October 6th, 2009

Cast Your Vote – S Contest Finalists Announced

The top five finalists have been selected in our “S Contest.”  Over 40 entries were received and narrowed down to the list of 5 finalists.  We did learn that it was a tougher job than we anticipated due to the high quality of the responses and moving stories.  Our main selection criterion was the amount of positive, ongoing impact on society and/or the environment that entrants can have.”

The five finalists are as follows:

• icouldbe is a pioneer in the emerging online mentoring industry reaching young people who do not have access to quality educational resources, using a dynamic virtual learning environment to connect them to mentors who offer practical and individualized advice, information and expertise.
• People Capital is an early-stage, socially-responsible firm that aims to address the funding gap between higher education costs and federal loans and grants – a $113 billion market.

• National Association of Mothers’ Centers (NAMC) has a 35 year history of life-changing mother-to-mother support and connections addressing mothers’ unique needs and experiences within a unique culture of mutual respect. Our programs impact not just mothers, but children and families too.

• Speak Shop. Speak Shop provides face-to-face Spanish tutoring via webcam with teachers in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Customers schedule lessons at their convenience and pay about $10 per one-hour lesson. Teachers gain business and technology skills while working at a fair wage as micro-entrepreneurs.

• Sweetriot is an activist candy company based in New York City and is creating a sweet movement to FIX the world! Sweetriot sources and produces our cacao directly in Latin America and uses recyclable, reusable packaging which features emerging artists.

Please go to www.sdialogue.com/contest for more information on each finalist and more importantly to cast your vote for one lucky winner.  Deadline for voting is midnight EST, Friday, October 16. We will announce the winner by no later than Friday, October 23, 2009.