Embedded Files
COWRIE Initiative
COWRIE Initiative
FACULTY: Kalima Johnson
TEAM: Sebastian De Leon Rivera, Chloe Fauber-Lyle, Carly Gubitz, Briana Mancilla
The COWRIE Initiative is a grassroots nonprofit empowering communities of color through financial literacy, advocacy, and social programming to advance economic equity. This work matters because Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), critical for closing racial wealth gaps, face systemic underfunding and decline, particularly in states like Texas, Georgia, and Florida. The Capstone team was tasked with developing an Advocacy Playbook to strengthen Black MDIs through legislative and coalition-building strategies. To achieve this, the team conducted an organizational scan of MDIs, analyzed state and federal legislation, and distributed surveys to identify advocacy gaps and opportunities. The final Advocacy Playbook outlined actionable steps—including policy recommendations, coalition-building frameworks, and toolkits—to help COWRIE advocate for Black financial prosperity and protect MDIs, fostering systemic economic change.
North Star Fund
North Star Fund
FACULTY: Elizabeth Angeles
TEAM: Arianna Afsar, Ryan Arecco, Lina Dieudonné, Titus James
North Star Fund (NSF) is a social justice foundation supporting grassroots organizing led by communities of color in New York City and the Hudson Valley, mobilizing donors across race and class to fund movements for racial and economic equity since 1979. This work matters because NSF’s historical model of annual grant redistribution faces pressure from rising operational costs and movement demands for sustained, multi-year funding—raising critical questions about how social justice philanthropy can balance immediacy with long-term sustainability. The Capstone team was tasked with evaluating the feasibility of a values-aligned endowment to support NSF’s mission without compromising its principles. The team conducted 25 interviews with experts in values-aligned investing, NSF staff, and donors to assess financial, ethical, and operational considerations. The final report provided actionable recommendations on endowment feasibility, investment strategies, communication frameworks, and governance models, equipping NSF to navigate internal decision-making and contribute to broader philanthropic debates on sustainable, justice-driven funding.
Salt Lake City Department of Community and Neighborhoods
Salt Lake City Department of Community and Neighborhoods
FACULTY: Elizabeth Angeles
TEAM: Dylan Campana, Sam Gerstle, Sinéad López
The Salt Lake City Department of Community and Housing (SLC CAN) empowers tenants and addresses housing challenges through advocacy, education, and resource provision, aiming to close gaps in tenant-focused support systems. This initiative matters because equitable access to housing resources is critical for vulnerable renters navigating affordability crises and systemic inequities. The Capstone team was tasked with designing recommendations for a Tenant Advocate Program within SLC CAN’s Tenant Resource Center to support renters throughout the leasing lifecycle. The team interviewed six Utah organizational leaders and seven U.S. and Canadian municipal officials to analyze existing tenant programs, policies, and service delivery models to achieve this. Final recommendations outlined best practices for piloting the Tenant Advocate Program, equipping SLC CAN to enhance outreach, dispute resolution, and tenant education—strengthening its capacity to serve Salt Lake City’s renters.
United Way of Central Maryland
United Way of Central Maryland
FACULTY: Elizabeth Angeles
TEAM: Tianyi Wang, Connie Wu, and Sarah Carmona
United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) is a nonprofit organization serving Greater Baltimore by advancing access to housing, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. This work matters because systemic transportation barriers disproportionately harm ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) populations, limiting their access to jobs, healthcare, and education—critical drivers of economic mobility. The Capstone team evaluated these transportation challenges and their impact on ALICE residents to inform UWCM’s advocacy for equitable transit solutions. The team conducted a literature review, analyzed 185 resident survey responses, and interviewed five state government and transportation advocacy representatives. Final recommendations centered on human-centered policy and infrastructure improvements to reduce inequities, aligning with UWCM’s 2050 Maryland Transportation Plan goals and ensuring underserved communities are better connected to essential services.
Urban League of Greater Hartford
Urban League of Greater Hartford
FACULTY: Kalima Johnson
TEAM: Maddie Beckley, Mary Deschler, Esther Iyanuoluwa Oloruntola, Toritsene Nanna, and Amarachi Ngadi
The Urban League of Greater Hartford (ULGH) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing racial equity and economic opportunities for underserved communities in Greater Hartford through workforce development, education, housing, and youth programming. This work matters because Hartford faces a stark racial wealth gap, with poverty rates exceeding 20% due to systemic inequities in education, employment, and income disparities—despite Connecticut’s overall affluence. The NYU Capstone team was tasked with developing a strategic plan to reduce this wealth gap through workforce development advocacy. To achieve this, the team analyzed workforce policies, identified key partners (e.g., advocacy groups, legislators), and mapped advocacy opportunities to address systemic barriers. Final deliverables included a legislative engagement toolkit and advocacy playbook outlining partner outreach strategies and policy recommendations to strengthen ULGH’s capacity to advocate for equitable workforce development and close the racial wealth gap.
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