b'Meet our Social Innovation Award runners-upThrough The Black I saw a systematic lack ofStudents Union at CRLS encouragement, education,were spearheading initiativestraining, placement, and support and civic-engagement projectsfor youth who want to succeedcentered on empowerment, in trades careers. I started the social justice, and cultural andCambridge Trades Task Forceracial responsiveness, particularlyto serve as a citywide resourcein relation to discriminatory for these young people, who racial micro- and macroaggres- deserve every opportunity tosions even within our own school. be successful.The BSU StudentsLisette WilliamsMy project, The Good Bank,I started The South Asianmakes tiny loans at 0 percentWorkers Center in 2018 to interest to people who need them.provide support for marginalized I started with a $1,000 grant andlow-income South Asian families, made over 300 loans ranging fromespecially women, in public- $5 to $75 for a total of $2,500 inhousing communities. We help loans. This had a huge impact forthem build connections, access the loan recipients, since even aresources, and address thesmall amount of money can go challenges they face as theya long way in a moment of crisis. integrate into American society.Corinne Espinoza Jyoti SinhaMeet our Social Innovation Award winnerIn 2015, Cambridge natives Ayana Aubourg (left) and Meron Teklehaimanot were still teenagers when they joined with Jamaica Plains Vanessa Ly (right) to form Sisters Unchained. The program, dedicated to healing and activism for women, nongender conforming people, and children of color whose parents are incar-cerated, is a hybrid of education, activism, and support. Yes, were healing together, said coexecutive director Aubourg, but were also workinggetting involved in ballot initiatives and other projects.The group is using its award money to increase its reach and to arrange rides for girls to visit their loved ones in prisons throughout Massachusetts. The award really affirmed our work and opened doors for us, Aubourg said. It will help us to stay unapologeticallyN N N I E L E B R AT F T G O U R O P O I C R S bold in what we believe in. CRLS photo courtesy of Kevin Dua; all other photos by Allegra Boverman9'