What’s News, Breaking: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
DAVID PRIZE ANNOUNCES COHORT OF FINALISTS
WITH IDEAS FOR IMPROVING LIFE IN NEW YORK
BOROUGHWIDE — Several Brooklynites and Brooklyn organizations have been named among the 16 finalists for this year’s David Prize. Named for widely-respected real estate developer and philanthropist David Walentas, the annual $1 million prize total, for which the five winners will be announced in September, recognizes extraordinary individuals who are making New York a better and brighter place, and the ideas they propose for doing so. The standout ideas cover some of the city’s biggest opportunities for improvement, with notable submissions including a revolutionary delivery technology designed by an ex-Peloton employee, an attorney implementing restorative justice practices tackling the city’s most challenging crimes, a dedicated public school teacher empowering children with interrupted education, and a courageous survivor of human trafficking establishing pathways and support systems for sex workers to reclaim control over their own futures. Brooklynites’ projects include making the waterways more environmentally and culturally friendly, strengthening the Public Housing Civic Association (PHCA), improving the education provided by Hasidic Yeshivas, and equipping talented, low-income people to become entrepreneurs.
This year, 16 finalists were chosen out of thousands of individuals who live and work in New York City and who engaged in the open call, an increase of 30% from 2022. The applicants represent 95% of New York City zip codes. Each winner will receive $200,000.
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