What better way to improve our communities than to help ignite the success of locals with dreams for the future? Some creative nonprofits are hoping to build a better Bay Area through their unique ideas, and the Google Impact Challenge is giving away $5 million to help them accomplish their goals.

A panel of advisors (including Condoleezza Rice, San Francisco’s former Mayor Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr., Harrison Barnes of the Golden State Warriors and many more) narrowed down the groups thus far, but it’s up to us to vote and decide which four projects will receive a $500,000 grant. If you’re having a hard time because you love them all (us, too!) don’t worry — the other six nonprofits will get $250,000.

We loved them all, but we’re excited to highlight the five projects below. Check out all of the groups and use your four votes here.

1. The Reset Foundation – Reimagine the justice system

Rather than continue to encourage the poverty to prison cycle, The Reset Foundation is aiming to build an alternative to prison for young adults that have been thrown from low-performing schools into a back-and-forth of being jobless or prison. This grant will help The Reset Foundation open its first residential campus, complete with technology-supported learning, care for social and emotional difficulties such as addiction and grieving a loss, and even career training. The first graduates from this program will save almost $20 million in taxpayer money.

2. THE HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT – Help teens grow into leaders

The Hidden Genius Project in the Bay Area — Photo: oaklandlocal.com

This awesome nonprofit is working to provide black male youth the chance to transform their communities. It gives participants access to training for technology creation, entrepreneurship and important leadership skills. The grant would help this group train an additional 100 youth, bringing the total to 2,000 served for the next three years.

3. Essie Justice Group – Supporting women with loved ones in prison

Essie Justice Group — Photo: techcrunch.com

The responsibilities left for women with family members in prison are endless. Between managing finances, caring for kids and generally holding everything together, these women are likely to neglect themselves in the process. Considering one in four women in America has a family member that’s in prison, many women are in need of support. Essie Justice Group advocates for and empowers these women. This grant would allow them to directly reach 1,000 women over the next two years, and to educate many more people through their visibility.

4. Bayview/Hunters Point Community Legal – Make legal aid accessible

Bayview/Hunters Point Community Legal — Photo: impactchallenge.withgoogle.com

Low-income Americans have a hard time getting legal help when faced with discrimination, destruction of property, theft and more — four out of five are unable to receive that aid at all. Bayview/Hunters Point Community Legal is looking to change that by helping the community members that were previously unable to receive the civil aid they deserve. This grant will help the group expand to additional neighborhoods, allowing them to protect thousands more.

5. 826 Valencia – Help kids find their voices

Getting off to a good start with reading proficiency while young is a valuable advantage. With about one-third of Bay Area fifth graders failing to meet reading expectations, there are clear inequalities that need to be addressed. With this grant, 826 Valencia hopes to convert a liquor store into a space for kids to receive community-based tutoring and to express their imaginations. Writing skills, confidence and excitement about learning are just a few things that about 2,000 local students can hope to gain from the group’s work.

Cast your votes now (if you haven’t already) and support the bay area community!

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The Hidden Genius Project

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