Jerelyn Rodriguez, 26
Cofounder, The Knowledge House
Rodriguez grew up in the South Bronx and was among the first students at KIPP, the groundbreaking charter school. She graduated from Columbia University on full scholarship and has worked in city politics and ed reform. In 2014 she launched the Knowledge House in her home neighborhood. TKH is building a STEM education-to-jobs pipeline in underserved neighborhoods, and has served some 300 young people in five program sites.