Congratulations to Our 2025 Social Impact Challenge Teams!
The Moritz Center is incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our 2025 Social Impact Challenge (SIC) cohort. From your passionate applications to your live pitches and the hard work you’ve put into bringing your ideas to life, you have continuously inspired and impressed us. Thank you for your commitment to creating positive change and for sharing your vision with our community. Congratulations on all that you have accomplished so far—we look forward to following your continued growth and impact. We’ll be cheering you on every step of the way!
CHEFS
Lauren Bell and Madilyn Bradley
Over 20 food-insecure UT students completed and gave feedback on a cooking course organized by graduate students in the Department of Nutrition. Students learned how to grocery shop efficiently and prepare their own meals with food provided by UT Outpost. The students also received kitchen supplies such as cutting boards, spice kits and meat thermometers. The course empowered students to feed themselves well and helped rebuild their connection to food, creativity, and community.
Teaching Story, Stigma, and Mental Health Narratives in Prison
Charlotte Perez and Jo Hurt
17 incarcerated UT students completed and received credit for a course through the Texas Prison Education Initiative (TPEI), where they studied mental health through literature. They explored depictions and social constructions of mental health while building critical context and vocabulary to engage more deeply with their own mental health experiences. This curriculum now lives at TPEI and will be included in future offerings, including Spring 2027.
Cultural Healing Through Story, Song, and Symbol: Exploring Arts-Based Pathways to Behavioral Health in Asian and Asian American Communities
Cheng Chow and Hannah Kim
Over 200 people attended a community event at the Asian American Resource Center that addressed mental health stigma through public art, bilingual zines, and exhibits rooted in cultural healing practices. Before the event, five focus groups were conducted among Asian Americans to identify culturally grounded, arts-based strategies that support behavioral health.
LetraLight: Empowering Bilingual Literacy and Well-being
Raquel Silva, Shirley Souza, Cinthia Herrera and Hanyue Sha
Through culturally responsive, bilingual instruction for emergent bilingual children, LetraLight supported Portuguese-speaking families in strengthening language skills and cultural identity, reaching eight families. This effort included folklore, arts, traditional songs, and language, and aimed to improve Portuguese literacy and English language outcomes while enhancing self-esteem through a deeper understanding and appreciation of their linguistic and cultural identities. Cultura Brasil Austin plans to include this curriculum in its offerings in the future.
Applications for the 2026 Social Impact Challenge Close June 30
Your next big idea can create lasting change. Turn your vision into action with funding, support, and mentorship through the 2026 Social Impact Challenge.
