INNOVATION NEWS

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Malina Long Malina Long

The Power of Productive Conflict

Most people instinctively avoid conflict. We've been conditioned to see disagreement as inherently negative, something to smooth over or sidestep entirely. But this aversion comes at a cost.

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Malina Long Malina Long

6 Ways Nonprofits Can Boost Fundraising with AI in 2026

If you’re like most nonprofit professionals right now, you’re hearing about AI everywhere. Maybe you’re curious. Maybe you’re skeptical. You might think it is another tech trend and it’s not important unless it can help you meet next quarter’s fundraising goals. Well… this article is for you!

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Malina Long Malina Long

7 Affordable Ways Nonprofits Can Use AI in 2026

Nonprofits don’t need big budgets to benefit from AI. This guide shares seven low-cost moves: spot major donors, triage email, draft social posts, personalize stewardship, speed grants, add website chatbots, and auto-summarize meetings. The rule: humans verify, protect data always.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

JoeBen Bevirt to Young Innovators: Build Real Things

In a talk with young innovators, Joby Aviation founder JoeBen Bevirt demystifies entrepreneurship: start with real problems, prototype relentlessly, learn from failure, and build strong teams. His message: curiosity plus discipline turns ideas into impact.

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Malina Long Malina Long

Doug Erickson Named Honorary Member of UCSC NAI Chapter

Doug Erickson, Executive Director of Santa Cruz Works, has been invited to become an honorary member of UC Santa Cruz’s National Academy of Inventors Chapter, recognizing his impact on invention commercialization and the regional innovation ecosystem built through Santa Cruz Works’ growth and partnerships.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

February 7 is Santa Cruz Works Day

On February 7, Santa Cruz celebrates 18 years of Santa Cruz Works, born as Santa Cruz New Tech Meetup, whose county proclamation turned a monthly gathering into an innovation engine.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

Energy Storage Is Coming. Santa Cruz Wants It Safer This Time

Santa Cruz County is advancing a new framework for utility-scale battery storage that strengthens grid reliability while putting safety first. Inspired by lessons from Moss Landing, the plan bans higher-risk chemistries, adds monitoring and setbacks, and treats storage as essential climate infrastructure.

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Doug Erickson Doug Erickson

Interview: Doug Erickson

From the Jack O’Neill Lounge overlooking Cowell’s, Doug Erickson explains why tiny Santa Cruz punches above its weight in innovation. From UCSC genomics to Joby aviation, local founders keep building. Santa Cruz Works exists to keep that talent home.

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Will Mayall Will Mayall

Murray Street Bridge: Two-Way Fix, One-Way Thinking

The Murray Street Bridge crisis isn’t just about traffic, it’s about trust. As the City floated solutions, then reversed course with shifting explanations, residents and businesses were left to chase facts themselves. Transparency failed, and confidence in decision-making collapsed.

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Malina Long Malina Long

CEO Works Luncheon | The Co-Intelligence Era: How Nonprofits Scale with AI

Many nonprofits are held back by stretched teams and disconnected data, but LiveImpact’s "Co-Intelligence" platform is changing the game by embedding AI directly into fundraising, case management, and program delivery. Join us to see how organizations are ditching clunky legacy systems for smart automation and predictive insights that actually scale their mission.

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