1
Table of Contents Introduction Letters from the Organizers Meet the Judges Ibraheem Alinur Kyrah Altman Sophie Beren Carleigh Berryman Mathilde Coutte Hannah Frazer Claire Friona Snehaa Ganesh Kumar Makayla Gubbay Mark Hughes Matine Khalighi
04 05 09 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
2
Mariam Khan
32
Ayush Kumar
34
Pava LePere
36
Zaniya Lewis
38
Ashley Lin
40
Robert Luo
42
Will Matz
44
Jaya Munjanth
46
Ashley Poon & Cathy Hou
48
Satvik Sethi
50
Joshua Shefner
52
Maya Siegel
54
Maya Wilson-Fernandez
56
Victor Ye
58
Acknowledgements
60
3
Introduction
Welcome to the 25 Under 25 Social Entrepreneurs Magazine, where we highlight social entre-
preneurs under the age of 25 from across the United States. Young leaders, namely Millennial and Gen Z populations, are an often overlooked population in the global development space. When in reality, members of Millenial and Gen Z populations make up 47% of the U.S. population and a majority feel personally responsible to make a social difference in their communities. In this magazine, we aim to celebrate the young leaders creating positive change across the country.
Our team of judges, consisting of teachers, directors, and current social entrepreneurs, hand-
picked 25 leaders who demonstrated strong values and a commitment to helping their local communities.
Through this magazine, we will showcase the stories, trials, and journeys of social entrepreneurs
who are working to develop areas ranging from mental health activism to utilizing media for social change. The featured winners have created incredible innovations that have made positive social impact; including, but not limited to, turning milk waste into clothes, creating card games to combat social isolation, and even providing sustainable livelihoods to thousands of farmers across the African subcontinent. Many have been featured in Forbes, have won collegiate competitions, and have run mayoral debates through their initiatives.
As organizations that continually support individuals that make social change, Culture Media Co.
and Impaction are proud to highlight some of America’s best and brightest in this space. We are also proud to share that 68% of our list consists of women and 65% identify as people of color! Please read through these stories and share them with others in your network. In a time of uncertainty and fear, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger mission at hand. We hope these stories will bring you comfort and excitement for what’s to come ahead.
4
Letter from Impaction Dear Community Members,
If you are overwhelmed by the multitude of crises that are occuring around the world, then you
are not alone. I mean - where do we turn? We are surrounded by civil unrest, wildfires, hurricanes, and oh yeah, a global outbreak to top it off. While some crises have occurred within the last few months and others have prevailed for thousands of years, the world feels like it is, quite literally, burning. Instead this year, we were forced to turn inward and ask ourselves the big questions: who we are, what is truly important to us, and how we can help the world around us. This year was a time of hard conversations, reflection, and advocating for issues that might not be a part of our traditional job descriptions. It was a time to remember our collective humanity. It was a time for action.
My team and I have spent the last few months listening to stories of people who have had enough.
People who have grown frustrated with inaction and people of influence making the decisions for them. People who were interested in helping out their communities, in one shape or form, but did not know where to start. We heard more stories of community development efforts crop up across the world people donating food and volunteering in food banks, community members making masks for others, and individuals increasingly donating to nonprofit organizations. Basic human decency was, once again, becoming the norm.
The leaders we have featured in this magazine are some of the doers. They are the ones who have
grown frustrated with inaction. They are uniting others to offer better options for their communities. Their mission is at the center of who they are and how they choose to better the world.
I am very excited to share these stories of real changemakers with you today. Impaction’s mission,
from the very beginning, has been to support and create more leaders who break the rules and advocate
5
The winners highlighted here have created some truly meaningful ideas that have made the
world feel less daunting and more open to possibilities.
Thank you to all of those who have supported this journey from start to finish. A big thank you to
our partners at Culture Media Co. (Ashwath, Liam, Ella, and Mira) for all of your hard work and dedication to make this project come to life. Your vision to support Millennial and Gen Z social entrepreneurs was a true inspiration for this project.
Finally, for those of you reading this magazine, please remember that human decency prevails
even if the world feels like it is burning. My hope is that these stories inspire more people to join forces and become doers who catalyze positive social change for years to come.
With gratitude, Shivani Chokshi
CEO & Co-Founder of Impaction
6
Letter from Culture Media To Our community,
In the last few months, each one of us has undergone monumental amounts of change. We have
had to move school, jobs, houses, our lives have been uprooted. It can be really easy to get demotivated in the world we are living in. It is projects like the 25 Under 25 Social Entrepreneurs that reinforce our belief in the world.
Over the past nine months, Culture Media & Impaction have spent hundreds of hours research-
ing, evaluating and listening to the stories of change makers from across the country. To say we have been inspired is an understatement. Hearing the stories of these young change makers who are doing everything from climate change work to advocating for sexual assault survivors has reinforced my belief in doing the work I am doing in the social impact space.
The young leaders we have focused in this magazine are changing the world by working with their
communities and improving the lives of people. I am extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to learn from them and continue to stay in connection with them. I hope their stories inspire you to be the change you want to see in today’ world.
I am extremely thankful to those who have been instrumental in putting this magazine together.
They are the people who are tirelessly working behind the scenes in order to make sure we highlight these voices.
7
The young changemakers featured in this magazine give me hope, and I hope you learn from their
stories and experiences.
Ashwath Narayanan
Founder & CEO of Culture Media
8
Meet the Judges
The tough task of selecting the Winners for the 25 Under 25 Social Entrepreneurs has been
carried out by our incredible judges. This has been an incredibly hard task for everyone concerned. We received a high standard of nominations and the extraordinary people that have been presented to us this year were truly remarkable.
We are honored to the support of our judges. The entire 25 Under 25 Social Entrepreneurs Con-
ference and Magazine would not have been possible without you.
Peter Williamson
Jazmin Gibeaut
Founder of Game Genius
Teacher Resident at San Antonio ISD
Maribel Rodriguez Founder of Love4Immigrants
Rebecca Dray
Founder & CEO of Society Profits
Brittni Schroeder
Co-Founder of The Compassion Club
Kyle Hagge
Innovators on Tap Producer at Marquette University
Stephanie Asher
Associate Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at George Washington University 9
Ibraheem Alinur City Health Tech
I
braheem Alinur has been encouraging longer tion with the City Tech Collaborative. hand washing times well before the COVID-19
City Health Tech is currently working to deploy
pandemic. His innovation, City Health Tech works their hand washing device in five schools across to standardize community health education by deploying their device (Opal) that tracks and encourages longer hand washing times to prevent the spread of disease and arms cities with the tools to fight epidemics. Alinur has been building technical teams for the last eight years around his inventions or designs.
“Being an entrepreneur is a way of being a community organizer - it’s mobilizing and engaging other people to join your efforts. If you can’t do that, then entrepreneurship is not the path for you.”
His projects have included building 4D-printing nanomaterials for tissue regeneration, software
Chicago, such as the Academy For Global Citizen-
applicant tracking systems for student groups, and ship located on the Southside of Chicago. They are piloting urban infrastructure solutions in collabora-
currently supporting 4,200 K-12 students in the 10
Book Recommendations: The Bell Curve by Charles A. Murray and Richard Herrnstein & The Art of Persuasion by Bob Burg
Podcast Recommendations: How I Built This & 99% Invisible
Alinur’s venture places in a pitch competition at the Kellog School of Business.
