New York is teeming with entrepreneurs, it always has been. Immigrants and opportunists and creative types built the city -- they made it one of the greatest in the world. But there's still room for improvement in a place with more than eight million people, which is why we've seen social entrepreneurs like Syreeta Gates and Divine Bradley and Khary Lazarre-White dedicate their life's work to providing leadership to the have-nots, opening the doors to employment opportunities, higher education and economic growth.
This summer, the New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a campaign to identify the next generation of civic leaders, the city's most promising social entrepreneurs. The "My Voice, Our City" competition encouraged black and Latino young men, ages 16-24, local organizations, and community leaders to submit program ideas that will brighten the future of New York City. The competition's judges have selected 10 finalists and it's now your turn to have a say.
Below, each finalist makes a case for their initiative or project to win part of the $15,000 that is up for grabs. Meet them, tweet about them and be sure to vote for your favorite.
- Teen Dad Peer Advocacy Institute: building a network of teenage fathers who can become peer advocates and get connected to education and employment resources.
This blog post is part of a series produced by The Huffington Post, Ashoka Changemakers, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Young Men's Initiative in recognition of the "My Voice, Our City" competition, which aims to empower black and Latino young men ages 16-24. To see all the other posts in the series, click here. For more information about "My Voice, Our City", click here; about Ashoka Changemakers, click here; and about the Young Men's Initiative, click here.