{"data":{"proposalCid":"QmXFgq8kwMsfY3MJjXaUM8PXK5GVPpS3nXqJoRVNjZBpxb","content":"Thank you for the opportunity to provide additional context around the broader strategy referenced in my proposal. The Levan Center is one small, but important, component of a much larger, integrated effort to grow Polkadot’s presence across Florida and the wider North American market.\n\n🧭 Who I Am & What I Do\nMy name is James Slusser. I’ve been a Senior Ambassador with Polkadot since June 2022, focused on:\n* Business Development\n* Investor Relations\n* Community Building\n* University Outreach\n* Policy/Regulatory Engagement\n\nIn 2024, I was admitted as a Candidate to the Polkadot Technical Fellowship. I’m an alumnus of the Polkadot Blockchain Academy and active in several working groups (AAG, Dot Play, Kusama Vision Art + Culture bounty, and Thought Leadership via Distractive). I routinely represent Polkadot at domestic and international conferences, media engagements, and business development meetings.\n\n🗺️ Regional Strategy Overview\nMy approach is focused on high-leverage, low-cost efforts that help lay long-term foundations for Polkadot adoption. [Here’s what that looks like](https://x.com/LearnPolkadot/status/1938403198068277375):\n\n🏟️ Polkadot x Inter Miami CF\nThough not managing the relationship day-to-day, I’m deeply involved in:\n* Curating and hosting IR/BD guests in Polkadot suites [at each home match](https://x.com/jslusser/status/1949304646763237378)\n* Representing Polkadot at IMCF community workshops\n* Coordinating with Sal Esposito and Chris Wade on BD + Government engagement\n* Using the platform to drive regional interest in Polkadot among enterprise, civic, and academic leaders\n\n🧑‍💼 Levan Center of Innovation (Referendum 1683 Focus)\nThe Levan Center serves as a tri-county tech hub (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach), drawing business, academic, and government leaders to regular events. My engagement includes:\n* Working from the space 2–3 days/week\n* Hosting Polkadot-branded meetups (moving from cost-prohibitive to no-cost formats)\n* Leveraging coworking and meeting space for enterprise BD\n* Networking with incubator/accelerator participants and public/private sector leaders\n* Planning future hackathons, education series, and partnership activation\nThis is a strategic venue to reach the right people with consistent presence.\n\n🎓 University & STEM Outreach\n* Actively engaging high schools and universities with blockchain programs\n* Introducing Polkadot Blockchain Academy content to the University of Miami, University of Florida, Nova Southern University, Miami-Dade College and more.\n* Exploring research collaboration with academics with the Web3 Foundation \n* Helping students become local community builders\n* Represented Polkadot at the University of Miami Business of Blockchain event and the recent [Mathematical Congress of the Americas 2025](https://x.com/jslusser/status/1947432105602125876)\n\n🏛️ Policy & Legislative Engagement\n* Member of the Florida Blockchain Business Association\n* Regularly travels to Tallahassee to meet with legislators, testify, and advocate\n* Supports similar efforts in Texas via the Texas Blockchain Council\n* Collaborates with the Blockchain Association (DC-based) on federal policy\n\n💼 Investor Relations & Enterprise Outreach\n* Work with Polkadot Capital Group, Scytale, and Harbour Industrial Capital\n* Host IR dinners and meet-and-greets\n* Pursue long-cycle BD with enterprise partners from conferences and local hubs\n* Leverage access to high-net-worth individuals and decision-makers at Polkadot-sponsored events\n\n📣 Media, Speaking, and Thought Leadership\n* Regular appearances on AAG (Polkadot & Kusama editions)\n* Speaker at blockchain conferences including:\n    * Blockchain Futurist ([Miami upcoming in November](https://x.com/jslusser/status/1948375376754851938))\n    * ETH Denver, Decentralized Lugano, Panama Blockchain Week, eMerge Americas, WAGMI Miami, Permissionless NYC and more\n* Interviewed by podcasts and publications (see latest [Blockhash interview](https://x.com/jslusser/status/1948124782190346311))\n* Curator for Kusama Vision’s upcoming Art + Culture track\n* Host monthly casual meetups in Miami w/ ca. 50 attendees\n\n💬 Conclusion\nReferendum 1683 is not a stand-alone initiative - it’s a modest funding request for a key piece of a larger, boots-on-the-ground strategy already in motion. The $2,400 budget is proportionate to its scope and impact. I show up, consistently, across multiple verticals - and welcome ongoing community input, oversight, and collaboration.\n\nI would be happy to speak with any DV or community member directly and invite you to visit us in Miami to see firsthand what we’re building.\n\nWith respect,
\nJames Slusser
Senior Ambassador, Polkadot","contentType":"markdown","commenterNetwork":"polkadot","version":"2","timestamp":1753884082},"address":"14QhzKsxmrECK8EDpLzzep8tWcYMUPYfXGfmgqM8cVtYRJjJ","signature":"0x8caec77111b7ff007b181da89c6cf7f03925778cb3f9cbbdc171eb83d502ae59c87c16063e7dfee874ffa7ab3bc9404776d37e83dd493e68ec8aa50c4ae3988f","version":"2"}