Chicago area and will spread their efforts across
Alinur’s vision is to make Opal available for the
Chicago, starting with lower socioeconomic com-
everyday consumer. Alinur is also a Gates Millenni-
munities.
um Scholar, a part of the Obama Foundations Com-
If City Health Tech is able to replicate their find-
munity Leadership Corps, and has been named as
ings, they could reduce the average number of sick
one of Chicago Inno’s 25 under 25 for 2019. He
days from 9 to 7 days (around 20% reduction). This shares his closing thoughts about entrepreneurwould save schools thousands of dollars, increase
ship, “Being an entrepreneur is a way of being a
rates of attendance, and improve overall student
community organizer - it’s mobilizing and engag-
performance. They have also identified over 50
ing other people to join your efforts. If you can’t
schools in the Chicago area that have the potential
do that, then entrepreneurship is not the path for
to improve their school by an entire performance
you.”
level if they used City Health Tech’s system.
11
Kyrah Altman LEAD
M
eet Kyrah Altman, the social entrepreneur ery person she interacts with has the tools to get working to help organizations and individ-
uals have more direct and helpful conversations
their needs met. In order to increase the number of people and
about mental health. Altman’s own experiences groups LEAD is able to impact, Altman started with mental health inspired her to co-found this
training others to pass along her mental health ed-
venture, and she hopes that LEAD is able to trans-
ucation. Along with the people LEAD trains direct-
form mental health education on both a national and policy level. LEAD “prides itself on giving people practical tips, tools, and strategies to improve their mental health in the current moment”, particularly young
“[LEAD] prides itself on giving people practical tips, tools, and strategies to improve their mental health in the current moment.”
people and the adults who serve them. One of LEAD’s goals is to remove the stigma around men-
ly, the organization also serves a wide variety of
tal health treatment.; Altman works to make sure
industries and organizations. She has worked with
that every organization LEAD works with gets pro-
both youth and professional demographics, pro-
active and tailored mental health training, and ev-
viding services for summers camps, sports teams, 12
schools, and businesses in multiple disciplines. Al-
this process, LEAD responded well to the circum-
tman tailors LEAD’s work specifically to the orga-
stances and adapted to fit the new needs of its cli-
nization they are working with, providing training
ents.
and treatment designed to fit the needs of individ-
Altman, a self-described “social justice warrior”,
ual course participants.
wants LEAD to serve as a resource for marginalized
Despite the pandemic’s effect on many non-
communities and people of color. She has been
profits organizations, LEAD has done a great job of frustrated by systematic issues that cause high-risk adapting to the circumstances through the creation
youth and adults to “fall through the cracks”; LEAD
of its online Learning Lab. Prior to 2020, LEAD had
provides an in-person, and now online solution
already planned on taking many of their resources
that allows these communities to defy the statis-
online; while COVID-19 forced them to accelerate tical odds and create beautiful things of their own.
Recommended Podcasts: The Happiness Lab WTF with Marc Maron
Recommended Books: The Body Keeps Score by Bessel van der Kolk The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown How Women Rise by Marshall Goldman and Sally Helgesen
Altman attends a conference. 13
Sophie Beren The Conversationalist
M
eet Sophie Beren, an entrepreneur who used
conversations should be happening in more spac-
her experiences growing up as “the other” to
es than just education. Thus The Conversationalist
create a space for young people to have their voic-
was born, a platform and community for Gen Z to
es heard. Beren started her entrepreneurial journey through the creation of a college student organization called TableTalk, a club that allows people from all walks of life to connect and converse outside of
“As a generation, [we] struggle to share our opinions without fear of judgement...”
the classroom. After quickly realizing that a program like TableTalk was needed at more than just
come together and talk about topics that people
her own college, Beren expanded to over eighty don’t know how to address. college and high school campuses, creating a way Sophie empowers Generation Z through their for young people to have difficult conversations in
online community platform, powered by the Gene-
an open and inviting setting. While Beren’s non-
va app, as well as through their weekly “live” panel
profit was successful, she soon realized that these
events, facilitated by celebrities. Beren believes the 14
best way to measure The Conversationalist’s impact
hopes to continue fostering the right environment
is in the long term and by focusing on uplifting one
to break down this stigma through her online com-
voice at a time. By collecting user insights from the
munity of Gen-Zers around the country.
online platform and staying on top of Gen Z trends, Outside of sharing diverse perspectives on soBeren hopes to be able to track what drives young
cial issues, the Conversationalist has another more
people and how The Conversationalist affects Gen
altruistic goal: “make each person the best conver-
Z’s decision making and mindset around differ-
sationalist they can be.” Communication is an im-
ent issues. Gen Z has had an integral role in The
portant life skill to possess, no matter your stage of
Conversationalist’s formation; after the success of life, and Sophie hopes to guide each “TC” member TableTalk, Beren and her team conducted studies
through this journey of finding and utilizing their
to figure out “why young people were struggling to have these difficult conversations” and what issues young people are passionate about. After months of market research, The Conversationalist was born as a solution to this “diagnosed problem.” One of the largest obstacles The Conversationalist has had to overcome is finding an accu-
Book Recommendation: Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
Podcast Recommendation: How I Built This hosted by Guy Raz
rate representation of different viewpoints, to fully “break the echo chamber.” Beren remarked on the
voice. While not all members join The Conversa-
difficulty of finding people with varying political
tionalist community and are immediately ready to
opinions, as well as Gen-Zers who have differ-
join in the difficult conversations on the app or “on
ent perspectives when it comes to sustainability,
screen” for the live events, Beren and her team
personal liberties, mental health, body image, and
work with members on a recurring basis to help
“[One of the largest obstacles is to] break into the echochamber.”
them discover their voices. Misinformation and a lack of information are two huge issues plaguing our media cycle; with Beren at the helm, The Conversationalist hopes to
many more topics that impact Gen Z daily. To quote
get people out of their “echo chambers” and help
Beren, “as a generation, [we] struggle to share our people see issues from others’ perspectives. opinions without fear of judgement,” and Beren 15
Carleigh Berryman Viva Vita
M
eet Carleigh Berryman, the entrepreneur tinue to learn, explore the world, and connect with out to make aging more engaging through
life through virtual reality. The company regularly
virtual reality. Carleigh is the founder of Viva Vita,
conducts surveys and measures the response to
a DC based start-up that offers VR packages to re-
virtual reality by checking if seniors benefit from
tirement communities to bring greater engagement
their services and if they feel less lonely.
and retention to resident amenities and activities. Berryman launched the startup at The George Washington University and was among the finalists at the university’s New Venture Competition.
“Many of these seniors, in their own words, say they’re trapped in their communities.”
“Many of these seniors, in their own words, say that they’re trapped in their communities.” Berry-
Viva Vita is on a path to make this solution
man says, adding that Viva Vita’s impact is allowing affordable and accessible for all. Launched as a seniors to get outside the four walls of the retire- result of Berryman’s experiences with her grandment communities and empowering them to con- mother, Viva Vita has been in operation for a year 16
Seniors participate in an event held by Viva Vita. serving seniors across the DMV. But Berryman isn’t
been serving these communities. However, with
new to the world of entrepreneurship or mental the pandemic, the company has been forced to pivhealth. An entrepreneurship major and psychology ot as they adapt to the new world and has created minor, she’s spent time studying the fields before a new product line that will allow them to bring the deciding to launch her startup.
virtual reality experience to seniors at scale with-
“The numbers for late life depression and anx-
out exposing them to infection. Berryman is excit-
iety amongst this group is staggering. Millions of ed to launch this product as the organization aims people are being affected by it daily. When I be-
at being the standard for senior citizens across the
came aware of these issues and realized not enough
country.
was being done about it, it seemed like quite an in-
Her biggest piece of advice was to “just do it”
justice that these generations that came before us
and to jump in and start whatever you want to do.
were suffering in silence, truly.”
