The Garage Releases 2019-20 Year in Review

The Garage recently released its annual year in review: a round up of the most exciting news and student successes of the last academic year.

Read the full 2019-20 year in review here.

The last academic year was one-of-a-kind. Early in the year, we were operating our brand new space and program dedicated to the entrepreneurial community at the downtown Chicago campus: The Garage at The Sardine Bar. We were clocking huge success with our new initiative in San Francisco, connecting Northwestern alumni with each other and resources in the Bay Area. We launched a new program, X-Factor, and selected the first Medill/The Garage fellow. We even took field trips to NYC, LA, and Austin! But before spring could set in, everything shifted because of a global pandemic and we learned the importance of navigating the new, together: the theme of our 2019-20 year in review. 

In March, our team quickly convened to develop best practices to move the magic of The Garage to a virtual format to keep our community safe while sheltering in place. By the start of the spring quarter, we had new plans, virtual programming, and Zoom events ready to go to ensure we stayed connected even while far apart. Students participated across the globe from Singapore to Istanbul! 

In the midst of global challenge, students from The Garage stepped up. Some pivoted their businesses to accommodate everyone spending more time at home, and others put their startup model to use to deliver essential services and groceries to Evanston residents. 

As we begin a new academic year at Northwestern, we are (as usual) doing so with some new changes! Our former associate director, Hayes Ferguson, has taken on a new role as the director of the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and we’re excited for all the ways we will continue to work with her. And we welcomed Mike Raab ’12, formerly director of The Garage SF, to Evanston to join us as our associate director. 

Join us as we learn to navigate the new, together - and stay in touch with all things The Garage by signing up for our monthly newsletter.