{"nodes":[{"node":{"nid":"112231","title":"From ideas to impact: BUILD 2026 showcases innovation for social good at ASU California Center Broadway","body":"For\u0026nbsp;Ehsan Zaffar, founder of\u0026nbsp;The Difference Engine, finding solutions isn\u2019t a hypothetical exercise. The civil rights lawyer and activist prefers a more hands-on approach: How can we take a problem and create a product, a process or a service to address it?This attitude was on full\u2026","post_date":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222026-03-23T11:19:43-07:00\u0022\u003E03\/23\/2026-11:19am\u003C\/time\u003E\n","clas_teaser":"At BUILD 2026, civil rights lawyer Ehsan Zaffar challenged participants to move beyond theory and into action \u2014 transforming community-driven ideas into ventures aimed at solving pressing social issues.","teaser":"For\u0026nbsp;Ehsan Zaffar, founder of\u0026nbsp;The Difference Engine, finding solutions isn\u2019t a hypothetical exercise.","story_images":"","hero_image":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/2026-03\/440A3389.jpeg?h=da640882\u0026amp;itok=GklcnLPq","path":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/b\/20260323-ideas-impact-build-2026-showcases-innovation-social-good-asu-california-center-broadway","hide_byline":"1","contributor-contact-information-affiliation":"","contributor-contact-information-name":"","contributor-contact-information-e-mail":"","contributor-contact-information-phone_number":"","contributor-contact-information-campus":"","feed_image_link":"","image_url":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/2026-03\/440A3389.jpeg?h=da640882\u0026amp;itok=GklcnLPq","image_alt":"Four people gather at BUILD 2026. ","image_caption":"Attendees at this year\u0026#039;s BUILD gathering, hosted by The Difference Engine at ASU. The event brought together ASU students, investors and California community leaders for a Creative Justice Lab workshop, a walking tour of downtown Los Angeles and presentations to showcase the ventures they\u2019ve spent the last year building. Courtesy photo","related_story":"","news_units":"The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality","interests":"","audiences":"","locations":"California","u_n_sustainable_development_goals":"","field_feed_herberger":"","field_feed_nursing":"","field_feed_knowledge_enterprise":"","content_type":"feed_only_article","field_saf":""}},{"node":{"nid":"109991","title":"ASU program empowers older adults to create change in their community","body":"Kaden Sheffield was retired, but she wasn\u2019t done.After leaving her job as a professor of linguistics and humanities in the Maricopa Community Colleges in 2014, she taught in China, studied jazz theory, and became a certified storyteller and spiritual director.But she craved more.\u201cI thought when I\u2026","post_date":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222025-12-11T09:48:19-07:00\u0022\u003E12\/11\/2025-9:48am\u003C\/time\u003E\n","clas_teaser":"After leaving her job as a professor of linguistics and humanities, Kaden Sheffield taught in China, studied jazz theory, and became a certified storyteller and spiritual director. But she craved more. As part of the first cohort of the Distinguished Innovation Fellows, Sheffield found fulfillment through a project designed to ease isolation faced by people in retirement or by children in the foster system.","teaser":"Kaden Sheffield was retired, but she wasn\u2019t done.","story_images":"","hero_image":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/2025-12\/20251209%20Kaden%20Sheffield%20514.jpg?h=32924a51\u0026amp;itok=_r6rISzi","path":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/20251211-sun-devil-community-asu-program-empowers-older-adults-create-change-their-community","hide_byline":"0","contributor-contact-information-affiliation":"ASU News","contributor-contact-information-name":"Mary Beth Faller","contributor-contact-information-e-mail":"{{ mail }}","contributor-contact-information-phone_number":"480-727-4503","contributor-contact-information-campus":"Tempe campus, ASU Mesa Center for Creative Technology, California","feed_image_link":"","image_url":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/2025-12\/20251209%20Kaden%20Sheffield%20514.jpg?h=32924a51\u0026amp;itok=_r6rISzi","image_alt":"A woman stands on a staircase","image_caption":"Kaden Sheffield was in the first cohort of the Distinguished Innovation Fellows at ASU. She created the Wisdom Tree, a project to promote social connection. Sheffield is shown at the Media and Immersive eXperience Center in downtown Mesa, where she worked on prototypes for her project. Photo by Charlie Leight\/ASU