“If you want to make some kind of change in the
Berryman has since grown the team and has
world, why not start right now and start where you are?”
17
Mathilde Coutte MENAACTION
M
athilde Coutte started her journey in the
MENAACTION looks to address pressing issues
social entrepreneur space during her volun-
in those regions by providing three primary services
teering experience in Ghana as a fifteen-year-old.
aimed at strengthening the skills of MENA youth
This was an eye-opening experience for her as she
citizens to engage in decision-making processes
helped increase awareness on domestic violence,
on local, regional, and national levels. First, ME-
HIV and child abuse in Ghana. Coming home, she
NAACTION will create a news website to provide
decided to pursue a major in International Rela-
youth with access to unbiased news and political
tions and went on to study conflict resolution and
updates that will allow them to not only consume
Middle East Studies at George Washington Univer-
accurate information but will also enable them to
sity (GWU).
further understand entry points for their role in im-
Her startup, MENAACTION is a student-led
proving political processes in the country. Second,
organization that is designed to advocate for the
MENAACTION will compile all youth-related data
rights of youth in Middle East and North Africa
into one index called the MENAACTION Youth In-
(MENA) in issues of policy, advocacy, democracy dex (MYI), to capture MENA specific indicators on and human rights.
the status of youth in the region. This will provide 18
Coutte meets with her team.
Podcast Recommendations:
Currently Reading:
Middle East Focus, Inside Story Al Jazeera, Middle East Brief
Gause III by F. Gregory & The International Relations of the Persian Gulf by Cambridge University Press
accurate information covering political, economic,
MENAACTION’s diverse team involves six
and social issues of MENA youth, and will identi-
members, currently GWU graduate students in
fy entry points for investment, collaboration, and
Middle East Studies, who all come from different
assistance in areas of need. Lastly, MENAACTION
countries, with backgrounds, experiences, and ex-
will train MENA youth and provide them with key pertise, with over five years of experience in MENA skills to meaningfully engage in political process-
affairs.
es and become key civic stakeholders. Such skills
MENAACTION’s vision is to grow to 80 part-
include democratic governance, fundraising, and
nerships throughout the Middle East and North
resume writing. MENAACTION will ensure that
African regions. Through online training and train-
training programs are catered to the specific needs
ing-of-trainers, they will gather thousands of train-
of each target audience through working with lo-
ers so they can support youth across the Middle
cal consultants, MENA experts, and using custom
East.
needs-assessments for target groups. 19
Hannah Frazer Question Connection
H
annah Frazer is the creator of social impact
for students by a student . Question Connection
card game, Question Connection. The game,
allows for young people to communicate and con-
now available in five languages, helps to cultivate
nect without the distractions of social media and
empathy and discourage bullying in schools.
technology.
While growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Frazer After witnessing the various solos in the lunchnoticed racial and socioeconomic divides in mid-
room, Frazer reached out to her psychology teach-
dle schools where students organized themselves
er to learn more about how behavioral patterns
according to “self-proclaimed social standings.” are influenced by technology. She was invited to These divides were further entrenched through so-
attend a district school board meeting regarding
cial media, which limited interpersonal connection.
the results of a Illinois Youth Survey, which found
Seeing this, Frazer developed a new way to bridge
that “[students] are more isolated and lonely than
the divide and connect with her peers on a deeper ever before.” Although social media and gaming level.
consoles have their benefits, she believes they also
While conversation starter games are not new,
make it difficult for students to build upon their in-
Question Connection is different: it was created
terpersonal communication skills. 20
Students play Question Connection
Book Recommendations:
Podcast Recommendations:
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Daily
Frazer approached teachers, students, and admin-
Better Chicago Magazine.
istrators to conduct workshops and translate her Frazer is the youngest of five. Her siblings recentempathy-driven card game into five languages. ly introduced her to The Daily, a podcast she now Since its inception, Question Connection has given listens to religiously in order to stay informed. She approximately 1,500 people a platform on which
credits her drive and organization skills to her love
they are able to speak freely, divulge their biggest of reading and experiences with competitive ice fears, share their aspirations, and even demon-
skating and theater.
strate their favorite dance moves. Question Con-
What does Frazer envision with Question Con-
nection has been played in classrooms across the
nection’s future? “I work with many teachers and
U.S., as well as at multiple Boys and Girls Clubs,
youth group facilitators (locally, nationally, and in-
Harvard’s Global Women’s Empowerment Club,
ternationally) who help me share Question Con-
and the Joint Educational Project in LA. Interna-
nection with as many people as possible. I will
tionally, it is used in 8 different countries and Fraz-
continue my outreach efforts in college, and I plan
er’s story has been shared across newspapers like
to train student ambassadors in my hometown to
the Chicago Tribune, Sheridan Road Magazine, and
continue strengthening the local connections.” 21
Claire Friona Agricycle
C
laire Friona wanted to be an engineer since That’s when her journey in social entrepreneurship she was sixteen years old when she learned began.
that 800 million people currently live without ac-
Friona engineered a new version of Agricycle’s
cess to potable water. She knew she wanted to
solar dehydrators during her trip to Panama in
spend her life making an impact on the world’s most vulnerable populations. She went on to study mechanical engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering, discovering the field of “humanitarian engineering” which is “engineering that helps impoverished communities. Suddenly my dream had
“One of the women stood and talked about how watching me work all week was inspiring. That is the moment that I was sold that this is what I am doing the rest of my life.”
a name,” Claire says. During her studies, Friona became friends with
2018. This newer version of the dehydrators can
her the-co-founder of Agricycle, Joshua Shefner be manufactured en masse and exported world(also a 25 Under 25 Social Entrepreneur Winner).
wide to create more affordable food-processing. 22
Social Media: Agricycle on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook
Currently Reading:
Friona works with local farmers.
Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
She recalls a fond memory during her time in Pana-
35,000 farmers across Africa, and 70% of the co-
ma. “We were working with a community and there operatives are run by women. Additionally, Agricywere mostly men helping us with building, but I
cle has created 3,034 livelihoods for the women in
was helping too. At the end they did a presentation
their cooperatives, where money they make at the
“I love the idea that engineering can solve a lot of the world’s challenges. It is a matter of using simple solutions to really big issues,”
end of each day is above seven-times the average
for us about their culture and one of the women
issues,” Friona states. Additionally, she urges for
stood and talked about how watching me work all
conscious consumerism, “look at what you are pur-
week was inspiring. That is the moment that I was
chasing. If you start purchasing things from socially
daily wage. “I love the idea that engineering can solve a lot of the world’s challenges, like with the dehydrator. It is a matter of using simple solutions to really big
sold that this is what I am doing the rest of my life.” conscious businesses, then the big companies will Agricycle’s impact is global, with a network of over shift towards that because that’s where the money is.”
23
Snehaa Ganesh Kumar
Queen Bee Project
M
eet Snehaa Ganesh Kumar, the Spelling
With this framework in mind, Queen Bee Proj-
Bee whiz turned social entrepreneur try-
ect was born. After having conversations with many
ing to further gender equality and increase men-
other contestants who felt the same way, Kumar
tal health education through the creation of her set out to “shatter the stigma behind failure”. venture Queen Bee Project. Kumar got her start in
A large component of the ‘Queen’ side of
the uber-competitive spelling bee arena, making
“[I set out to] shatter the stigma behind failure.”
appearances at the National Scripps Spelling Bee multiple times. Despite her success, Kumar was always struck by the incredibly competitive nature of the contestants. In a field with thousands of en-
Queen Bee has entailed interviewing women in
trants, only one lucky player gets to go home with
male-dominated fields to inspire young girls to
the grand prize; why should thousands of young
dream big. Kumar started this part of her nonprof-
children be put down and mentally exhausted in-
it with her local network in Sacramento by having
stead of uplifted and applauded as a collective?
conversations with high-profile professionals like 24
Queen Bee Project hosts an event. Lilia Luciano and Angelique Ashby, among others.
