At A Glance:

Capstone Sponsor: HP
Capstone Team Lead: Ayman Belafia
Capstone Team Members: Jake Facciani, Dani Villarroel, and Sean Walsh
Key Problem: Provide HP with recommendations to promote digital equity in gentrified Austin, Texas.
Solution: Developed scalable and implementable recommendations to address technological disparities.

The Challenge

MSBA-BA graduate students Ayman Belafia, Jake Facciani, Dani Villaroel, and Sean Walsh were tasked with addressing educational and technological disparities in gentrified areas of Austin, Texas. Their focus was on students from Title I schools, aiming to provide culturally sensitive support through HP’s corporate social responsibility initiative. The team aimed to mitigate the impact of gentrification on predominantly African-American and Latino students, who are often displaced into lower-funded communities and schools due to rising living costs. 

The Solution

The team proposed several solutions to bridge the technological divide for K-12 students and promote digital equity. They recommended HP-led boot camps and after-school programs, collaborations with existing STEM programs in Austin, and enhancements to technological infrastructure. Their blueprint for sustainability included prioritizing Title I school students and leveraging HP employee volunteers. They also suggested partnerships with established STEM organizations like Mad Science of Austin and Snapology to utilize their expertise and expand the reach of their efforts. Long-term success would be measured through return on impact, involving pre-, midpoint-, and post-tests to gauge students’ progress, as well as ongoing feedback sessions to continually improve the programs. These recommendations aim to create a sustainable and scalable model, leveraging HP’s resources for maximum impact and setting a foundation for future replication in other areas.

 

2024 HP Team Public Presentation