City Startup Labs Henry Rock City Startup Labs aims to create a skilled class of entrepreneurs among the formerly incarcerated while exploring how entrepreneurship can be a tool of restorative justice for communities in need of reconciliation and returnees needing to have trust restored. Entrepreneurship can be twenty-first century workforce development for returning citizens who build…
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation John Searby The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation educates and advocates to protect the Catawba-Wateree River Basin for all who depend on and enjoy it. An experienced network of diverse community members, engaged volunteers and professional staff provides dedicated, talent and resources to protect and enhance our river today and for future generations. The Catawba Riverkeeper…
Attach Families Inc. Katherine Noto Developmental trauma may negatively impact a child’s emotional, psychological, and physical health throughout childhood and adulthood. Attach Families provides foster and adoptive families with the specialized knowledge and training to understand developmental trauma and how to recognize signs and symptoms, and also helps children heal from it by providing access to neurofeedback…
Wells Fargo People’s Choice Grand Prize Winner ($20,000)
Second Place Winner ($7,500)
Third Place Winner ($2,500)
Coaches’ Award Winner ($1,000)
Family Impact Fund Ann Barnes Robertson Family Impact Fund interrupts the cycle of poverty, empowering two generations at a time. By providing tuition assistance to young children from low-income families for high-quality early education, Family Impact Fund allows their parents to maximize their employment or continue their education. The impact: young children learn, working parents succeed…
Renaissance West Community Initiative William McDonald, Jr. Renaissance West Community Initiative (RWCI) tackles intergenerational poverty with a holistic approach that includes mixed-income housing, a cradle-to-career education pipeline, and community wellness programming. RWCI seeks to diversify its revenue by attracting social entrepreneurs whose focus is to develop new income streams from nontraditional sources and employ residents.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council Erin Brighton The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council exists to advocate for policies that build a sustainable, equitable and healthy local food system. The goals of our council are to enhance the health of our citizens, strengthen local economies and market opportunities, and reduce hunger and food insecurity.
Families Forward Charlotte Carrie Christian Families Forward Charlotte provides mentors who leverage social capital to guide low-income families in goal setting, accessing existing resources, and education to reach goals for self-sufficiency. By doing this, volunteers help families chart a course toward economic stability that has previously not been available.
The Investment Pathway Georgia Krueger A program of Ada Jenkins Center The Investment Pathway program pairs clients and staff to reveal root causes of economic challenges and develop goals for reaching economic stability. Wrap-around support like education, workforce development, and medical and dental services help families in making progress toward these goals.
