PCSB Hosts Young Voices in Shark Tank Event
This month, PCSB welcomed Young Voices students back to campus to participate in the second annual Shark Tank event at the Ryan Center for Business Studies. Young Voices transforms urban youth into powerful advocates who have a voice in every aspect of their lives.
Participating students had the opportunity to pitch to members of the Providence College community solutions to hard-pressing topics such as gun violence, drunk driving, and immigration issues. This year’s judges Joe Gemma, assistant professor of management, Nea North, assistant professor of marketing, Kelly Ramirez, director of Donald Ryan Incubator for Entrepreneurship, and Eve Veliz-Moran, associate professor of sociology and teaches within the business innovation minor came together to assist and judge the students’ presentations. Students from Young Voices chose to speak on topics close to their hearts, many of which were influenced by personal experiences.
The first-place winner, MindMatter, offered a solution to unaffordable therapy. This student stressed the importance of mental health awareness, as one in five adults and teens are diagnosed with mental illness. They emphasized that mental health care should be available to all—not a luxury only available to those who can afford it. This solution, an app offering free therapy services, would provide available resources for individuals struggling with mental health issues, as well as attempt to bridge the gap between marginalized and unmarginalized communities. As the winner, the student will return to the next Shark Tank competition as a judge.
The second-place winner, Project Hear, offered a solution to domestic violence occurring to men. This student educated faculty on the prevalence of male victims of intimate partner violence. According to them, 40% of domestic abuse victims are men. This solution, a hotline for men, offered a 24/7, cost-free resource and support to men in abusive relationships.
The third-place winner, Gun Violence Education Program, offered a solution to gun violence. This program would provide mental health resources for BIPOC individuals who have been impacted by gun violence. Event meetings would take place weekly in a public, accessible location, taking place conveniently after public school concludes for the day. This program would dedicate time to educate students on the importance of mental health, how to process trauma and spark engagement to prevent gun violence in our communities.
After the winners were announced, all students were invited to Ray Dining Hall for lunch and concluded the afternoon with a campus tour. One of the Friars Club tour guides, Dory Aine, a current senior, participated in Young Voices while they were attending high school in Rhode Island.
