“The Young Innovators Panel” presented by the McMaster Children & Youth University (MCYU)

This month we are thrilled to host our first ever, “Young Innovators Panel”. We will be joined by three trailblazers, Ainara Alleyne, Shania Bhopa and Lianna Genovese. Join us to hear about the impact they are making on the world and their journeys as young innovators

Meet Your Panelists:

Ainara Alleyne:
Ainara is a 13-year-old elementary student from Hamilton, Ontario. Ainara curates the Instagram page @ainarasbookshelf, where she highlights books for young people whose authors and main characters are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, differently abled and other underrepresented communities. She believes that by experiencing other cultures and perspectives through books, we can not only acknowledge our differences but be able to understand and embrace them. Ainara was Hamilton Public Library’s first Junior Librarian in residence and speaks to student teachers at various Universities and pedagogy symposiums, and has been featured in the New York Times, CBC, CTV and numerous podcasts. Her TV show, also called Ainara’s Bookshelf, which she created, co-wrote and produced, aired on TVOkids and is currently available on YouTube.

Lianna Genovese:
Lianna is the CEO & Founder of ImaginAble Solutions, a social impact company headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario that specializes in creating assistive technology to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

At the age of 19, Lianna invented Guided Hands, the company’s international award-winning assistive device that enables people with limited hand mobility to write, paint, draw and access technology.

Lianna holds a Bachelor of Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering from McMaster University where she created the first prototype of Guided Hands for her friend living with Cerebral Palsy. Now, at the age of 23, Lianna has received 27 awards, including the James Dyson Engineering Award, Arthritis Society People’s Choice Award, and YWCA Women of Distinction Young Trailblazer, and has made a significant impact on the lives of people with disabilities across the world!

Shania Bhopa:
Shania is a life-long learner working to combine her passion for digital media and health. As a recently published children’s book author and non-profit director (The Canadian Courage Project) she hopes to fill the gaps that currently exist for children.

Shania is currently a doctoral student at McMaster University whose research is focused on child health and access to health resources. Shania is passionate about using knowledge translation practices to disseminate health information to the public.

EVENT DETAILS:

Ages: Geared towards ages 7-14 (whole family welcome, all ages welcome)

Cost: FREE

Date and Time: Sat, 27 May 2023, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: McMaster University – Hamilton Health Sciences HSC 1A1
Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8