MATC students pitch sustainable solutions to UN officials in NYC

by Warren Murphy, Managing Editor

January 6, 2025

A group of young professionals, including three MATC students, listen attentively as UN Officials introduce themselves at the head of the table. (In order from left to right – Jayashri Wyatt, Chief of Education Outreach at UN Department of Global Communications; Martina Donlon, Chief of the Climate Section at the UN Department of Global Communications; Paloma Escudero, Head of UN Women’s Global Communication and Advocacy team; David Ohana, UN Chief Communications and Marketing Officer.) Photo provided by Unite2030.

Three MATC students had the opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions for the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the UN Ford Foundation in New York. This marks the beginning of these MATC students making a global impact. Elsa Marks, Apexa Prajapati, and Warren Murphy presented their entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of UN officials, including Paloma Escudero, Head of UN Women’s Global Communication and Advocacy team; Martina Donlon, Chief of the Climate Section at the UN Department of Global Communications; and Jayashri Wyatt, Chief of Education Outreach.

The students introduced two key projects: Elsa’s team’s Ember Co-op is aimed at repurposing wildfire byproducts into mulch and preventing wildfires, and Apexa and Warren’s team’s Segundo Hogar is a program designed to provide mentorship and trauma informed care for Spanish speaking migrant children. The Ember Co-op focuses on addressing SDG 13 (Climate Action), while Segundo Hogar focuses on SDG 3 (Good Health & Well Being). Both projects have an emphasis on education and community-driven solutions.

At the December event, the panel of UN officials expressed interest in the ideas, particularly how they could complement existing UN initiatives and expand their global reach. They also provided connections for possible funding and expansion. The students’ presentations mark an exciting step in their journey to turn these local initiatives into global solutions for sustainable development.

All smiles at the Ford Foundation as young leaders pitch their innovative solutions to UN officials. Photo provided by by Unite2030.

About the Contributor

Warren Murphy, Managing Editor

My name is Warren Murphy and I am Managing Editor of the MATC Times. I joined the staff last year, and after consistently contributing as a writer, I was named Features Editor. This year, with our new Editor-in-Chief, Zanaia Joshua, selecting me as Managing Editor, I plan to help curate a student paper that serves as a true mouthpiece for the voice of our students. I am in the Liberal Arts Transfer program and I plan on transferring to UW-Madison to complete my bachelors after this upcoming fall semester. For fun, I love to play basketball and go to stand-up comedy shows with my friends and family. I originally joined the Times because I was having a hard time finding a space for myself on campus. If you're struggling to find your place like I was, I strongly encourage you to reach out and see how you can get involved. MATC Times believes wholeheartedly in the power of collaboration and inclusivity, as baked into our foundation by our previous Editor-in-Chief Christopher D'Allen, and as student leaders, Zanaia and I are working constantly to ensure we provide a space that welcomes ALL students.