Video: Greenville Turns History Into Opportunity

Last month, PIN Executive Director Debra Lam, Community Investments Manager Clarence Anthony, Jr., and Board Chair Chris Womack traveled to Greenville, Alabama, to see how local history is becoming a foundation for future economic opportunity. Through the Digital Placemaking & Economic Ecosystem Initiative, Emerging Innovators Neziah Burrell and Taylor Thicklin worked with Dr. Veronica Womack, 2150 Innovate and community partners to document Greenville’s heritage and assets, while building digital content to support tourism, small-business visibility and future economic development across the Black Belt.


One week later, PIN honored Dr. Veronica Womack as Emerging Innovators Partner of the Year. PIN Programs Manager Dr. Cody Cocchi shared: “Dr. Womack was chosen because not only is she a great leader of people, but because she has had a tremendous impact across the region.” For Dr. Womack, the recognition came back to the students and the place she calls home: “This is what higher education is all about... Introducing students to the Black Belt Region of the South is my first passion.”

Greenville is showing what can happen when community knowledge, higher education and emerging talent come together to build what’s next. WATCH NOW

Join us: Community Investments Exchange Event

Join us on October 1st as we officially launch the PIN Community Investments Pillar, a new initiative designed to accelerate community innovation and economic growth across the Southeast. Alongside this launch, we will celebrate the incredible impact achieved by our 2025-2026 Regional Leaders and Community Research Grants cohort projects.

Register Today for October 1. Want to learn more about our Community Investment Program? READ MORE

Expanding Our Network: Announcing the Alumni Ambassador Program & Welcoming Katie Kissel

PIN is launching its new Alumni Ambassador Program, creating a regional network where alumni can reconnect, collaborate, share opportunities and take on leadership roles within their local innovation ecosystems.

Leading the effort is Katie Kissel, PIN’s new Alumni Lead, who will work with alumni to pilot the Ambassador Program, build regional chapters and create new ways for graduates to stay connected to PIN—and one another. Interested in becoming an ambassador or reconnecting with the PIN community? Contact Alumni Lead, Katie Kissel.

Join the PIN Team

We're growing. PIN is hiring a Business Development Manager to help expand our network of partners across Georgia and the Southeast.

We're looking for someone who sees relationship-building as more than business development—someone excited about connecting organizations, communities and opportunities that can create lasting impact. Interested? APPLY NOW



Host Organization Applications Open September 1

Have a project that could benefit from new thinking and additional capacity? Emerging Innovators connects higher-education talent with organizations working on meaningful, real-world challenges. 2027 host applications open September 1.Interested in learning more? Contact Engagement Manager, Clarence Anthony Jr., to discuss becoming a host site.

Georgia Chamber Legislative Luncheon


PIN's Associate Director of Impact Jamal Lewis recently attended the Georgia Chamber Legislative Luncheon, joining business and policy leaders from across the state to discuss legislative priorities and opportunities shaping Georgia’s future. The event provided valuable insights that support PIN’s mission to advance innovation and economic opportunity throughout Georgia.



Host Site Spotlight: Growing the Next Generation of Stewards


At Cascade Springs Nature Conservancy, Emerging Innovator Andrew Solano helped research Southwest Atlanta's conservation history, participate in community engagement and explore how a new generation can help steward this important ecological resource. For Executive Director David Lloyd Davis, that generational connection is essential. “We need a new generation of stewards.”

That's what a great host experience can do: add capacity today while developing the people who can carry the work forward tomorrow. Host applications open September 1.



Atlanta Tech Week: Building the Ecosystem Means Showing Up


Innovation ecosystems aren't built inside a single organization. They're built through relationships.

During Atlanta Tech Week, PIN joined founders, researchers, investors, students, corporations, nonprofits and public-sector leaders. For Kayla Burns, PIN Associate Director of Operations, and Taylor Chunn, PIN Student Intern, the week offered opportunities to strengthen existing relationships, make new ones and bring fresh ideas and perspectives back into PIN's work. Because showing up matters.