Parklife Fellows Take the Stage at The Pitch 2025
Parklife is a haven for changemakers— that’s why we partner with bold, mission-driven entrepreneurs to help bring their visions to life. We’re thrilled to celebrate three of our Social Innovation Accelerator (SIA) fellows who have advanced to The Pitch 2025, hosted by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
As marketing partners for SIA, the Parklife team leads bootcamp sessions on branding, storytelling, and strategic communications to help social entrepreneurs grow their reach and impact.
This year, three Parklife-supported SIA fellows have earned a coveted spot among the five finalists competing live on April 9 at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving:
Saki Milton, The GEMS Camp
Laura Hayes, The Learning Bridge
Jason Hernandez, La Tiendita
Each of these founders brings a powerful story and transformative mission to the stage:
The GEMS Camp, led by Saki Milton, empowers middle and high school girls—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—to build confidence and thrive in STEM. Through immersive summer programs and mentorship, The GEMS Camp helps girls become not just future scientists, but future leaders.
The Learning Bridge, founded by Laura Hayes, is a training and education partner that provides high-quality, personalized learning and project management solutions for individuals, schools, nonprofits, and businesses. Their goal: create learning success stories, one participant at a time.
La Tiendita, helmed by Jason Hernandez, is more than a neighborhood store. It’s a renovated community hub that offers fresh produce, healthy food, and internship opportunities for local students. Rooted in social entrepreneurship, La Tiendita is reimagining access to nutrition and economic opportunity in underserved neighborhoods.
We’ve had the privilege of working closely with all three organizations throughout their SIA journey—helping refine their brand identities, develop compelling pitch decks, and create marketing strategies that reflect their values and drive. Their advancement to The Pitch is a testament to their grit, vision, and the power of well-crafted storytelling.
The Pitch 2025 is a competition; but it’s also a celebration of innovation, equity, and impact. With prizes up to $60,000 on the line, the stakes are high, but the potential for community transformation is even greater.
Join us in supporting these incredible changemakers on April 9. Tickets are available through United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and audience votes will help determine the winner of the Audience Choice Award!
Let’s root for Saki, Laura, and Jason as they share their visions and make their marks on the Pitch stage.