Kumar and Queen Bee are yet another example
However, this is just one stop along Queen
that good things traditionally do not come in ‘nor-
Bee’s journey; in the future, Kumar hopes to inspire
mal’ packages; sometimes all it takes is a Nation-
other young women to start their own Queen Bee
al Scripps Bee finalist and a dream to change your
chapters around the country and construct their community. own networks of mentors. Despite her own efforts to improve mental health among others, Kumar makes sure to account for both her own and her team’s mental standing throughout the process. To paraphrase her words, it is impossible to help others with their mental health if you are ignoring your own; in a world that moves incredibly fast, it sometimes is worth it to
Book Recommendations: Untamed by Glennon Doyle Educated by Tara Westover
Podcast Recommendations: Hidden Brain Spill the Bee This Might Get Weird
just take a moment and destress. 25
Makayla Gubbay Revolution Now
M
akayla Gubbay is the Founder of Revolution
peers turned to social media as their main source
Now (RevNow). RevNow is a multimedia or-
for teen-curated content. A survey conducted by
ganization that increases youth political involve-
Common Sense and Survey Monkey found that
ment by providing teens with the information, re-
“[Social media] caused my generation to become exposed to false information and radicalized opinions, which not only stifles youth political action but also causes teenagers to develop unhealthy news consumption habits.”
sources, and mentorship they need to turn their passion into action. When Gubbay became a freelance political journalist at fourteen, writing for notable publications such as Teen Vogue, she saw an unmet need in the journalism space: a youth-led publication for political action. During her journalistic opportunities, she was matched with mentors who “taught her the ropes” in the space. However, she quick-
more than half of teens (54%) get news at least
ly realized that many of her other politically aware a few times a week from social media platforms. 26
Gubbay reflects, “This caused my generation to maker during the pandemic. Since RevNow’s launch become exposed to false information and radical-
in 2018, they have grown their community readers
ized opinions, which not only stifles youth political
across 30 countries around the world with ~17.2k
action but also causes teenagers to develop un-
pageviews to date. RevNow reporters have been
healthy news consumption habits.”
able to interview politicians, field experts, activists
“There is no cap to your potential. If you continue to punch through your perceived limitations, you will be shocked at what you can do.”
and other important figures, and have been invit-
Recently, Gubbay launched a podcast “Staying
your perceived limitations, you will be shocked at
Connected” during the COVID-19 pandemic. It
what you can do.”
ed to numerous press events, such as the GirlUp Leadership Summit in the UK and DC. Her advice for changemakers? “There is no cap to your potential. If you continue to punch through
serves as a team guide to continue to be a change-
Photo from a climate strike Gubbay’s reporters covered.
27
Mark Hughes The New Voice Media Group
M
eet Mark Hughes, a young entrepreneur provide impartial information to its viewers and hoping to provide an unbiased news outlet readers.
to Generation Z and younger millennials. Hughes is
The New Voice Media Group has grown into
the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of New Voice Media
a podcast and website, which provide objective
Group, a news website that provides an objective
news and spaces for discourse to young people. His
perspective on news for the younger generation. While working on a political campaign for his mayor’s re-election, Hughes noticed that a grow-
“Listen to young people. We are the future.”
ing number of youth that wanted to be involved in politics; however, there wasn’t a space for the
work has helped expose young people to import-
younger generation to share their opinions and be
ant political issues, and inspired countless young
taken seriously as drivers of change. Hughes also
changemakers as a result.
observed that traditional news outlets had become
In the upcoming years, Hughes hopes to con-
overrun with overtly partisan content, and did not
tinue to grow his company and to extend his im28
pact on educating the younger generations. “Listen to young people. We are the future.” Hughes stresses the importance of young people in political decision making. He believes that youth voices deserve to be heard, since Generation Z will be most impacted by the outcomes of climate change and continuing racial injustice.
Social Media: @_themarkhughes @thenewvoice.co
Website: markanthonyhughes.com thenewvoice.co
Activists gather for a climate change event
29
Matine Khalighi EEqual
M
atine Khalighi is looking to break the cycle
of homelessness there is a stigma associated with
of poverty by educating homeless students.
homeless students; and there are underallocated
His organization, EEqual is a youth-run nonprofit
resources available for homeless populations.
organization that mitigates the impacts of eco-
EEqual’s entire mission is surrounded around sup-
nomic inequality for students experiencing poverty
“When you are stuck in poverty, your goal is not necessarily to go to school. More students go to work than seeing the value in spending thirty thousand dollars on their education”
through targeted programming. “When you are stuck in poverty, your goal is not necessarily to go to school. More students go to work than seeing the value in spending thirty thousand dollars on their education,” Matine says. He adds that some of the greatest challenges surrounding homelessness in Colorado are three-fold:
porting young people who are experiencing home-
homelessness is seen as a political issue; due to
lessness and who want to further their education
the lack of education around the systemic causes
- as research shows that the cycle of poverty can 30
be broken through education.
#SpreadTheLove social awareness campaign on
Matine’s journey started in 8th grade through a
live television which engaged over 25,000 people.
community service experience where he launched
Helping the Homeless Colorado was estimated to
a fundraising project for a local foster shelter. His
have over 10,000 beneficiaries across the state,
first nonprofit, Helping the Homeless in Colorado
as a result of the work of our 20-person youth-led
launched shortly afterwards. Helping the Homeless
team. Over the last four years, they have raised over
Colorado has a three-structure approach—Advo-
$135,000 for their mission. In an effort to reach
cate, Educate, and Alleviate—to effectively address more homeless youth across the nation, Helping the needs of Colorado’s homeless population. To
the Homeless Colorado has rebranded to EEqual.
help alleviate suffering and need they have distrib-
In the next five to ten years, Matine sees EEqual
uted over 50,000 basic necessities to those in need expanding to 13-14 states and creating an indeand awarded over $15,000 a year in scholarships
pendent endowment for students in its programs.
for homeless students to earn associate’s degrees. Though he recognizes the various complexities They consistently advocate for legislative action at
that contribute to homelessness, seeing students
the Colorado State Capitol for bills like the “Right
passionate about helping those who are less fortu-
to Rest Act,” and have even launched a state-wide
nate makes a positive impact.
Book Recommendations: The Road by Cormac McCarthy & A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
Podcast Recommendations: Let’s Talk Impact & Stuff You Should Know
Khalighi and his EEqual team.
31
Mariam Khan Global Youth Activists
M
ariam Khan is a youth organizer from Ham-
teen-years- old ignited a passion in me to continue
den, Connecticut. Her journey to create The
this work to remedy inequity and build empathy
Global Youth Activists developed from her experi-
within my community.”
ences as a Muslim-American woman and daugh-
Now at the age of eighteen, Khan encourages oth-
ter of Pakistani immigrants. She experienced Is-
ers to use storytelling to share their truth through
lamophobia inside and outside of the classroom
“Sharing my truth at fourteen-yearsold ignited a passion in me to continue this work to remedy inequity and build empathy within my community.”
