Jessica Posner Wins $100k!
Jessica Posner, 23
Middletown, CT
The Kibera School for Girls and Shining Hope Community CenterSad fact: 66% of girls in Kibera (the largest slum in Africa) trade sex for food as early as age six and only 8% of women in Kibera ever attend school. Jessica co-founded Shining Hope for Communities to combat gender inequity and poverty in Kibera. Through the Kibera School for Girls, the first free school in Kibera, and the Shining Community Center, Jessica has helped over 5,700 residents gain education and employment. Read Jessica's exclusive interview with us.
DS Awards 2010 Photo Stream
About the Awards
The Do Something Awards honor the best young world-changers, 25 and under, that are making the world a better place. They truly represent the pivotal doers in their field, cause or issue.
The Do Something Awards aired live on VH1 on July 19th from Hollywood! And this was not a typical awards show - Jane Lynch, a.k.a. cheerleading hardball Sue Sylvester from GLEE, hosted.
Check out our awards recap to hear about all of the great moments.
Missed the show? Watch the awards online.
Want to know about the amazing young people, including winner Jessica Posner, that you saw on TV? Check out our nominees below, and see the complete list of categories, nominees, and winners.
You can also find more information on our five nominees, and ways YOU can take action.
Award Finalists
Micaela Connery, 23
Hartford, CT
Unified TheaterMicaela grew up side-by-side with her cousin Kelsey. Inspired by Kelsey’s physical and developmental disabilities, Michaela started Unified Theater, a high school theatrical program that features the talents of individuals with various developmental and physical abilities. Micaela currently runs 13 theater programs in three different states. Over 1,000 people have participated in her theater productions.
Jacqueline Murekatete, 25
New York, NY
Jacqueline’s Human Rights CornerAt the age of 9, Jacqueline became an orphan, the product of the brutal genocide in Rwanda. Her six siblings, parents, and most of her extended family were among the 1 million victims. Taken in by her uncle in America, Jacqueline founded the Jacqueline’s Human Rights Corner in 2007 to educate people all over the world about genocides of the past. She is now working to build a community center in the Bugesera District of Rwanda.
Wilfredo Perez Jr., 23
Providence, RI
Public Health Program for Haitian YouthWilfredo is the first person in his family to graduate from high school, and he is now studying to be a doctor. He doesn’t plan to be a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills; Wilfredo is dedicating his life to public health. Before starting medical school, Willfredo spent a year in Haiti, where he created a Public Health and Education Program. He trained 16 Haitians to be public health workers, treating 1200 patients from everything to tuberculosis to malaria.
Jessica Posner, 23
Middletown, CT
The Kibera School for Girls and Shining Hope Community CenterSad fact: 66% of girls in Kibera (the largest slum in Africa) trade sex for food as early as age six and only 8% of women in Kibera ever attend school. Jessica co-founded Shining Hope for Communities to combat gender inequity and poverty in Kibera. Through the Kibera School for Girls, the first free school in Kibera, and the Shining Community Center, Jessica has helped over 5,700 residents gain education and employment.
Mark Rembert, 25
Wilmington, OH
Energize Clinton CountyIn 2008 the DHL Express hub in Wilmington, OH was shut down, putting 8,000 people out of jobs. Since then the local unemployment rate has spiked to 19%. In response, Mark launched Energize Clinton County, establishing Wilmington as the first Green Enterprise Zone in the country, in effort to not only attract new investment dollars, but to ensure a more sustainable future for Wilmington. Since launching in late 2008 the community has received 1.4 million dollars of direct green investment.
