Novus Think Tank
Novus Think Tank is a community-oriented, interdisciplinary problem solving, student-run nonprofit aimed at tackling the most pressing systemic social issues in Los Angeles. Within six focus areas, individuals design projects that attack the root cause of issues they are passionate about, thus encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and self-agency.
Visit this organization’s website to learn more

3 Submitted Ideas
CREATE ·2021 Grants Challenge
Filling the Gap
Filling the Gap provides underprivileged high school students in South Central Los Angeles with mentorship and the resources to cultivate self-agency, confidence, and purpose. Combining a curriculum centered around human development with a robust program for developing and implementing passion projects, Filling the Gap gives students access to rich and empowering experiences. Graduates of the program will have executed a project of their own, and in doing so will have developed confidence in navigating the world and their place in it.
LEARN ·2020 Grants Challenge
The Why Project
The Why Project empowers underprivileged students in the [NEIGHBORHOOD] of Los Angeles. Inspired by neuroscience research demonstrating that we can only think deeply about things we care deeply about, we start with the why, working with students to hone in on their passions and develop creative projects around them. Those projects expose students to new ideas, challenges, and opportunities, promote their self-agency and project management skills, and above all, reinforce upon them that their passions are worth being passionate about.
LIVE ·2020 Grants Challenge
BYOM - Bring Your Own Mug
Novus Think Tank is seeking support for a community-based living and food insecurity project called BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug). Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mugs to enjoy a coffee, and volunteer in our community garden in exchange for discounted produce or rent subsidization. Visitors are also invited to engage in BYOM's online community, where access to healthy recipe videos and forums can be found.