Slalom’s Element Lab212 recently partnered with First Responders Children’s Foundation and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to host the Youth Innovation Quest.

This program harnessed the power of technology and embraced the innovative spirit of young minds to address real-world challenges affecting the lives of everyday New Yorkers.

Helping those who help us

First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF) was founded over 20 years ago, after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, when 800 children lost a first responder parent. Since then, the organization has grown into a national nonprofit with the mission to support the children of first responders across the country, including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs, corrections officers, and 911 dispatchers.

Jillian Crane, president and CEO of FRCF, explains, “First responders are running into danger to take care of our communities, and our program focuses on taking care of their children.”

FRCF supports these children through scholarships and financial assistance, natural disaster relief, mental health resiliency, bereavement assistance, and community engagement programs—like the Youth Innovation Quest.

Bringing youth into a new realm of technology

The Youth Innovation Quest was a STEM-focused competition that featured four teams of high school students from New York City public schools. These students were mentored by Slalom experts and NYPD officers to explore the boundaries of technology and unlock groundbreaking solutions that address the unique challenges of the city in which they live.

Inside Element Lab212, Slalom’s innovation laboratory, students engaged in hands-on experiences with cutting-edge tools such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, robotics, digital humans, and 5G. The students were then taught how to evolve their projects from ideation to prototype, using storyboarding and data analysis techniques to leverage these technologies and bring their visions to life.

From bright ideas to meaningful innovation

Over the course of 11 weeks, students narrowed down 20+ ideas into four critical projects, each designed to address specific challenges, contribute to the ongoing efforts of the NYPD, and enhance public safety and community well-being in New York City.

These projects centered on:

• Homelessness: Many people experiencing homelessness in New York City are eligible for free phones through assistance programs. One student group focused on building an application for these phones that would give these individuals tools to improve their circumstances, providing easy access to information on shelters, food resources, government assistance programs, and more. 
• Language support: New York City is home to 3.1 million immigrants. Students proposed a language support application so immigrants with language barriers can more easily communicate, access public goods, and navigate the school system. 
• Subway safety: Over 3.6 million people commute on New York City’s subway system every day. To help commuters feel safer, one student project involved using camera technology to detect and combat the dangers of subway surfing, the rise of fair evasions, and overall crime in subway stations.
• Citizen awareness: In a city of over eight million people, the NYPD’s ability to respond quickly to crimes is imperative. The final group of students proposed a citizen awareness application that would allow individuals to record crimes on their cell phones and send these videos directly to first responders. This type of “buddy cam” application would allow police officers to identify crimes faster and more easily.

“All of these problems were passion projects for these students, and technology was used in a really positive way,” says John Tomik, managing director of Slalom’s Element Lab212. “This isn’t tech for tech. This is tech for good.”

Moving beyond the competition: Embracing a better future

The Youth Innovation Quest concluded with students showcasing their projects to a panel of judges, who determined the most innovative solution. And every student participant walked away from their presentations with invaluable experience.

Ultimately, the Youth Innovation Quest gave students the opportunity to foster deeper collaboration, expand their educational and career horizons, and drive positive, lasting change. By tackling urban challenges with technology-centric solutions, these students have actively contributed to a better future—both for themselves and their community.

As Officer Justin Rodriguez of the NYPD puts it, “I believe with the students, in partnership with the police officers and the mentors at Slalom, we can help make the world and the city a better place.”