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CTDnyc is building systems of access led by youth, shaped by lived experience
CTDnyc is building systems of access led by youth, shaped by lived experience
Who We Are
CTDnyc is a youth-led nonprofit reimagining how cities respond to homelessness by creating access-driven tools, platforms, and support programs.
We address gaps in information, opportunity, and visibility through initiatives that include a mobile resource app, a policy blueprint for unhoused entrepreneurship, a youth ambassador program, a digital platform for fundraising and mentorship, and a podcast sharing lived experiences.
At every level, CTDnyc works alongside those most affected, not just to support them, but to help shape what’s being built.
MEET the
founder
Vedant Vohra is the founder and strategic lead behind CTDnyc. He manages all aspects of the nonprofit’s development, programming, and partnerships.
A student, public speaker, and systems-thinker, Vedant launched CTDnyc to respond to the disconnect he saw between city resources and those who most needed them. His work focuses on building bridges – between policy and practice, youth leadership and systemic change, and lived experience and digital infrastructure..
JUN 2023
CTDnyc is conceptualized
JUL 2023
Research begins into systemic causes of homelessness
AUG 2023
Field interviews with unhoused individuals and local residents
JAN 2024
CTDnyc App launches on the iOS App Store
MAY 2024
Interface upgrades and multi-language support added
AUG 2024
Offline access enabled — removing WiFi dependency
NOV 2024
CTDnyc registers as an official nonprofit
JAN 2025
App released on Google Play Store
MAR 2025
Connect the Dots podcast launches
APR 2025
Entrepreneurship Without An Address platform goes live
JUN 2025
First cohort of the CTD Ambassador Program launches
CTDnyc began as a build-as-we-learn effort to make critical resources easier to find, and has grown into a nonprofit platform supporting access, entrepreneurship, youth leadership, and policy insight. Here's how it's unfolded so far...
OUR
JOURNEY
Board of advisors
CTDnyc’s board brings together leadership across finance, education, healthcare, and nonprofit strategy. Their guidance ensures the organization is operationally strong, community-focused, and sustainably built.
Rohit Vohra
A longtime Upper West Side resident and graduate of the University of Chicago with an MBA in Finance. He supports CTDnyc’s business development and marketing strategy.
Dr. Gayatri Vohra
Founder and CEO of Vohra Endodontics. Oversees nonprofit operations and long-term program structure.
Elly Wong
Dean of the Classes of 2026 and history teacher at Trinity School in Manhattan. She supports strategic planning, student programming, fundraising, and enrichment opportunities.
Frankie Thompkins
A nonprofit and corporate strategy leader with over 15 years of experience. Specializes in organizational development, DEI, community outreach, and impact-focused leadership.
OUTREACH DIRECTOR
Zachary Powell
A high school student in northern New Jersey with a genuine passion for helping the homeless community. I’m involved in a few school initiatives focused on charity work for the homeless, which I truly enjoy and dedicate my time to. By joining the CTDnyc team, I hope to further the impact of these efforts by helping ensure that those experiencing homelessness have access to nearby facilities, enabling them to rebuild their lives.
CTD jAPAN CHAPTER
Ren Otani
A high school student from Okinawa, Japan, who is passionate about creating positive social impact. As founder of MUNO, he has worked to connect local students with global issues through debate and leadership. Through the CTD Ambassadors Program, Ren is building a social venture to support people experiencing homelessness by developing an app that connects them to shelters and hygiene resources.
Kai Harrison
A half Japanese-American student based in Okinawa, driven by curiosity and leadership. He is passionate about volunteering and finding ways to support his community.
CTDnyc is a growing public infrastructure for dignity, designed in partnership with the people who’ve been kept out of the systems that should have supported them. We believe lived experience should inform solutions. That youth can lead change. That policy should be shaped with deep insight. And that access – real, reliable access – is the starting point for everything else.