– “from students who asked if my middle name was Al-Qaeda, to the comments my mother received for covering her hair, I became accustomed to daily anti-Muslim rhetoric.” During middle school, she voiced her experiences through her piece, “The Experiences of a Muslim-American Student.” From
her work at The Global Youth Activists (GYA). GYA
there, her teacher persuaded her to publish the
uses community service, grassroots activism, and
writing and later she was approached by an an-
the power of storytelling to amplify youth voices,
ti-hate organization to speak at their Supporting
fight for marginalized communities, and find unity
Muslim Families event. “Sharing my truth at four-
in times of division. So far GYA has initiated con32
versations on race-relations, and given young peo-
Khan is also working to create the infrastructure
ple in Hamden to organize in their communities
to create places where students can weigh in on
in political and social outlets. GYA has also raised
policies within the community level and have their
hundreds of dollars for local nonprofits, donated
voices heard. For Khan, success is when younger
hundreds of books for New Haven Reads, and sup-
students organize their first event on their own.
plied local refugee communities with school mate-
Her advice for social impact-minded folks? “Start
rials and backpacks. Through these actions, GYA the work in your homes, schools, and communities, has become a catalyst for growth by encouraging and learn from those who have already been doing youth within the community to take matters into it. Focus on the driving passion for your work, your their own hands and develop the leadership quali-
‘why.’ In times of pain, uncertainty, and chaos, our
ties necessary to make their voices heard.
‘why’s are what urge us to continue to fight and
Khan’s vision is to reach students at young ages so
organize.’”
they can spur them to action earlier on in their lives.
Khan leads a presentation about engaging youth in her community.
33
Ayush Kumar Vitrix Health
M
eet Ayush Kumar from Vitrix Health, who
stuck with incurring large debt from medical issues
wants to create an accessible oral health
that would have been easier to solve if caught ear-
screening solution. He pairs optics with machine
ly. This is what sparked the idea for Vitrix Health.
learning to enable medical primary care providers
He and his co-founders, Mark O’Connor and
to screen for oral diseases, which helps providers catch oral diseases faster and more cost-effectively. Ayush has always wanted to improve healthcare for people without insurance. Being a first-generation immigrant, when he and his family first arrived in America, they did not have the ability to visit doc-
“There are so many things out of your control, rather than being down, love the faith that you have, and just keep moving forward as much as you can.”
tors or dentists frequently. After his family received health insurance, Ayush noticed that some of his
Aashay Patel, started building cheap intraoral cam-
friends could not afford health insurance, and were
eras during their studies at University of Illinois at 34
Podcast Recommendations: Joe Rogan and Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur
Currently Reading: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious by Carl Yung
Kumar presents to the Health Wildcatters accelerator. Urbana Champaign. They started testing in Asia,
large start-ups that had millions of dollars in fund-
South America, and America. They received feed-
ing. One of the winners even had a PhD in data
back that the device was “too high-tech” for nurses
science! Going toe-to-toe with them and winning
and “not high-tech enough” for dentists. Shortly the competition and getting published was a huge thereafter, they iterated their prototype and start-
thing!”
ed testing in New York City, Carle Clinic in Illinois, Ayush and his team are now working to get their and University of California, San Francisco.
device cleared through the U.S. Food and Drug Ad-
Since then, Vitrix Health has been accepted ministration so they can continue bringing impact into HAX accelerator and Health Wildcatters, two
to clinics around the world. His main philosophy is
premier accelerators. They also placed in the top 5
grounded in stoicism, and so his advice is to “love
companies at AIMED, the largest AI medicine con-
your faith (‘amor fati’).
ference in the world.
“There are so many things out of your control,
“The funny thing was, when I got on that stage
rather than being down, love the faith that you
[to accept the prize], the other four winners were
have, and just keep moving forward as much as you can.”
35
Pava LePere Ecomap
M
eet Pava LaPere, a serial social entrepreneur versity’s start-up accelerator program. LaPere also with a passion for helping startups gain the
founded Innov8MD, which provides student entre-
resources and traction they need to be success-
preneurs in Maryland with resources to start their
ful. LaPere’s most recent venture is called EcoMap
own ventures.
Technologies whose mission is to “democratize ac-
LaPere noticed a problem that has been frus-
cess to the information needed to start and grow trating budding entrepreneurs for years: despite a venture.” EcoMap’s mission is to create and support emerging entrepreneurial networks in cities without established entrepreneurial success. As a daughter of an entrepreneur herself, La-
“We need to ensure our entrepreneurial ecosystems are both equitable and accessible.”
Pere is passionate about providing budding founders with resources to start their own ventures.
many resources being available to startups, they
EcoMap is not LaPere’s first venture aimed at sup-
are often hard to find or require founders to jump
porting entrepreneurs. While an undergraduate
through hoops in order to secure them.
student at Johns Hopkins University, LaPere start-
EcoMap solves the problem LaPere has been
ed a nonprofit organization that became the uni-
noticing for years: resources are available, just dif36
ficult to find and access. EcoMap solves this com-
future of entrepreneurship, noting that the “true
mon issue by creating massive resource databases
benefits of entrepreneurship, we need to ensure
for entrepreneurs to use. This process is scalable
our entrepreneurial ecosystems are both equitable
and maintained by AI, allowing EcoMap to explore
and accessible.”
more opportunities to help startups.
LaPere has been laser-focused on EcoMaps’
Although her current model is already suc-
success. EcoMap has created databases for start-
cessful, LaPere envisions creating databases for ups in cities like Dallas and Birmingham, but will different types of founders in the future, such as
has not settlesettled for regional communities.
startups run by marginalized groups. LaPere sees They’ll soon be launching to serve the entire state platforms like EcoMap as being essential for the
of Maryland, as well as entrepreneurs in Ghana.
Recommended Podcasts:
Recommended Books:
Reply All
Smart People Should Build Things by Andrew Yang
Check out EcoMap’s website. 37
Zaniya Lewis
YesSheCanCampaign
M
eet Zaniya Lewis, the self-described change-
their offerings that allows young people to meet
maker who has overcome adversity in her professionals in a non-competitive setting to learn
own life to create an organization to help other about their journeys and career experiences. Opyoung people succeed. Lewis started YesSheCan-
portunities like The Climb Tour allow students to
Campaign in 2016 as a freshman in college as
see the professional world in a new light, an experi-
a way for girls and women to talk about the ad-
ence that Lewis remarks many young people in her
versity they have faced professionally and in their program have not had the opportunity to undergo. pursuit of education. Started as a simple Instagram
A six month program, the Climb Tour also teaches
page, Lewis has pivoted her organization to help
invaluable professional skills like interviewing, re-
girls, young women, and youth find secondary and
sume writing, and offers mentorship.
post-secondary educational opportunities, learn
Lewis’s nonprofit primarily targets young peo-
leadership skills, and find nonprofits and job op-
ple who live in rural areas or urban areas but lack
portunities that fit their needs.
the social or financial capital to be exposed to of-
Much of Lewis’s success has been due to her fice environments. One of the anecdotes she is ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. proudest of was a trip she took with twelve NJ stuOne example of the YesSheCanCampaign’s flexibil-
dents to DC, the majority of whom had never been
ity is The Climb Tour, a January 2020 addition to
to Washington. While The Climb Tour hasn’t been
38
Podcast Recommendations: How I Built This
Book Recommendations: More than Enough by Elaine Welteroth
Lewis prepares to speak at a conference.
able to travel to any other physical locations be-
new students, and create new networks of young
cause of the pandemic, Lewis’ adaptability shone changemakers. through again by creating virtual programs that
Like many 25 under 25 ventures, YesSheCan-
focused on leadership development, college readi-
Campaign is solely staffed by high school students,
ness, and career readiness.
