Sebastian Connolly (Winner)

Classical High School

Sebastian’s Winning Idea –

Sebastian’s big idea would use $1 million to fund the administration, transportation, and compensation costs for an inter-school tutoring program.

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Adrian Bautista

Providence

Adrian’s big idea is to create a traveling job center that provides resources and support to individuals experiencing homelessness.

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Naomi Delgado Pedraza

Central Falls HS

Naomi’s change-making idea is to create an art therapy program to help children and young adults struggling with mental health challenges and those with disabilities, trauma, social, cognitive, behavioral, and physical conditions.

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Pummukau Harris

The MET School

Pummukau’s big idea is to create community hubs across Rhode Island that celebrate the richness of Rhode Island’s cultural heritage.

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Mariely Madera

Moses Brown

Inspired by the time she spent teaching art classes at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic last summer, Mariely returned to Rhode Island and developed Art Matters.

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Folajimi Olagundoye

Blackstone Valley Prep

Folajimi knows first-hand that social anxiety can profoundly impact a child’s self-esteem. Drawing from his own experience as a youth who suffered from a rare medical condition, Folajimi developed Compassionate Connections.

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Caroline Kanaczet

St. Mary’s Bay View

Caroline’s big idea is to expand and provide basic resources at public libraries for people most in need. The library always welcomes everyone and provides equal access, and most libraries are accessible to all on bus routes.

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Zachary Jean-Philippe

Cranston West

Sweet Talkers is a multi-sensory platform aimed at empowering young children with speech and language impairments to learn to speak through baking. By merging speech therapy techniques with hands-on activities, we help develop language and confidence in a fun environment.

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Katelyn Santilli

LaSalle

After learning about food insecurity and the lack of access to healthy food that people experience throughout the country, Katelyn created Grandma’s Kitchen to help those here in Rhode Island.

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Jason Lebrun

LaSalle

Jason’s big idea: EmpowerUp Entrepreneurship is a program for is designed to educate students in communities in the most need about business, cultivate their creativity, and enhance their entrepreneurial skills. Jason’s program also offers a platform to voice concerns and to address issues within the community, thus contributing to the creation of a safer environment.

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Reyan Datta

Moses Brown

Reyan aspires to transform Rhode Island by elevating digital literacy amongst students living in Rhode Island’s communities in need, enabling these students to create lasting stories and express themselves through their own digital creative art.

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