art, energy, and community. It’s an open-air art environment in the heart of an urban community on Detroit’s East Side. Tyree Guyton, founder and artistic director, uses everyday, discarded objects to create a two block area full of color, symbolism, and intrigue. Now in its 27th year, the Heidelberg Project is recognized around the world as a demonstration of the power of creativity to transform lives.

CheerLights is an ioBridge Labs project that allows people's lights all across the world to synchronize, stay linked based on social networking trends. It's a way to connect physical things with social networking experiences and spread cheer at the same time.

Benedetta was born and raised in Parma, Italy. She received a BFA from Tufts University and SMFA Boston in 2004, while taking courses at Harvard, MIT and Mass Art. During her time in Boston, she worked as teaching assistant at SMFA introducing new technologies in the world of digital photography and light sensitive materials. She assisted in the preparation of the American Pavilion of the 50th Venice Biennale in 2003, while working for the MIT LIST Visual Arts Center in Cambridge. The same year she organized her own emergency response efforts during the Tsunami of 2004 in Sri Lanka.

Artist/designer/educator Benedetta Piantella will share an introduction to some of her past and current projects in Africa, as well as the lessons learned and hurdles met in building projects focused on solving humanitarian challenges worldwide.

HacKIDemia designs workshops and kits that help kids use curiosity, empathy, and play to change the world.