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The Kindness Way
A roundup of 71 North updates
71 NORTH
March 18, 2025
The Kindness Way
This week, we shine the spotlight on Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) NIU 2025, a chance to innovate for good and bring meaningful solutions to a real-world challenge—helping the Huskie Food Pantry better serve NIU students in need.
Every semester, RHoK NIU brings together students, faculty, and community members to collaborate, ideate, and solve pressing local challenges. This spring, we focus on food insecurity, volunteer engagement, and donation management at the Huskie Food Pantry.
🌎 Register to participate: https://rhokniu.github.io
🗓 Event Dates: 3.19.25 and 4.02.25 (4:30-6:30pm)
We need your ideas and creativity! Let's come together to hack for kindness and improve the lives of students at NIU. 🚀
How do we change world? One random act of kindness at a time.
HuskieVerse Featured Experience Available through March, “Nano” You've never experienced biology or gaming like this. There are multiple opportunities to explore virtual reality each week. Visit the HuskieVerse booking page to reserve your spot. |  Master a cell's living systems: generate energy from food molecules, use the cell's DNA to manufacture a variety of proteins to keep the cell alive, and to combat invaders. A game based on real science. |
This Week at 71 North
Tuesday:
8:30 - 11:00 AM Morning Writing Group: Facilitated by Dr. Anna Klis, this interdisciplinary group invites you to start your day with coffee and creativity.
12:00 - 1:00 PM: Office Hour with Richard Mocarski • Stop by during lunch to connect with NIU’s Vice President of Research (BYOL).
2:00 - 3:00 PM: LEAP from Project to Product Management • Meetup.
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM: NICCS Day - A time to discuss and workshop topics connected with the Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS).
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: TechTaco - A playful take on SQL Joins with Casey Walters.
TechTacos welcomes back Casey Walters to learn and practice joining tables in SQL. Casey is a graduate of Northern Illinois University in OMIS & MIS and regularly continues to share her expertise with students and faculty.
Wednesday:
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: Huskie Hackers - An engaged and passionate community of the next generation of technology leaders and entrepreneurs participating in MLH Official Hackathons.
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: HuskieVerse - VR Exploration
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM: HuskieVerse - Vespa Mode
4:00 - 6:00 PM: NIU Makers Club - Where creativity meets craft.
Register and make a difference! Website: https://rhokniu.github.io
4:30 - 6:30 PM: RHoK NIU - RHoK is a global movement that brings people together to tackle local community challenges through collaborative, creative problem-solving. This semester at NIU, we focus on finding solutions to help the Huskie Food Pantry improve its operations and outreach.
5:30 - 6:30 PM: CAUSE - Social Entrepreneurship & Community Service.
Thursday:
12:00 - 1:30 PM How to Leverage I-Corps for SBIR - Webinar Great Lakes I-Corps.
3:00 - 5:00 PM Huskie Hackers
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: HuskieVerse - VR Exploration
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Innovation Club - A student-led organization welcoming creative thinkers from all corners of campus who are interested in making the world a better place.
Friday:
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Vespa Mode - A collaborative project to develop a simulator for riding a vintage Vespa in virtual reality. Vespa Mode is part of the Huskieverse program.
2:00 - 4:00 PM Huskie Hackers
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: HuskieVerse - VR Exploration
Monday:
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Breakthrough Business Community Academy - Opportunity DeKalb Business Community Academy.
Looking Ahead:
3.28.25 - HealthIER Series: This series, which continues our collaboration with the College of Health and Human Sciences, will emphasize interdisciplinary research in health sciences and focus on NIH R15/R16 proposals.
Faculty with research related to cardiovascular health are encouraged to attend an open forum on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the 71 North Partnership Studio to learn about funding opportunities and engage with AHA representative. Please register here: AHA open forum registration.
In the meantime, visit heart.org to learn more about AHA’s mission and funding programs.
Mark your calendars—don’t miss out!
Looking Back:
Huskie Frontier - the Huskie Frontier Team works with participants to develop diversified funding plans, develop value proposition documents, and develop plans for engaging with diversified funders. register here.
