There’s a concept of the Matthew Effect which uses math to illustrate what folks have lamented about for thousands of years – the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Take tech for example – the rich and poor often have different problems, but because it’s more profitable to solve problems for the wealthy a disproportionate share of tech innovation focuses on solving problems for the affluent. However, it doesn’t have to be this way – and we have been blown away by the thousands of members of our community who have devoted their lives through their businesses, organizations and art to serve the underserved.

ROBYN HASAN

Women on the Rise is a membership-based organization led by and for a diverse sisterhood of Black women who are impacted by the legal system. Through community organizing and supportive services, we are building a powerful base of women with the skills and experience necessary to wage and win campaigns. We are striving to end mass incarceration and achieve collective liberation, while transforming ourselves and our communities. Read more>>

Georgia Evans

I recently visited a remote Maasai village in Tanzania. I had raised money to buy tools to give the villagers that would improve their health. These tools included several community style clean water filters as well as bucket style clean water filters for each home. These water filters last about 5 years and prevent common waterborne illnesses like the deadly cholera, E.coli, dysentery and giardia diseases. We also distributed one or two mosquito nets to each hut to hang over their beds to prevent malaria. This is a major killer of children ages 5 and under. Read more>>

Greg Jamiel

I live in Washington state in the Snoqualmie Valley, located about 35 miles East of Seattle, in a small rural town called Carnation. The Snoqualmie Valley is comprised of 7 small towns. Rural towns typically have a reputation for not being as welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community, and I wanted to show how our small Valley communities were actually very welcoming. I knew there were many of us living here, but we had no organization to help create safe spaces for our community…so, Snovalley Pride was born! Since our launch, we have hosted a number of social events that have been been wildly successful with massive community support. These events include Trivia Nights, Drag Shows, and our first ever Pride Picnic. We expected around 100 people, and a little over 300 showed up! Read more>>

Cluren Williams

We build concepts to promote systemic change by intentionally delivering lived-experience- centered, research-based services. Programs center the lived experiences by including members that have been formerly incarcerated and/or have a family member that has been formerly incarcerated. We center services around impact leadership for high-risk youth community members by providing and facilitating collaborative and community-based training. Please Educate All Children Everywhere (P.E.A.C.E) is our mission. CW, LLC Read more>>

LaToya Ball

Milestones Elevation Community Development is serving African American families by providing education and the opportunity to create a sustainable plan of succession for economic growth. Beginning with slavery the African American family has always been a target and has been forced to choose between each other, and the God-given birthright of family. It has even been so extreme as to have to choose between family and life. Men have been separated from their wives and children have been separated from their parents. This is still a very dominant issue being carried out through programs, such as welfare, and the rising rate of incarcerated African American men. Read more>>

Stephanie Munoz

Mpoze Fashion has always aspired to not only serve the fashion community but also provide opportunities for the youth. Mpoze Fashion has partnered with a few mentorship programs in MA that has provided real life experience and industry knowledge. We are also affiliated with Suited For Fashion Inc, a non-profit organization with a mission to help elevate the underrepresented and underserved youth in the local arts community. SFF strives to develop long lasting relationships within the arts community, to include higher education, to directly support pathways for our young creatives. Read more>>

Diane B. Nutz

After working with families who had children/adults with unique needs for 35 years, the pandemic gave me the realization that struggling parents are usually ignored. My husband and I had retired and went on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Midland, Texas.  We hit eleven months on our rewarding church mission when the pandemic hit. Back home we went.  I began to receive numerous calls and notifications from parents who had children with special needs regarding their struggles of not having any “me time” since schools and other activities had been cancelled. Read more>>

Deanna Munoz

The Latino/a/e Chicano/a/e aspiring artist community in Kansas City can be underserved and under resourced within the arts eco system. Latino Arts Foundation supports the aspiring artist in our Latino/a/e Chicano/a/e communities by way of no cost art mentorship in all art genres for the aspiring artist, an annual festival to celebrate the culture with the arts where artists can participate to showcase their work and sell, community pop ups, a Latino Arts Foundation art scholarship where we awarded 5 college art students in 2023. Read more>>

Allana Chris

Little Tree Project exists to serve the underserved – victims, survivors, and those at-risk of human trafficking. The world of anti-human trafficking efforts is fairly new and although growing rapidly, there aren’t enough resources on a global or international level to extinguish the issue. This is especially true for South Alabama. Little Tree Project planted in South Alabama because of the lack of resources available in the area and the vast amount of survivors going underserved and undetected. Read more>>

Cassandra Moore

Serving the underserved is the driving factor behind almost every business venture I embark on. Many projects and business ventures that I hold near and dear started as a way to bridge the gap between technology and economically disadvantaged people or places. A-Z Technology Solutions LLC. was my very first registered business, and I started it while attending GA Military College. Originally, I resold used laptops and desktops to students and offered discounted prices on repairs, upgrades, and other services. Read more>>