Student-Run Nonprofit Honored at International Showcase

A nonprofit founded by a University of Maryland graduate student won the "Most Collaborative" award in the 2024-25 Universitas 21 (U21) RISE Showcase & Awards.

The Movement Street, created by Lyric Amodia MBA ’25, seeks to increase volunteer engagement—especially among historically underserved communities—by making community service feel impactful, joyful and personal through grassroots events, national chapter models and creative campaigns. The project was one of four awarded $2,000 from a global pool of 24 projects nominated by U21's international network of 30 leading research universities.

Started as a grassroots effort in the DMV, Detroit and Flint, Mich., the student-led Movement Street has hosted networking and skill-building events, trained student leaders in nonprofit strategy and community development, and developed a chapter toolkit and national reporting structure.

With support from the U21 RISE Showcase & Awards, the Movement Street plans to onboard 10 new chapters at universities and community hubs across the U.S. over the next year and develop its digital infrastructure.

U21's RISE (Real Impact on Society & Environment) highlights and celebrates student achievement in sustainability and social innovation and is designed to accelerate the scale and impact of student-led projects by connecting them with a network of experts in academia and industry. UMD’s Office of International Affairs’ Global Learning Initiatives hosted a campus-wide contest to select the university’s two representatives for U21 RISE.

This award continues UMD's strong legacy in the U21 RISE Showcase & Awards, with student-led projects winning U21 awards in five out of the six years RISE has run.