Shawon: Our mission at Vocal Justice is to empower undervalued Black and Brown youth to become socially conscious leaders through a culturally affirming public speaking program. We help students develop a deeper understanding of how they can use their voice to tackle the very injustices they have seen and experienced firsthand, along with the persuasion and storytelling skills to do so. Ultimately, our students will become justice-oriented civic leaders, who constantly use their voice to advocate for a kinder, more just world—wherever they choose to lead in life.
Noel: Represented Foundation seeks to address racial inequity in social impact leadership. In 2018, New York City consisted of 68% BIPOC, but BIPOC makes up only 32% of nonprofit leaders. I am devoted to achieving parity for people of color as leaders in the social impact sector—our presence in nonprofit leadership should be directly proportional to our position as beneficiaries of nonprofit services. To achieve this parity, Represented Foundation trains BIPOC community leaders to use entrepreneurship to advance racial equity in frontline issues of racial, economic, and health justice in low-income communities of color.
Maria: Our fund, Unshackled Ventures, is focused on supporting immigrant entrepreneurs. We help them with capital, a supportive network, and immigration. I am also founder of LatinxVC, an organization focused on getting more Latinx professionals into venture capital (VC) careers, retaining them, and helping them raise their own funds.