News","related_story":"","news_units":"Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging|The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality|Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation|Sandra Day O\u0026#039;Connor College of Law","interests":"Arts|Education|Humanities","audiences":"Community","locations":"ASU Mesa Center for Creative Technology|California|Tempe campus","u_n_sustainable_development_goals":"SDG 03 Good Health and Well-Being|SDG 04 Quality Education","field_feed_herberger":"","field_feed_nursing":"","field_feed_knowledge_enterprise":"","content_type":"asu_news_article","field_saf":"Sun Devil community"}},{"node":{"nid":"99436","title":"ASU index ranks 12 companies as \u0027trailblazers\u0027 for equality in the workplace","body":"A handful of U.S. corporations rank as \u201ctrailblazers\u201d in gender equity in the newest version of the Women\u2019s Power \u0026amp; Influence Index released by the Difference Engine at Arizona State University.\n\nThe index, released March 8 at an event at the ASU California Center Broadway in Los Angeles,\u2026","post_date":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222024-03-08T17:08:38-07:00\u0022\u003E03\/08\/2024-5:08pm\u003C\/time\u003E\n","clas_teaser":"The Women\u2019s Power \u0026amp; Influence Index, released March 8 at an event at the ASU California Center Broadway in Los Angeles, provides information on how 66 companies rate for variables such as pay equity, career growth, workplace standards, work-life balance and stakeholder engagement.","teaser":"A handful of U.S.","story_images":"","hero_image":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/2024-03\/panel-close-0582_53577660631_o.jpg?itok=7vtkfHHw","path":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/20240415-local-national-and-global-affairs-asu-index-ranks-12-companies-trailblazers-equality","hide_byline":"0","contributor-contact-information-affiliation":"ASU News","contributor-contact-information-name":"Mary Beth Faller","contributor-contact-information-e-mail":"{{ mail }}","contributor-contact-information-phone_number":"480-727-4503","contributor-contact-information-campus":"California","feed_image_link":"","image_url":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/2024-03\/panel-close-0582_53577660631_o.jpg?itok=7vtkfHHw","image_alt":"People seated on a stage during a panel discussion.","image_caption":"The Difference Engine at ASU hosted the Women\u2019s Power and Influence Index launch event at ASU California Center Broadway in downtown Los Angeles on March 8. The event included a panel discussion, moderated by Kai Ryssdal (far left), host and senior editor of \u0026quot;Marketplace,\u0026quot; NPR\u0026#039;s program on business and the economy. Panelists included (from left): Mukta Mohan, deputy head of audio, Higher Ground; Susan Stevens of Umpqua Holdings Inc.; Laurie Leshin, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and Nancy Gonzales, ASU\u0026#039;s executive vice president and university provost. Photo by Enrique Lopez","related_story":"","news_units":"The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality","interests":"Business|Inclusion|Research","audiences":"Faculty|Corporations|Staff|Students","locations":"California","u_n_sustainable_development_goals":"SDG 08 Decent Work and Economic Growth|SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities","field_feed_herberger":"","field_feed_nursing":"","field_feed_knowledge_enterprise":"","content_type":"asu_news_article","field_saf":"Local, national and global affairs"}},{"node":{"nid":"90206","title":"How 9\/11 changed the ways these faculty teach and research","body":"From the global response to terrorism and the subversive weaponization of narratives, to the evolution of crisis management and guardians of civil liberties \u2014 9\/11 forced us to think differently; to rise to new challenges; and to confront the vulnerabilities of our democracy.Twenty years after the\u2026","post_date":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222021-09-09T12:00:00-07:00\u0022\u003E09\/09\/2021-12:00pm\u003C\/time\u003E\n","clas_teaser":"Twenty years after the 9\/11 attacks and in observance of the anniversary, ASU News reached out to faculty experts across Arizona State University to share their observations, research and reflections on 9\/11\u2019s cultural and global impact on our world \u2014 and on their work.","teaser":"From the global response to terrorism and the subversive weaponization of narratives, to the evolution of crisis management and guardians of civil liberties \u2014 9\/11 forced us to think