading and educational applications. His background also includes overseeing the creative design and development of the "RRKidz" program for the "Reading Rainbow" series! Ryan says Virtual Trick or Treat for UNICEF is just the beginning of something new, digital and exciting. UNICEF Ventures is all about new programs and products for social innovation--and we can't wait to hear more! On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear: How Ryan's creative journey took him into impact-driven work involving technology; The story of the creation of this year's all-digital Trick or Treat for UNICEF program; What this year's Trick or Treaters will experience, with Trick or Treat for UNICEF's virtual edition; Some new innovations which this year's Trick or Treaters will enjoy!; How one of Ryan's personal young "critics" helped in the development of virtual Trick or Treat for UNICEF; What's involved, in translating a beloved product to a digital version; One of the best creative experiences Ryan had, while working on this particular project; Ryan's experiences, following his dreams as an innovator; One factor which made all the difference in his career; How to participate in virtual Trick or Treat for UNICEF in other ways than by fundraising; A hint of xome cool things to come, after Halloween; And, a look at UNICEF Kid Power and an exciting award they received!