Introducing the Arts & Culture Track – 2026 Youth Grant Pitch Contest
Introducing the Arts & Culture Track - 2026 Youth Grant Pitch Contest
The SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest provides youth with access to adult-mentoring relationships, financial, and network-building resources, while intentionally cultivating connections across socioeconomic barriers in Greater Boston. This year, the 2026 Youth Grant Pitch Contest has 14 teams assigned to one of three tracks: Arts & Culture, Bridge-Building, and Mental Health.
The Arts & Culture Track includes four teams: Community Health Cohort, Connor’s Kindness Project, ECO (Environmental Chelsea Organizers) Youth, and Green Jobs. Their social impact projects increase community access, engagement, and/or connections through the arts, humanities, or sciences.
Best of luck to our teams in the Arts & Culture Track as they continue to prepare for their pitches, happening on April 11, 2026 at Roxbury Community College!
Community Health Cohort | La Colaborativa, Chelsea
Community Health Cohort is one of three teams from La Colaborativa. Their project is centered around promoting confidence in and providing education for young women through menstrual guide kits. They will achieve this by creating three books for their kits. Through the menstrual guide kits, the Community Health Cohort will support young women entering puberty creating comfort to never feel ashamed of their bodies.
Community Health Cohort is coached by Alexa Mocklis, an Associate at JPMorgan Chase, and Tim Creegan, a Senior Product and Channel Strategy Manager with over 20 years experience in the Preclinical Pharma industry.
Creegan, a returning volunteer Pitch Coach, describes his motivation to coach as a way to give back. “We are all here today because of the countless hours others have given, selflessly free-of-charge, to our development,” shared Creegan.
Connor’s Kindness Project | Connor’s Kindness Project, Winchester/Woburn
Connor’s Kindness Project aims to promote kindness in their community through a buddy bench and kindness corner. By implementing a buddy bench paired with a kindness corner filled with books and local art, the team hopes to initiate kind interactions.
Connor’s Kindness Project is coached by Joyce Vyriotes, Executive Director of the Cummings Foundation and Director of Communications and Marketing for Cummings Properties. “I want to share some of my knowledge and skills with the next generation,” Vyriotes stated.
The team is also coached by Lew Sabbag, Founder of Publish Today Media LLC and a Google Certified Trusted Digital Media Advisor, and Angela Stokes, the National Director of Volunteer Engagement at BUILD.
ECO (Environmental Chelsea Organizers) | GreenRoots, Chelsea
ECO (Environmental Chelsea Organizers) aims to increase their reach and visibility among youth in Chelsea by improving their branding and bringing youth together. With this increased visibility, they hope to generate a larger audience and support for their programs.
ECO is coached by Adam Carter, a Program Director of TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Academy, an entrepreneurship program for high school students. Also volunteering as a Pitch Coach is Kathryn Latham, Founder of Latham Business Solutions.
“The most empowering and exciting experiences in my life have been turning an idea into something real and impactful,” Latham shared. “To be able to help local youth do the same, and learn some new skills along the way, truly brings me joy!”
Green Jobs | La Colaborativa, Chelsea
The final team to introduce on the Arts & Culture Track is Green Jobs, the second team from La Colaborativa. Their project is centered around building a community cookbook and creating a community garden to showcase the culture of Chelsea. Green Job hopes to highlight the unique and important culture of their community through cuisine while highlighting the work of local farmers.
Green Jobs is coached by Maria Castro-Chaker, MD Business Banker at Webster Bank. Castro-Chaker shared she is excited to “share my experience and stay connected to the community.” Coaching alongside Castro-Chaker is Byron DeLaBarre, Founder & Principal of The Consulting Biochemist. DeLaBarre is a returning Pitch Coach for the 2026 Youth Grant Pitch Contest.
Supporters of the 2026 Youth Grant Pitch Contest
The 2026 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is made possible by the generous support of Boston Bridges Initiative, Winning Home, Inc., State Street Foundation, The Brooks & Joan Fortune Family Foundation, M&T Bank, The Boston Foundation, Kick It For A Cause, Boston Children’s Hospital, and a Massachusetts state budget line item (thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Cindy Friedman). Major support for SCI’s youth programs is provided by Cummings Properties.
About the Youth Grant Pitch Contest
The Youth Grant Pitch Contest provides youth with access to adult-mentoring relationships, financial support, and network-building resources, while intentionally cultivating connections across socioeconomic barriers in Greater Boston. For more information visit socialcapitalinc.org/ygpc.
About SCI
SCI’s mission is to strengthen communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement initiatives. SCI’s goal is to develop 1,000 youth + adult Social Capital Cultivators™ by 2028 who will increase social connection through civic engagement initiatives to build thriving, inclusive communities. Visit socialcapitalinc.org to learn more.
