Roberta Richin Memorial Vision Plan Award Recipient Announced, Young Leader Wins $500 to Start Project in Vietnam
NEW YORK, NY, August 9, 2019 — The Roberta Richin Memorial Vision Plan Award, now in its third year, selected a recipient and three honorable mentions for the award on August 1st during MCW’s Young Leaders Access Program Open Doors event. The initiative grants $500 to a participant in the Young Leaders Access Program to support their vision plan project for implantation in their community.
The award was presented to Nam Nguyen from Vietnam, who plans to develop an online app to connect same-sex couples with LGBTQ+ friendly businesses. Nam’s project is an innovative solution for reducing discrimination in Vietnam. (Click here to view Nam’s vision plan pitch.)
Honorable mentions for the award were presented to Vrey Ange Zigre from the Ivory Coast for his project to improve access to higher education for minority students in the US; Nurzhamal Yrybekova from Kyrgyzstan for her project to run workshops in high schools to educate young women and destigmatize female menstruation; and Bruno Lopes from Brazil for his plan to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.
The Roberta Richin Memorial Vision Plan Award was created in honor of the late Roberta Richin. Roberta was a recipient of MCW’s 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award and a member of MCW’s Board of Directors. She devoted her life to advancing equity and increasing opportunity so that every young person can live and participate in a rewarding civic life.
Laurette Richin, Roberta’s sister and Long Island Bulldog Rescue Founder and Executive Director; Jonathan Hakakian, Senior Consultant – Managing Partner of Soundboard Consulting Group, and Dr. Charles Robbins, MCW Board Member and Stony Brook University Vice Provost served as judges as the 27 participants shared their 60-second vision plan pitches at MCW’s 22nd Young Leaders Access program retreat. Laurette and Dr. Robbins announced the winner at MCW’s Open Doors Ceremony. The Open Doors event also featured concluding remarks by Eddie Bergman, MCW Co-founder and Board President; Khalid Elachi, MCW’s Executive Director; and Regina Leichner, MCW’s Director of Africa Programs.
MCW’s Young Leaders Program prepares young people to become leaders of positive change in their communities. The award supports young leaders with high potential to develop and lead projects based in their communities. Young leaders come together to participate in the program to develop a deeper understanding of social issues and change, acquire the skills, networks and confidence needed to affect change.
