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NOT THE OPPENHEIMERS YOU EXPECTED, BUT THE OPPENHEIMERS YOU NEED

IDH ELEVATOR PITCH

IDH ELEVATOR PITCH

(FOR SEO/AI REALITY, WE LET PERPLEXITY WRITE SOME OF THIS)

Why the IDH? Proven Experience in Tackling Digital Challenges

For over 20 years, the IDH leadership teams have developed practical, scalable solutions to combat misinformation, AI ethics concerns, and digital privacy threats. Our work brings together experts from diverse fields—technology, ethics, law, education, and civic engagement—to create lasting solutions that address the complex issues in our digital world.


Our Key Projects and Impact

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QUICK LINKS

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IDH ELEVATOR PITCH

NOT THE OPPENHEIMERS YOU EXPECTED, BUT THE OPPENHEIMERS YOU NEED

(FOR SEO/AI REALITY, WE LET PERPLEXITY WRITE SOME OF THIS)

Why the IDH? Proven Experience in Tackling Digital Challenges

For over 20 years, the IDH leadership teams have developed practical, scalable solutions to combat misinformation, AI ethics concerns, and digital privacy threats. Our work brings together experts from diverse fields—technology, ethics, law, education, and civic engagement—to create lasting solutions that address the complex issues in our digital world.


Our Key Projects and Impact

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  • AI LAW, POLICY, and GOVERNANCE

    Sane, Constitutional, and innovation-friendly AI practices that respect individual rights and prevent exploitation: k-CEO curricula, AI alignment frameworks, and civic engagement strategies (including international art exhibitions).

    #NEIGHBORSNOTNUMBERS 

  • DISINFORMATION and POLITICAL DIVISION

    During the Minneapolis unrest, we created civic disinformation-fighting networks that helped residents stay safe and civil amid misinformation. We can now scale these networks nationwide, bringing them to classrooms, faith communities, and civic groups across the U.S.

    #BURSTTHEBUBBLE 
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    FREE SPEECH and DIGITAL VIOLENCE

    Because (a) the cavalry isn't coming, (b) the DEI versus Free Speech crisis is a false flag (to protect AI and WOKE/MAGA fundamentalists), and (c) it isn't hard to be pro-free speech (and anti-aholes): Just stop thinking like robots.

    (P.S. We also protectcomedians).
    #STOPACTINGLIKEROBOTS 
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    PRIVACY, SURVEILLANCE, and DIGITAL DIGNITY

    We fight for the right to digital privacy, encouraging policies that protect individuals' data and prevent surveillance abuse. And figured out a way to get pro-life and pro-choice citizens to WORK together on everyone's medical data privacy.

    #PRIVACY4ALLPERIOD 
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  • QUICK UPDATES

    WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING OUR STAFF'S PAGES BACK UP

    We were essentially in non-profit hospice for the last 2 years. (And one of the teams was hidden under an old NDA from 2021-2025)

Co-founders, current leaders, and/or key alumni

  • Dr. Aaron McKain, M.S.L.

    Executive Director/Co-Founder


    DR. M'S PAGE 

  • Tom Freeman, JD, MBA

    EMIRITUS
    Co-Founder / Director of Research / Board / 2018-24


    Former Assistant Attorney General (State of Nebraska) and Professor of Practice (Business Law, Creighton University), Mr. Freeman is currently at Fiedler Law.

    linked in 

  • Ayin Monge, M.Ed (PhD Candidate)

    Director of Pedagogy and Community Education / Co-Founder

    K-12 post-AI education whiz, her and her husband are the only reason there is an IDH. Co-creator of all pre-undergrad curriculum; indispensible for the college-law stuff; also a seasoned middle/high school teacher.

  • Julius Hernandez

    Director of Civic Engagement / Co-Founder


    Running Congressional campaigns and his podcast (Meeting in the Middle) when not IDH-ing. Key to legislative strategy: Local, state, and federal.

  • Shea Sullivan

    Associate Director / Co-Founder

    The Sona to McKain's Conan. Also: The only reason any of this worked or the trains run on time. Probably the only 21 year old who pulled of this level of political organization during the pandemic/Summer of Floyd, plus the other 2 years.

  • Libby Otto, M.Ed (PhD)

    EMERITUS
    Director of Education: 2019-22

    Former student of McKain's (who lapped him), Ms. Otto brings 10 years of global experience in post-AI education and innovation.