dif","story_images":"","hero_image":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/repository-hero-1.jpg?itok=2T_lXSZS","path":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/20210909-arizona-impact-9-11-changed-faculty-teach-research","hide_byline":"0","contributor-contact-information-affiliation":"ASU Media Enterprise","contributor-contact-information-name":"Suzanne Wilson","contributor-contact-information-e-mail":"{{ mail }}","contributor-contact-information-phone_number":"","contributor-contact-information-campus":"","feed_image_link":"","image_url":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/repository-hero-1.jpg?itok=2T_lXSZS","image_alt":"Memorial spotlights light up the spot in New York where the World Trade Center stood","image_caption":"","related_story":"","news_units":"School of Criminology and Criminal Justice|School of International Letters and Cultures|The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality|Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security|School of Earth and Space Exploration|Hugh Downs School of Human Communication|School of Politics and Global Studies|Advanced Capabilities for National Security Institute|College of Integrative Sciences and Arts|The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences|Center on the Future of War|Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict|Sandra Day O\u0026#039;Connor College of Law|The Melikian Center: Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies|Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions","interests":"National security|Education|History|Public service|Space exploration|Politics|Community partnerships|Cybersecurity","audiences":"Faculty|Staff|Veterans|Community|International students|Students","locations":"","u_n_sustainable_development_goals":"","field_feed_herberger":"","field_feed_nursing":"","field_feed_knowledge_enterprise":"","content_type":"asu_news_article","field_saf":"Law, journalism and politics"}},{"node":{"nid":"89591","title":"The Difference Engine at ASU names Follett as 1st executive board member","body":"The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality has announced that Follett Corporation, a leading provider of education services, technology, and print and digital content that works with over 80,000 schools including Arizona State University, will serve as the center\u2019s first\u2026","post_date":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222021-06-08T08:56:00-07:00\u0022\u003E06\/08\/2021-8:56am\u003C\/time\u003E\n","clas_teaser":"The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality has announced that Follett Corporation will serve as the center\u0026#039;s first executive board member.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n","teaser":"The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality has announced that Follett Corporation, a leading provider of education services, technology,","story_images":"","hero_image":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/201012_asu_ne_corner_beus_wide_2_bh.jpg?itok=S_NY7kK4","path":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/20210608-difference-engine-asu-names-follett-1st-executive-board-member","hide_byline":"0","contributor-contact-information-affiliation":"","contributor-contact-information-name":"Julie Tenney","contributor-contact-information-e-mail":"{{ mail }}","contributor-contact-information-phone_number":"","contributor-contact-information-campus":"","feed_image_link":"","image_url":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/201012_asu_ne_corner_beus_wide_2_bh.jpg?itok=S_NY7kK4","image_alt":"Photo of the ASU Campus Store at the Beus Center for Law and Society","image_caption":"Follett Corporation, which serves ASU Sun Devil Campus Stores online and through the Tempe, Downtown Phoenix (including the Beus Center for Law and Society shown here), Polytechnic and West campuses, will serve as the Difference Engine\u0026#039;s first executive board member.","related_story":"","news_units":"The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality|Sandra Day O\u0026#039;Connor College of Law","interests":"Law|Community partnerships","audiences":"Corporations","locations":"","u_n_sustainable_development_goals":"","field_feed_herberger":"","field_feed_nursing":"","field_feed_knowledge_enterprise":"","content_type":"news","field_saf":"Law, journalism and politics"}},{"node":{"nid":"88615","title":"The Difference Engine at ASU aims to create change on the ground","body":"Posting on Facebook doesn\u2019t really accomplish much in the way of change. Lobbying politicians is a long haul. And laws change slowly.After a year in which many people hungered to effect change, an engine to help them do exactly that is