Welcome to Abenaavi GIVES Steam

The Newark Underground Movement is a visionary program dedicated to documenting and celebrating Newark’s underground house music and 

roller‑skating culture. The initiative builds a dynamic digital archive that preserves rare tapes, flyers, photographs, and oral histories while making them accessible through immersive XR tours and interactive exhibits. 

Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, through funds administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs.

• Safeguard Newark’s under‑documented cultural heritage for future generations.
• Transform archival preservation into active community engagement through workshops, house dance sessions, and roller‑skating clinics.
• Provide inclusive, ADA‑compliant, multilingual access to Newark’s cultural story for local and global audiences.
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• Archival Preservation: Digitization of fragile materials at risk of loss.
• Educational Outreach: Resources for schools, universities, and cultural institutions to integrate Newark’s history into curricula.
• Community Engagement: Events that foster intergenerational dialogue and pride.
• Economic Revitalization: Cultural tourism and local business support through heritage programming.

By aligning with the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, the Newark Underground Movement not only preserves Newark’s cultural legacy but also stimulates education, community pride, and economic growth. It ensures that the voices of Newark’s underground scene are heard, honored, and celebrated worldwide.

 The program is designed to encourage citizen developers to explore and create innovative agents for Microsoft Copilot, enhancing its functionality and usability across various applications.   

Pre-Hackathon Workshops:

Copilot Studio & Vistual Studio Deep Dive

Hackathon  Kickoff:

• Welcome Address: Hackathon Intro, objectives, and rules.
• Team Formation:  Participants can form teams or join existing ones.
• Identify Scenarios: Determine high value scenarios for focus
• Idea  Pitching: Teams present their initial ideas and get feedback

Development Phase:

• Coding  Sprint: Teams work on their projects with access to mentors and technical support.
• Checkpoints: Regular check-ins to monitor progress and provide guidance.

Submission:

• Final Presentation: Teams present their projects, demonstrating functionality and discussing the impact.
• Judging: Projects are evaluated based on innovation, functionality, usability, and presentation.

Awards  and Recognition:

• Best Overall Project
• Most Innovative Solution
• Audience  Choice Award

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