  • Angie Raymond, JD/PhD

    Research Division / Board Member: 2023-Present

    Graf Family Professor; Chair, Department Business Law and Ethics, Kelley School of Business; Director, Data Management and Information Governance, Ostrom Workshop

    Prof Raymond was an early -- and key -- champion of the IDH.

    LINKED IN 
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    Simon Trautmann

    EMERITUS / IDH BOARD
    (2021-2022)


    City councilman: Richfield, MN

  • MATT MCKAIN

    IDH BOARD / TREASURER (2021-PRESENT)

    Long-term CFO and Corporate Development executive in the software and technology services sector.

    "Dad" McKain brings four decades of CFO experience, which we figured would be handy to scale / partner up the IDH in the next phase

  • Dr. Scott Hagan

    EMERITUS / IDH BOARD
    (2021-2022)

    Former President of North Central University, where he made interntional headlines for hosting the Floyd Memorial. Hagan's new life finds him away from the national spotlight and tending to his congregation and students in California

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RESEARCH DIVISION

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NOT THE OPPENHEIMERS YOU EXPECTED, BUT THE OPPENHEIMERS YOU NEED

YUUUUP, A "MANHATTAN PROJECT"

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  • Hannah Grubbs

    Director of Research: 2021-2023

  • Marci Exted, M.S.W.

    Senior Research Associate / Senior Civic Engagement Associate

    Research Coordinator, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, University of Minnesota.

  • Annelane Sallee

    Research Associate

  • Dr. Daniel Schneider

    Senior Researcher

    Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin-La CrosseAssistant Professor of Philosophy, Haifa UniversityLecturer, Philosophy, Cambridge University

  • Dr. Mark Berkson

    Chair, Department of Religion, Hamline University

    Namesake, FIRE's 'Courageous Colleague Award."


    Dr. Mark Berkson is an internationally recognized expert on religion whose 'Great Courses' series has reached thousands. In recent years, his efforts to reform the college free speech crisis have been recognized by FIRE, the New York Times, and local media throughout the Twin Cities.

  • Amanda Aherns

    Research Associate

  • Sarah Haglund

    Director of Research: 2019-2020 / Research Associate

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  • Brooke Byington

  • Clare Hart

    Research Assistant

  • Emily Alamov

    Research Associate

  • Kyle Huerth

    Research Associate

  • Madeline Britto

    Research Associate

  • Michael Bartz

    Research Associate

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EDUCATION DIVISION

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IDH Education: The “Living Textbook” Project

Partnering with the Anti-Defamation League, Civic Nebraska, Netflix’s Coded Bias team, Indiana University, Creighton University, and the University of Wisconsin on

🧑🏻🎤local and national interactive civics and technology curriculum for high schools, under-served communities, and undergrad/grad programs; 

🧑🏻🎤creating local, national, & international community educational assets;

🧑🏻🎤 piloting cross-cultural “post-fact” journalism programs with local African American news outlets and inner-city students.

IDH EDUCATION DIVISION

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  • Ayin

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  • Don Allen (M.Ed.)

    Senior Associate: K-12 Education

  • Column

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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DIVISION

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IDH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DIVISION

ABOUT US: STRAT PR

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  • Micah Hedley

  • Julius Hernandez

    Director, Advocacy and Civic Engagement

  • Weston Cregut

    Co-Founder / Fmr Assist Director / Fmr Civic Engagement Director

  • Danielle Stratton

    PR Associate and Civic Engagement

  • Harrell Matthieu

    Executive Director, It's Complicated

    Associate, All Nations Restorative Justice, Minneapolis Public Schools

    Program Director, LEAP, Little Earth Native HUD Community

  • Joseph Cobb

    Civic Enagement Associate

  • Maddie Jensen

    Pr and Civic Engagement Associate

  • Isabel Krebbs

    Civic Enagement Associate

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PRODUCTION DIVISION

  • Moises Morales

    Director of Production / Co-Founder

  • Clara Galley

    Production Association

  • Ethan Miller

    Senior Production Associate

  • Israel Futson

    Production Associate

  • Kyle Cowell

    Senior Producer

  • Roman Sawczak

    Senior Producer

  • Ricky Yang

    Senior Producer

  • Samuel Thor

    Senior Producer

  • Isiah Ballinger

    Production Associate

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INSTITUTE FOR AESTHETIC ADVOCACY

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THE INSTITUTE FOR AESTHETIC ADVOCACY

ARTS AND CULTURE

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IDH SERVICES

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