undergraduate students, and recent college gradu-
While Lewis’s venture is off to a successful start,
ates. Lewis’s attention to young people is apparent
she knows not to become complacent, and contin-
in every aspect of her nonprofit, from its composi-
ually finds new and creative ways to fund her non-
tion to its impact. Lewis is always looking for other
profit. One of her most creative forays into reve-
young people who are willing to tell their story or
nue raising is her recent line of clothing and school
help others succeed professionally. YesSheCan-
supplies. Although her products are only available Campaign offers a plethora of opportunities for online as of now, Lewis wants to push into a store-
young people, and Lewis is the perfect youth lead-
front soon, creating a hub to sell products, meet
er to rally behind and “climb together.” 39
Ashley Lin Project Exchange
M
eet Ashley Lin, the entrepreneur on a mission
lows students from all around the world to virtually
to combat systemic inequities in global edu-
study abroad with a host family in another country.
cation through edtech entrepreneurship and edu-
The inspiration for this idea stems from Lin’s time
cation policy. Lin has long been an advocate to the
as a US Youth Ambassador to Uruguay. Lin’s expe-
power of digital learning, even before COVID-19.
rience gave her the knowledge of how empower-
As the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Lin was very aware of the cultural differences between her own life and many of her classmates at a young age. This realization was further brought to light during a middle school Spanish class, where the topic of
“The best things from experiments, and you’ll never know if you could be successful unless you give it your full effort.”
cultural differences was further emphasized. Interested in learning about other cultures but unsure
ing cross-cultural learning experiences can be, and
how to do so without shelling out hundreds of dol-
she started her youth-led organization shortly after
lars to fly across the world, the seed of Project Ex-
she returned.
change was born.
While Project Exchange initially started as a lit-
Project Exchange is an organization that al-
tle more than a Google Form and some Whatsapp 40
messages, the program has rapidly upgraded by grams and develop themed exchanges with partmaking use of innovative technologies such as dig-
ners like National Geographic. A pilot of a climate
ital exchange programs and virtual field trips to en-
issues & sustainability-themed exchange program
hance students’ learning experiences.
will be available in 2021.
Project Exchange is less than three years old,
Outside of the work she leads at Project Ex-
but it has seen rapid growth, expanding to include
change, Lin is also passionate about community
a network of more than 750 student leaders and building. She credits her parents’ roles in her comeducators in more than 30 countries across the
munity during her childhood as inspiration, as she
globe. Project Exchange’s dedicated team allows
learned early on about the influence that local
students to match with their peers across the
groups can wield. She hopes to inspire other young
globe, seek microgrants, find professional men-
people to engage in community building activities,
tors, learn international leadership skills, and more.
saying that “the best things from experiments”, and
In the future, Project Exchange hopes to develop
you’ll never know if you could be successful unless
their own online platform for digital exchange pro-
you give it your full effort.
Book Recommendation:
You’re More Powerful Than You Think by Eric Liu The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile This Could Be Our Future by Yancey Strickler
Podcast Recommendation: The Jim Rutt Show Get Together The Jordan Harbinger Show Harry Potter and the Sacred Text
41
Robert Luo Mi Terro
R
obert Luo is on a mission to turn protein-based
materials made from food waste.
food waste into sustainable products that can
Mi Terro uses 60% less water and electricity to
replace petroleum-based materials. Food waste
create “milk shirts” than traditional cotton shirts.
creates 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gases. Additionally, 128 million tons of milk are thrown away every year globally. The world needs solutions to fight food waste. Enter Luo’s vision, Mi Terro. Mi Terro is a new material technology company that transforms food waste into sustainable fibers that can be used to create apparel, bed linen,
“Start with yourself, do not greenwash people. There are so many people that talk the talk, but do not walk the walk. There are no easy routes; it takes time, sweat, and tears.”
and packaging. You may have seen his “milk shirts,” where he turns casein protein from spoiled milk
They also plant 10 trees for every product sold, and
into wearable textiles. Mi Terro’s goal is to replace
have planted more than 10,000 trees.
petroleum-based materials with protein-based
This is not Luo’s first business; he is a three42
Podcast Recommendations: Startup Grind
Currently Reading: Shoe Dots by Phil Knight
Mi Terro’s “milk shirt.” time entrepreneur who sold his first company for at the University of Southern California Marshall $300,000 while he was a student at the University School of Business. of Southern California. Luo is also a Forbes Under Luo calls for attention to ocean conservation
“[Ocean conservation and global reforestation efforts] are vital for our existence!”
and global reforestation efforts: “They are vital for our existence!” Lastly, his advice for budding social entrepreneurs is centered around “ordinary people doing extraordinary work.” He states, “Start with yourself, do not greenwash people. There are so
30 Scholar, Global Shaker’s Sustainable Fashion In-
many people that talk the talk, but do not walk the
novator 2019, and an Entrepreneur Hall of Famer walk. There are no easy routes; it takes time, sweat, and tears.”
43
Will Matz Helm
M
eet Will Matz, the entrepreneur who has cre-
former punk-rock band stars. Our world is rapid-
ated a platform to showcase problem solv-
ly changing, and individuals with non-traditional
er’s projects and portfolio pieces. Matz’s platform,
backgrounds are now able to demonstrate their
called Helm, was created to allow professionals to
abilities and portfolios in a way that allows them to
“take their career by the helm” and find opportu-
get major exposure, thanks to Helm.
nities that would have otherwise passed them by.
Matz is driven by the thought of creating solu-
Helm’s journey started at the Hult Prize Chal-
tions to modern problems, saying that technology
lenge, a competition for different socially-focused startups. Matz realized that many young people have difficulty both recognizing what they want their careers to look like and creating a mental path of how they will go about achieving their profes-
“We’re living in an amazing time where it’s possible to change the world with a great team and an internet connection.”
sional goals. Helm’s own team perfectly demonstrates why a
and data are “great problem solvers”. Helm is just
platform like Helm must exist. Matz’s team comes
one step along the way to make people’s lives eas-
from a variety of different backgrounds, rang-
ier; he envisions using AI in different capacities to
ing from college dropouts to mathematicians to
help remove biases and allow strong candidates to
44
rise to the top. Helm is already involved in and in ate and driven, their venture will be successful. conversations with multiple companies, allowing
Matz also recommends starting ventures in col-
them to create the most effective impact on the
lege; the costs are mitigated and the consequences
way that people work and the efficiencies of the
for failure are minimal.
companies they work with.
In summary, Helm is a platform with the inten-
Matz credits Helm’s strong vision as a key rea-
tion to change the way we approach working; while
son for his venture’s success. To budding social
idealistic, Matz is confident about it’s success. To
entrepreneurs, he recommends to come up with a
quote, “we’re living in an amazing time where it’s
tangible issue you are passionate about and cre-
possible to change the world with a great team and
ate a solution for it. Social enterprises ride on the
an internet connection”. All it takes is a little pas-
shoulders of the founder; if the founder is passion-
sion and a strong team.
Podcast Recommendations: Philosophize This
Book Recommendations: The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Matz and his team accept an award.
