November 26, 2007 - 2:59pm — Marco
Tu Voz My Venture Contest Winners Announced!
Tu Voz My Venture Contest Winners Announced!
In a call to action, "Tu Voz, My Venture" awarded 50 winning teams with start-up grants of up to $1,000 to launch their ventures to help young Latinos stay in school and prepare for college and beyond. Five finalist teams were selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship. This initiative was launched by Youth Venture in partnership with MTV Tr3s, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The five grand-prize Tu Voz, My Venture teams are:
Bio Motors: Veggies give you GAS, Los Angeles, CA
The team's action plan assists Latino students with transportation to educational programs, while engaging them in a movement to expand awareness of the use of environmentally conscious fuel. The plan calls for converting an old school bus diesel engine to run on used vegetable oil collected from fast food restaurants.
College Bound Latinos, Arlington, VA
This team plans to host trips to colleges for young Latinos to expose them to college life and reinforce the importance of a college education The program informs students about scholarship opportunities and also plans on educating the parents by hosting "college night sessions" in English and Spanish.
SOUL, Gresham, OR
Concerned about high dropout and pregnancy rates among young Latinas, the ultimate goal of this venture is to get Latina students in Gresham High School focused on school and college through mentoring, homework tutoring, and the building of self-esteem and stronger social networks.
Latino Youth for Community Preparedness (LYCP), Oakland, CA
This team will provide Bi-lingual first aid and disaster preparedness presentations and trainings to raise awareness and educate the Hispanic community in ways that they can protect themselves and loved ones in the event of a natural disaster or in an emergency situation. This Venture wants to help people realize they can do something to protect themselves and save other people lives when it comes to natural disasters and medical emergencies and education.
Peques Chavos Fundacion de Futbol (FF), Southampton, NY
This Venture seeks to motivate Latino youth to stay in school and continue their studies through their desire to be part of a group that supports the playing of soccer. The goal is to create an opportunity to use a popular sport like soccer to inspire youth to strive for scholarships and further their higher education possibilities.
The full list of 50 Tu Voz teams, with team descriptions, can be found at www.genv.net/tuvoz