1) Opening ceremony
Participants received brochures at entry, heard the rationale for AI and digital skills, and were introduced to LUMA resources and communication channels.
Completed flagship milestone - Saturday, January 24, 2026
LUMA BizRise Flagship In-Person Event Recap
The flagship event served as the official launch of the BizRise program, introducing foundational AI and digital tools at scale, then transitioning participants into targeted follow-up support.
100+
Attendees across small business and community networks
2 + 4
Two concurrent learning tracks and four panel sessions
Jan to Mar
Follow-up support routed into online sessions and 1:1 help
Event details
Date and time
Saturday, January 24, 2026
10:00 AM to 2:15 PM
Access and support model
- No-cost attendance through sponsorship and in-kind support
- Volunteer support from Northshore Rotary and Northshore Schools Foundation
- Resource distribution and follow-up pathways integrated into the event flow
What the flagship event delivered
The event goal was to introduce foundational AI and digital tool concepts through clear examples, strong starting points, and practical resource navigation for small business owners.
Core components
- Opening ceremony and orientation to program resources
- LUMA-led concurrent learning sessions for different starting levels
- Lunch and networking supported by in-kind hospitality partners
- Professional panel sessions grounded in real business functions
- Topic-based advising access with sign-ups for continued support
- Closing transition into online sessions and follow-up guidance
Rather than one-time delivery, the event was intentionally designed as the entry point to the broader support phase.
Flagship event flow
2) LUMA-led learning block
Two simultaneous sessions were delivered by the project team to serve different skill levels and establish a practical foundation before implementation.
3) Lunch and networking
Sponsored lunch increased participation and created peer connection time while attendees explored the Small Business Guide and available support resources.
4) Professional panel sessions
Four panel sessions across two rounds allowed topic choice while keeping discussion centered on operations, planning, marketing, analysis, and growth decisions.
5) Office-hours routing and closing transition
The support model used advising tables and sign-ups for later help, then closed with clear transition into online sessions, resources, and individualized follow-up.
Post-event support phase
Individual support sessions
January 27 to March 13: practical implementation help for prompts, workflows, tool selection, and business-specific adaptation.
Skill-specific online sessions
February 3 to February 26: targeted topic sessions between in-person milestones to deepen practical application.
Reinforcement and resources
Weekly newsletters and resource follow-up (through March 20) kept participants engaged and supported ongoing implementation.
Closeout and continuity
The Banner Bank closeout event on Thursday, March 26, 2026 closed the first BizRise cycle with a smaller reflective format centered on continuity and relationship-building.
Final guide distribution, evaluation consolidation, and lessons-learned documentation were completed from March 21 to March 31 to support stronger future delivery.
Next-step planning
- Continuation follow-up with Northshore Schools Foundation partners
- Planning for a potential next cycle in May
- Maintaining broader public access while serving a clearer target segment
Hosted by LUMA BizRise
Bothell High School DECA Northshore Schools Foundation Northshore Rotary
LUMA Initiative is a student-led program focused on practical technology adoption for small business owners. The flagship event was one milestone within a broader model that includes preparation, delivery, and continued support.
Questions?
For questions, partnerships, or accessibility requests, contact:
Email: lumainitiative@gmail.com
Website: lumainitiative.org