45
Jaya Munjanth Seniors With Skills
M
eet Jaya Munjanth, the entrepreneur help-
Seniors with Skills had to pivot their offerings a bit,
ing to overcome social isolation of senior creating a program that allowed volunteers to in-
citizens. Munjanth created Seniors with Skills to
teract with senior citizens virtually.
create a pipeline of volunteers to bring some en-
Munjanath’s venture is not some fly-by-night
ergy and life into seniors’ lives. For those who are
“[I want to] create a movement to encourage more young adults to take care of our grandparents and senior citizens in our community.”
unaware, senior citizens are a very unique demographic in that they often have very little interaction with those outside of their immediate circle. One of COVID-19’s biggest effects has been on older communities and nursing homes. Prior to
nonprofit. She credits her experiences working in
COVID, Senior with Skills’ previously had offered nursing homes during her early high school years both knitting sessions and technology literacy as one of the building blocks that led to Senior classes to senior citizens. Because of the viral risks, with Skills’ creation. Her second eureka moment 46
occurred at St. Bonaventure’s, where she found a conducts, Munjanth hopes to help curtail the pracpassionate network of college volunteers to help
tice of eldery financial abuse. While disinformation
her fully organize and launch her ideas.
affects every generation, senior citizens are espe-
Outside of helping the actual clients, Munjanth
cially susceptible to online scams promising a won
also remarked on the effect that her work has on
lottery or contest. Munjanth hopes to couple this
the volunteers! One story that stood out to her training with her current technical classes to enin particular was a senior citizen who was learn-
sure that senior citizens have the skills and knowl-
ing how to use a computer. Despite early frustra-
edge to survive our newly tech-filled world.
tions, Munjanth was able to help the senior figure
Outside of the good she does directly, Mun-
out email, facetime family members in Costa Rica,
janth hopes to inspire other young people, saying
watch pastime youtube videos, and more! Anec-
that she wants to “create a movement to encourage
dotal experiences like these help keep Munjanth
more young adults to take care of our grandparents
and her team inspired and driven.
and senior citizens in our community.” With a pas-
Outside of the current work Senior with Skills
sionate and driven organization like Seniors with Skills at her back, she undoubtedly will!
Munjanth works with senior citizens and technology.
47
Ashley Poon & Cathy Hou 4ai
A
shley Poon and Cathy Hou are on a mission
virtual and in-person workshops to familiarize dis-
to eliminate discrimination faced by the dis-
abled persons with tech and teach them how to
ability community. Ashley and Cathy are founders label data. 4ai’s mission also includes educating the of 4ai, a non-profit that aims to provide education and employment opportunities for peoples with disabilities. The co-founders were raised in the San Francisco Bay Area where they watched “technology revolutionize their world.” Volunteering through Abilities United opened their eyes to disparities between able-bodied and disabled peoples in the
“Our goal is to eventually start placing trained individuals into partnered technology companies. [That helps] with our original kind of mission of diversifying the tech industry and closing the gap between the able-bodied and the disabled.”
technology sector. They noticed this same trend in artificial intelligence, where disabled persons often public about the importance of supporting corpodid not have a seat at the table.
rations who are disability-inclusive.
Thus, 4ai was born. 4ai has conducted many “Our goal is to eventually start placing trained 48
Book Recommendations:
Podcast Recommendations:
Callings The Purpose and Passion of Work by David Isay and Maya Millet
Project Oyster
Poon and Hou lead an AI Workshop. individuals into partnered technology companies,
Guided, they have been able to run introductory AI
and that’s to help with our original kind of mission
workshops for over a dozen clients. They have also
of diversifying the tech industry and closing the
grown their team and placed in one of the top 30
“Anyone can make a difference as long as they’re passionate and willing to put in the work to turn their idea into a reality.”
social innovation corporations in the world through the 2019 Diamond Challenge. Poon’s advice for budding entrepreneurs is not to be “intimidated by how daunting your goal might be. Anyone can make a difference as long as they’re passionate and willing to put in the work to turn their idea into a reality.” Hou’s advice for
gap between the able-bodied and the disabled.”
highschoolers is that, “you’re never too young to
Poon and Hou have grown 4ai since its launch
make a difference-if you put in the work, you will
in 2018. Through a partnership with Abilities and see results.” 49
Satvik Sethi Runaway
M
eet Satvik Sethi, a 22 year-old on a mis-
in development). While this app has yet to be
sion “to make the world happier.” Sethi is launched, Sethi explained that it plans to feature
the founder of Runaway, an organization focused
mental health resources and content. This app
on helping young people talk about their mental
would also allow students to converse directly with
health. Despite its overall importance and direct
another young person about their mental health,
effect on one’s physical health, Sethi came to the
allowing them to open up and expose their vul-
realization that many young people don’t know nerability without feeling uncomfortable. With the how to start conversations about mental health, or amount of time young people spend on technolofind the resources they need to help themselves
gy, a phone app seems like a great way to approach
feel comfortable and confident. Thus, Runaway this topic in a non-intrusive or disruptive way. was born as a “100% student owned and operated
Runaway’s second offering concerns hosting
global social entrepreneurial venture that aims to
events on different college campuses to discuss
promote mental health awareness and help those
mental health and break down the stigma about
in need of emotional support”.
receiving help. These events are open to both stu-
Sethi and the rest of his team accomplish these
dents and their parents, creating a safe space for
goals through three main objectives. The first of people to educate themselves about mental health. these revolves around a mobile application (still
Runaway’s final outlet involves collaborating with
50
Sethi speaks at a UNICEF conference.
Podcast Recommendations:
Currently Reading:
Teenage Impact
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
other organizations to promote mental health awareness,
influencing
legislature
an organization until a few years later, Sethi was
concerning able to build a passionate team of over 30 students
mental health, and increasing accessibility to men-
across the world to help him build a solution.
tal health resources. This three-pronged approach
So much of Sethi’s journey has been about
allows Sethi to influence students’, parents’, and learning on the fly. One of his favorite pieces of lawmakers’ understanding of mental health, hope-
advice is “Jump now, think later. If you have an idea
fully culminating in the subject’s destigmatization.
that you are passionate about, Sethi believes that
Runaway began as an idea in middle-school Sethi’s it doesn’t need to be fully developed to succeed. mind. After seeing many friends battle mental
Runaway’s mission has been ever-adapting, and
health issues, and losing a close friend to suicide at
has been heavily influenced by a wide variety of
a young age, Sethi realized that our culture’s atti-
mentors and peers. To summarize Sethi, jump into
tude towards mental health needed to be seriously your passions head-first, because you never know challenged. While Runaway didn’t officially become
where you might land. 51
Joshua Shefner Agricycle
M
eet Josh Shefner, the entrepreneur trans- helps marginalized communities by paying them forming agriculture waste into economic op- directly and allowing them more control over their
portunities for rural farmers and women. Shefner finances, health, and lives. Lastly, Agricycle records is half of Agricycle’s founding team, an organiza- its environmental impact by measuring things like tion with the goal of helping farmers, refugees, and the amount of trees saved from deforestation and women succeed financially by using underutilized food saved from waste. or discarded agricultural products. Agricycle measures their success in three pillars: economic, social, and environmental. These pillars are recognized in different ways, but all have substantial impact on the communities they are
“We’re living in an amazing time where it’s possible to change the world with a great team and an internet connection.”
working with. Economically, Agricycle pays a minimum of sev- Shefner’s inspiration for Agricycle developed en times more than what the average laborer is paid for years. Through experiences like Engineers in the communities they interact with, and as high Without Borders, Shefner came in contact with as US Federal Minimum Wage. Socially, Agricycle many rural communities who rely on farming for 52
income. Seeing a problem that was unaddressed, food waste, and poverty are obvious to people like Shefner created a “market-based solution [known
Shefner, more work needs to be done to recognize
today as Agricycle] to eradicate extreme poverty” the depth and breadth of these issues. and subsequently, food waste.