now humming at Arizona State University.The Difference Engine\u2026","post_date":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222021-03-26T15:23:00-07:00\u0022\u003E03\/26\/2021-3:23pm\u003C\/time\u003E\n","clas_teaser":"Posting on Facebook doesn\u2019t really accomplish much in the way of change. Lobbying politicians is a long haul. And laws change slowly. After a year in which many people hungered to effect change, the Difference Engine, now humming at ASU, is here to help them do exactly that. ","teaser":"Posting on Facebook doesn\u2019t really accomplish much in the way of change. Lobbying politicians is a long haul. And laws change slowly.","story_images":"","hero_image":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/20180808buescenter_02.jpg?itok=rB2Etfqy","path":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/20210326-solutions-difference-engine-asu-aims-create-change-ground","hide_byline":"0","contributor-contact-information-affiliation":"ASU News","contributor-contact-information-name":"Scott Seckel","contributor-contact-information-e-mail":"{{ mail }}","contributor-contact-information-phone_number":"480-727-4502","contributor-contact-information-campus":"Downtown Phoenix campus","feed_image_link":"","image_url":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/20180808buescenter_02.jpg?itok=rB2Etfqy","image_alt":"ASU Beus Center for Law and Society","image_caption":"","related_story":"","news_units":"The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality|Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering|The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences|Sandra Day O\u0026#039;Connor College of Law","interests":"Law|Expert Q-and-A|Community involvement|Public service|Social justice","audiences":"Faculty|Staff|Community|Students","locations":"Downtown Phoenix campus","u_n_sustainable_development_goals":"","field_feed_herberger":"","field_feed_nursing":"","field_feed_knowledge_enterprise":"","content_type":"asu_news_article","field_saf":"Law, journalism and politics"}},{"node":{"nid":"88087","title":"ASU launches \u0027The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality\u0027","body":"Arizona State University announced Feb. 11 the new name and website of a universitywide center that will create tools to end the nation\u2019s rising social, political and economic inequality.\u201cThe Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality\u201d pairs interdisciplinary entrepreneurship with\u2026","post_date":"\u003Ctime datetime=\u00222021-02-11T17:59:00-07:00\u0022\u003E02\/11\/2021-5:59pm\u003C\/time\u003E\n","clas_teaser":"Arizona State University announced Feb. 11 the new name and website of a universitywide center that will create tools to end the nation\u2019s rising social, political and economic inequality.","teaser":"Arizona State University announced Feb. 11 the new name and website of a universitywide center that will create tools to end the nation\u2019s rising social, political and economic inequality.","story_images":"","hero_image":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/asu_news_photo_banner_thedifference_engine4.png?itok=0hqaxfiL","path":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/20210211-asu-launches-difference-engine-asu-center-future-equality","hide_byline":"0","contributor-contact-information-affiliation":"","contributor-contact-information-name":"Julie Tenney","contributor-contact-information-e-mail":"{{ mail }}","contributor-contact-information-phone_number":"","contributor-contact-information-campus":"","feed_image_link":"","image_url":"https:\/\/news.asu.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/block_image_16_9_lge\/public\/asu_news_photo_banner_thedifference_engine4.png?itok=0hqaxfiL","image_alt":"photo of The Difference Engine ASU website","image_caption":"The name and website of a new universitywide center \u2014\u00a0The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality \u2014 was unveiled Feb. 11. Learn more at TheDifferenceEngine.asu.edu.","related_story":"","news_units":"The Difference Engine: An ASU Center for the Future of Equality|Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering|The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences|Sandra Day O\u0026#039;Connor College of Law|W. P. Carey School of Business","interests":"Business|Engineering|Law|Social justice|Politics","audiences":"Faculty|Staff|Students","locations":"","u_n_sustainable_development_goals":"SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities","field_feed_herberger":"","field_feed_nursing":"","field_feed_knowledge_enterprise":"","content_type":"news","field_saf":"Law, journalism and politics"}}]}