Co-Creation in Action: Building Solutions Together

On September 9, Rally hosted our Co-Creation Lab at Orlando City Hall, bringing entrepreneurs, institutions, and community leaders together for a hands-on working session focused on strengthening real ventures and advancing community-driven solutions across Central Florida.

As Central Florida’s civic innovation platform, Rally convenes changemakers, institutions, and neighborhoods to co-create, test, and scale solutions. Through our Living Lab approach, we design intentional spaces where community insight, institutional knowledge, and practical experience come together to help ideas move into action — across housing, mobility, health, workforce, and sustainability.

What We Did

The Lab was a hands-on working session designed to help Fellows move from ideas to action. Participants worked alongside entrepreneurs to pressure-test assumptions, identify real-world constraints, and surface practical opportunities.

Each team co-created a 60–90 day roadmap with clear priorities and next steps, resulting in:
• Actionable venture roadmaps
• New pilot conversations and follow-up meetings
• Stronger alignment with local systems
• Practical refinements grounded in lived experience

Who Was in the Room

We were honored to be joined by leaders from higher education, government, and the private sector — including Rollins College, UCF, Bethune-Cookman University, Orange County Government, the City of Orlando, YMCA of Central Florida, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, SodexoLive!, Beusse Sanks, and many more.

All surveyed participants rated the Lab as valuable, with many citing the quality of expertise, intentional team curation, and energy in the room as standout elements.

The Fellows and Their Teams

At the center of the Lab were Rally’s Summer 2025 Fellows, each surrounded by a table of cross-sector co-creators:

Learn Collaborate, Inc. | Tracie Ponder
Worked with Anne Stone (Rollins College), Deirdre Stanford (Fourddo & DStanford Consulting), Dr. Eboni Rainey-Haynes (Bethune Cookman University), and Shirley Walker (City of Orlando) to explore how real-world projects connect students to workforce opportunities.
Second Story Property Group | Anna Ashie
Convened a team including Alissa Barber Torres (Orange County), Rev. Mary Lee Downey (Hope Partnership), Terry Sanks (Beusse Sanks, PLLC), Cameron Ford (UCF), Jim Downing (James Downing Inc.), and Malcolm Jones (MAJ Architecture + Design) to examine how innovative housing and property strategies can reshape community outcomes.
Share At Door Step | Anushka Jain
Engaged with Emily Zientek (SodexoLive!), Hanah Hadeed (Entrepreneur & Advocate), Latria Graham (GLB Media Group), Sade Battle (Orlando Venues), and Sheena Jackson (Rosen Hotels & Resorts) to chart new pathways for sustainable donation and brand-driven recycling initiatives.
Life Startup Essentials | Courtney Newell
Partnered with Jackie Ebert (Homeless Services Network), Jill Poffenbaugh (Hope Partnership), and Timothy Ayers (West Lakes Partnership) to design strategies that equip newly housed individuals with essentials for long-term stability.
Wellside Health | Daisy Parks
Collaborated with Brad Rahr (Central Florida Counseling Collective) and Kenneth Peach (MobileMedix Plus) to strengthen approaches to digital health and community wellness.
GaiaXus | Dietrich Ruehlmann
Worked with Mike Hess (City of Orlando), Clayton Louis Ferrara (IDEAS For Us), Kassy Holmes (Rollins College), Mindi Hertzog (Florida High Tech Corridor), and Victoria Bruce (The Mitigation Banking Group) to advance climate monitoring and freshwater solutions.
Innovation Station Kits | Kelly Shea
Partnered with Heath Hensley (PowerDMS), Nicole Dan (Florida Community Innovation Foundation), Allex Englett (Ivanhoe Village Main Street), Archie Adams (YMCA of Central Florida), and Luis Nieves-Ruiz (East Central Florida Regional Planning Council) to strengthen hands-on STEM education for kids.
STEM PLUG | Richard Gilliam
Collaborated with Alecia Brinson (The Wealth Nook), Kevin Bolding (YMCA of Central Florida), Paul Irumudomon (College Park Main Street), and Samantha Wallace (MAN UP Mentoring) to expand access to STEM opportunities for Black youth.
The Nap Time Show | Sierra Boone
Worked with Alyssa Baracat (Orange County), Genon Murray (Full Sail University), Julius Timmons (Dignity Wellness Partners), and Melissa Nelson (Rollins College Social Impact Hub) to refine a digital platform that helps young children thrive in early learning environments.

We were also grateful for the contributions of Ben Hoyer, Rally Board Member, who supported multiple teams and offered cross-cutting insights.

Why It Matters

The September Co-Creation Lab demonstrated what’s possible when entrepreneurs and institutions roll up their sleeves together. Participant insight translated into clearer priorities, stronger alignment, and momentum that Fellows could carry forward beyond the room.

When lived experience, systems knowledge, and practical expertise meet around real work, solutions move faster — and with greater confidence.

Thank You

A heartfelt thank-you to the City of Orlando Office of Sustainability, Resilience, and Future-Ready for hosting us, to Blackbean Deli for fueling the day, and to every co-creator who joined us at the table. Your ideas, time, and energy are what make Central Florida a place where innovation takes root.

Check Out Photos, Here!

What’s Next

Building on this momentum, Rally will continue hosting Co-Creation Labs that bring together new Fellows, new teams, and new challenges — applying what we’ve learned to create even more focused, action-oriented sessions and ongoing opportunities for leaders and community members to contribute where it matters most.

Join Our March 2026 Co-Creation Lab, here.