It is incredibly uplifting to hear social entrepre-
In the future, Shefner hopes to turn Agricycle
neurs come from non-traditional backgrounds to
into an even more socially-conscious business.
impact humanitarian efforts; Shefner hopes to in-
Shefner is passionate about fighting the plight
spire other young people to start their own social
of refugees and how refugee camps turn into
impact ventures, and is incredibly optimistic about
multi-generation slums. He hopes to further the
the future of social enterprises and their viability
connections he has created to add more Agricycle
and attractiveness to impact investors. While some
technology to refugee communities.
people would feel threatened by the rising number
Shefner’s ability to address multiple societal is-
of “competitors”, Shefner recognizes the powerful
sues with the same enterprise is inspiring. While effect social enterprises can have, and looks forthe interconnectedness of issues like refugees, ward to seeing new faces pop up in the space! Friends of Agricycle.
53
Maya Siegel Space to Speak
M
eet Maya Siegel, an advocate from Colorado
Space to Speak has raised over $100,000 for survi-
who is passionate about combatting sexual
vors and she has led her team in effectively fund-
violence, empowering youth, and protecting the
raising as well as spreading awareness.
environment. She currently holds leadership po-
Space to Speak has individuals on their team
sitions at Space To Speak, Gen Z Girl Gang, and
from across the world. Siegel reflects that this
ThinkOcean, and works as an Executive Assistant
has been one of the surprising challenges she has
to Nadya Okamoto and the Website Designer at
faced.
JUV Consulting.
Siegel hopes that her passion and vulnerabili-
“I co-founded Space to Speak in 2019 because
ty regarding the causes she cares about will help
I wanted to build a community dedicated to giv-
inspire people to engage and take action. Her one
ing youth a leading voice in the sexual violence
piece of advice to others who want to create an
prevention movement while also working to fur-
impact is to make sure that people think about the
ther the national conversation on consent.” Siegel
measurable impact that they want to create.
says. Over the course of her work, her organization 54
Space to Speak holds events and runs social media campaigns to support victims of sexual assault.
55
Maya WilsonFernandez The Worth Project
M
e Meet Maya Wilson-Fernandez, the orga-
some brief conversations, The Worth Project and
nizer behind The Worth Project, an organi-
Wilson-Fernandez have a natural way of making
zation aimed at highlighting different people’s lives the model feel comfortable and as if they are all old and approaching storytelling in a new and creative
friends. The organization’s natural way of making
way. Wilson-Fernandez started The Worth Project
students feel at home has helped them tell the sto-
during her sophomore year at Indiana University, ries of people who haven’t had many opportunities but never expected her photography initiative to
to do so.
one day transform into an organization.
While a fun photoshoot is great, the social im-
The Worth Project started as a way to highlight
pact of The Worth Project might not be obviously
different students (referred to as models) through
apparent. The Worth Project measures its impact
interviews and a photoshoot. After going through
by helping people understand and address their
an application process, Wilson-Fernandez and self worth. The first two ‘Opening Nights’ The the rest of her team picked the twenty applicants
Worth Project has done have been met with as-
whose stories “popped right off of the page”. After tounding praise. 56
Book Recommendations: Don’t Be Afraid Gringo by Elvia Alvarado The Abhorsen (series) by Garth Nix
Podcast Recommendations: The Strategy Behind Branding Yourself (hosted by Precious Price)
A Worth Project event. Event attendees and models alike were quick to
bers of the community to be brave and vulnerable.
praise The Worth Project, remarking on the beau-
Rather than drown out other organizers and activ-
tiful transparency and expression of the models.
ists, Wilson-Fernandez loves using collaboration to
Even parents of students were grateful of the cre-
amplify other voices around her.
ative display, with one parent proud of the voice
While part of The Worth Project’s selling points
that students were able to have because of The
is its long-term flexibility and adaptability, one area
Worth Project.
Wilson-Fernandez is determined to make an im-
One of Maya Wilson-Fernandez’s favorite as-
pact in is education. Wilson-Fernandez hopes to
pects of the project is its interconnectedness to
create an education program that opens doors for
many different degrees. While The Worth Project
in-depth study of issues regarding culture and so-
primarily deals with self-worth and self-under-
ciety that surround us in the world and to break
standing, Wilson-Fernandez wants her organiza-
down people’s biases. Regardless of what occurs
tion to to always center the needs and stories of down the road, The Worth Project is determined people in the margins and hold space for mem-
to help people stand up for their self worth and interact with others with others and themselves. 57
Victor Ye InnovaYouth
M
eet Victor Ye, the social entrepreneur em-
schools educated students and taught traditional
powering students to create their own so-
topics like history, Ye pushed schools to go beyond
cial impact ventures. Ye is the founder and CEO of reading textbooks and engage in community based InnovaYouth, a global educational nonprofits that
learning.
helps strengthen students’ research, collabora-
InnovaYouth quickly evolved into more than
tion, and communication skills. Since the founding of InnovaYouth, Victor has continued to integrate changemaking in his work, from creating the first
“We have to take classroom learning outside of the classroom walls.”
youth-led national history podcast aimed to make it one of three ventures that Ye has founded.
just an idea. Through partnerships with both the
“We have to take classroom learning outside of local county Department of Education in Los Angethe classroom walls”. This simple phrase perfectly les and international bodies, InnovaYouth has imembodies Ye’s mindset. Upset with the way that
pacted 10,600 students in over 14 countries and 58
15 states, from the Social Responsibility Summit
stop along Ye’s career path. From advocating for
in Iran to the Leadership and Innovation Confer-
mental health resources in underfunded schools
ence in Dubai. His team has grown from just two
to revolutionizing the travel booking experience to
co-founders to over 75 youth members enacting
increasing accessibility to music education, Ye de-
change across the globe.
scribes himself as someone who is “constantly full
In addition to enacting change directly through
of ideas” and always looking for creative new ways
InnovaYouth, Ye is hopeful that his work is able to
to enact change.
inspire others to become changemakers. In partic-
Ye’s advice for other youths looking to enter the
ular, he wants his work with InnovaYouth to inspire
social activist space is simple: “you cannot give up
others to push for educational reform and allow [or complain] until you’ve gotten 100 rejections”. fresh material to enter classrooms on a national
Be ambitious and build your network - profession-
scale.
als love paying helping youths with demonstrated
Transforming classroom education is just one
ambition.
Ye presents about sustainability.
59
Acknowledgements & End Notes
The world is changing and social leaders, like those featured in this magazine, are driving the
world to a better future. These stories show how youth are capable of great things if given equitable opportunities and the tools to do so. The future that we—the organizers and winners—that contributed to this effort towards expanding on the social impact space is much bigger than this magazine. It will require all of us to take action. By engaging with this magazine we are grappling with these challenges together and leading us to a better future one step at a time.
Culture Media Co. and Impaction would like to extend a special thank you to our judges who
supported the development of the 25 Under 25 Social Entrepreneurs Magazine from start to finish. Your guidance and support at every stage leading up to the magazine has proven invaluable.
We would also like to thank all of the winners featured in this magazine for their time, passion,
and knowledge to participate in the magazine and in the full-day conference. Your dedication in this space has been inspirational for us to witness and we look forward to following your journeys as you move forward.
The following team of Culture Media supported the design and delivery of both the magazine and
the conference: Ashwath Narayanan, Ella Chen, Liam Gallagher, and Mira Sydow. The following team of Impaction supported the execution and delivery of both the magazine and the conference: Shivani Chokshi, Kalyani Katariya, Tanvi Vaidya, Bora Laci, and Daniel Heiniger.
Finally, we would like to thank everyone who read our magazine and participated in our full-day
conference. None of this would have been possible without your continued support to bring our missions to life.
Our teams at Culture Media Co. and Impaction would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on
the magazine. Find Impaction at info@myimpaction.com and Culture Media at ashwath@culuremedia. com
60
61