Empowered AI

07/31/2026

📚✨ HISTORY IS BEING WRITTEN... AND YOU'RE INVITED TO BE PART OF IT.

Imagine being 7, 9, or 10 years old...
..and holding a book with YOUR NAME on the cover.

Now imagine doing that alongside more than 100 other young authors.

On Saturday, August 1, we're celebrating something truly extraordinary.

Through the Young Empowered Authors program, children from across our community learned how to use artificial intelligence, creativity, storytelling, and entrepreneurship to transform their ideas into real, published books that are now available for the world to read.

But their journey doesn't end there.

During this celebration, 100 students will also receive brand-new laptops, generously provided by Huntington National Bank, so they can continue creating, learning, writing, and building their futures.

This is what happens when a community chooses to invest in its children.

❤️ Businesses stepped up.
❤️ Schools opened their doors.
❤️ Nonprofits partnered together.
❤️ Families believed in their children.

And together...we created history.

🎉 Join us for the Young Empowered Authors Red Carpet Publishers Party!

📅 Saturday, August 1, 2026
🕒 3:00–6:00 PM
📍 Vista on the Docks
26 Main Street • Toledo, OH 43605

Come celebrate with us by:

📚 Meeting more than 100 young published authors
✍️ Purchasing signed books directly from the students ($10 each)
🎈 Walking the red carpet and cheering on these incredible young creators
💻 Witnessing the presentation of 100 laptops to help launch the next chapter of their journeys
🎟 Admission is FREE!

Reserve your tickets today:
👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1994878683844?aff=oddtdtcreator

A heartfelt thank you to our Community Champion Sponsors, SSOE and Presidio, and to all of our incredible partners, including Huntington National Bank, Anthem, City of Toledo, Toledo Lead Resource Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo, YMCA of Greater Toledo, Actual Reality Technologies, DMC Technology Group, Browning Cousineau Corp., Hawkins STEAM Academy, and The Art Tatum Zone. Your investment is helping shape the next generation of authors, innovators, and leaders.

❤️ Help us give these young authors the audience they deserve.

Please LIKE, SHARE, and TAG someone who believes in the power of education, technology, and the limitless potential of young people.

Let's fill Vista on the Docks and show these children that their stories matter.

07/23/2026

📣 PRESS RELEASE/MEDIA INVITATION

More Than 100 Children Use Artificial Intelligence to Become Published Authors—and Receive 100 Laptops to Continue Their Creative Journey

We invite members of the media to join us for an inspiring celebration of innovation, creativity, and community impact.

On Saturday, August 1, 2026, EmpoweredAI will host the Young Empowered Authors Red Carpet Publishers Party, honoring more than 100 young people who used artificial intelligence, storytelling, and entrepreneurship to write and publish their own books.

The celebration will also include the presentation of 100 laptops, generously donated by Huntington National Bank, giving participants the technology they need to continue writing, learning, and creating.

Event Details

📅 Saturday, August 1, 2026
🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Vista on the Docks
26 Main Street • Toledo, OH 43605
🎟 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1994878683844?aff=oddtdtcreator

Media attendees will have the opportunity to:

Interview young published authors, parents, educators, and community leaders
Capture students signing and selling their books
Cover the presentation of 100 laptops to participating students
Highlight a community-wide collaboration that is investing in the next generation

We would be honored to welcome WTOL 11, 13 Action News (WTVG), WUPW FOX 36 Toledo, WGTE Public Media, The Blade, Toledo Free Press, Midstory, Adams Street Publishing / Toledo City Paper, Toledo Area Parent, USA TODAY, The Associated Press, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News Media, The Washington Post Magazine, The New York Times, WIRED, Bloomberg, and Reuters to help share these incredible stories.

Thank you for helping us showcase what is possible when a community invests in its children. We look forward to seeing you on August 1.

Media Contact:
LeSean Shaw
Vice President, EmpoweredAI
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.empoweredai.org

06/23/2026

It’s not too late to join EmpoweredAI for Tech Night at TolHouse!

Tonight, June 23rd
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
TolHouse

Come connect with tech professionals, founders, creatives, and community leaders for an evening of networking, conversation, and inspiration.

Whether you’re in tech, curious about tech, building something new, or just looking to meet great people — there’s still time to be in the room.

Join us tonight from 6-9pm at TolHouse for Tech Night.

Grab your free ticket and bring the crew!!

Whether you're a tech enthusiast, entrepreneur, developer, investor, or simply curious about technology, this event is for you!

04/27/2026

Empowered AI is proud to officially announce the return of our Young Empowered Authors Summer Cohort! 🥳

📅 June 19 – July 2
⏰ 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
💡 Cost: FREE

This program is designed to equip youth with the skills, confidence, and tools to become published authors—while introducing them to the power of AI in storytelling, design, and creative development.

Participants will:
• Write, illustrate, and publish their own book
• Learn practical applications of AI tools
• Develop literacy, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking

To remove barriers to access:

• Each student will receive a laptop to keep
• Daily meals will be provided

We are grateful for the partners making this possible:
• Huntington National Bank for providing laptops for our students
• The City of Toledo for funding this summer programming initiative

As a culminating experience, students will participate in what we are building to be the largest gathering of young authors in the world at our annual Publisher’s Party, hosted at the incredible Vista on the Docks.

Special thanks to Vista on the Docks for their partnership and support in helping us elevate this experience for our community.

🚨 Capacity is very limited, and we expect this cohort to fill quickly.

If you know a young person who would benefit from this opportunity, encourage them to apply today.

👉 Registration Link: https://forms.gle/NmHgzBud4smQ9jzXA

Let’s continue building a future where every child has the opportunity to become an author.