Introducing the Bridge-Building Track – 2026 Youth Grant Pitch Contest
Introducing the Bridge-Building 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 Bridge-Building Track includes five teams: Camp Warm Welcome, Con Manos Unidas We Change, EVkids Youth Leaders, Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition, and Soley. Their social impact projects bring together people from different communities or different identity groups through cultural exchange and social engagement.
Camp Warm Welcome | Camp Warm Welcome, Boston
Camp Warm Welcome is a returning team from Boston. Their project is based around hosting a summer camp for immigrant youth. The team hopes the two week summer camp will provide meaningful experiences and life lessons for the campers. Camp Warm Welcome is designed to alleviate the stress of childcare for immigrant families while giving campers the chance to bond and create friendships with other youth.
Camp Warm Welcome is coached by returning Pitch Coaches Valery Crayton, a senior at Boston University studying International Finance, and Meghan Greeley, Executive VP of Customer and Transformation Enablement at M&T Bank.
Crayton described her motivation to coach: “I hope to help each team member feel more confident in sharing their opinions and being a leader.“
“I am excited to give back to my community by helping the new generation become stronger leaders!” shared Crayton.
Con Manos Unidas We Change | De Nosotros Foundation & Eastie Coalition, East Boston
Con Manos Unidas We Change is a returning team that aims to host an opportunity fair and workshops for teens in their community. They plan to partner with different organizations to help youth in the community build connections. Through their fair, Con Manos Unidas will provide the resources for youth to learn about topics such as finances and secondary education.
Con Manos Unidas We Change is coached by returning Pitch Coach Miguel Carrillo, an international legal consultant with over 30 years of experience and the Founder and CEO of Carrillo International Associates, LLC.
“I enjoy mentoring young people and helping teams turn strong ideas into clear, actionable projects,” Carrillo stated.
The team is also coached by Debora Ghosh, a Clinical Research Assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital where she works at the intersection of neuroscience, ophthalmology, and patient-centered research.
EVkids Youth Leaders | EVkids, Boston
EVkids Youth Leaders is a team based in Boston who want to support immigrant families and youth by providing a space for community members to learn about the programs and resources available to them. They plan to achieve this through a resource fair so that EVkids can provide access to programs dedicated towards their social, emotional, and professional needs.
EVkids is coached by returning Pitch Coach Magnus Mammy, a problem solver and platform pioneer at Tydii, reshaping the way we approach laundry services and freeing up precious time for busy lives. Also volunteering as Pitch Coach is Sam Gerry, an Associate in the Emerging Leader Program at Fidelity Investments and the Co-Founder and Vice President of Kick It for a Cause, Inc. Gerry closely supported the 2025 Pitch Contest through his SCI AmeriCorps Fellowship.
“Supporting the day-to-day operations of the 2025 Youth Grant Pitch Contest through AmeriCorps reminded me just how valuable youth-led initiatives are these days.” Gerry shared. “I’m excited to now support a team from the other side!”
Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition | Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition, Malden
Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition is a team based in Malden who want to provide accessible areas and workshops for youth to take action in the climate movement. They want to support and build confidence in youth affected by environmental injustice in their communities. Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition aims to provide the resources and networks needed for these youth to become leaders in the climate conversation.
The team is coached by returning Pitch Coach Jolly Pradhan, the Founder & CEO of End-to-End Innovation Consulting with over 15 years of experience. “I learn from them as much as I teach them,” Pradhan shared. “I’m always happy to give back what I know and have learned.”
Coaching alongside Pradhan is Jack Nedelman, a coach and mentor for various startup companies and the Co-Founder of FacilityConneX. Nedelman is a returning Pitch Coach for the 2026 Youth Grant Pitch Contest.
Soley | Immigrant Family Service Institute, Mattapan
The final team to be introduced in the Bridge-Building Track is Soley. They are a returning team with a project centered around a multicultural celebration for youth in Boston. They want to help youth embrace and learn about different cultures through music, food, entertainment, and education.
Soley is coached by Jonathan Feldman, an entrepreneur and business leader at Next Core Flow LLC with over 20 years of experience building and scaling companies, and Kenny Weill, the founder of K. Weill Consulting Group, LLC.
Feldman is a first-time Pitch Coach and shares his motivation for coaching, “I want to help the participants take an idea they have and make it into a reality.”
Best of luck to our teams in the Bridge-Building Track as they continue to prepare for their pitches, happening on April 11, 2026 at Roxbury Community College!
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.
