Continue reading YMCA of Central Massachusetts: Helping the Y to Further Integrate Newcomer Populations through Community Engagement & Encouragement

YMCA of Central Massachusetts: Helping the Y to Further Integrate Newcomer Populations through Community Engagement & Encouragement

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Migration from one country to another is a challenging journey that many people in the United States have experienced. Thirty-seven thousand Irish men and women migrated into Boston, Massachusetts because of the potato famine in 1847. More recently, the devastating 2010 earthquake that occurred in Haiti caused the migration of approximately 58,000 Haitian immigrants…

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Continue reading Habitat for Humanity (HFH): Management of Volunteers and Build Sites Using Technology

Habitat for Humanity (HFH): Management of Volunteers and Build Sites Using Technology

During our interactive qualifying project we worked with Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester to identify information management systems that would more efficiently track volunteer hours and communicate build site timelines. The implementation of technology into HFH’s volunteer and project management will allow them to grow as an organization and provide more affordable housing to residents in…

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Continue reading Worcester Art Museum: Engaging the Visitor with Digital Technology

Worcester Art Museum: Engaging the Visitor with Digital Technology

Project Sponsor: Worcester Art Museum The Worcester Art Museum is a mid-sized museum located in central Massachusetts, claiming to be “world-renowned for its 35,000-piece collection of paintings, sculpture , decorative arts, photography, prints, drawings and new media.” It serves the Worcester community by providing a means for families or friends to gather as they examine “the…

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Continue reading Seven Hills Foundation: Increasing the Accessibility of Assistive Technology

Seven Hills Foundation: Increasing the Accessibility of Assistive Technology

Student Researchers Jane Bingel, Management EngineeringAbigail Cornwell, BiochemistryMichael DiMilia, Aerospace EngineeringNathan Meersman, Environmental EngineeringNam Tran Ngoc, Robotics Engineering Project Sponsor: The Seven Hills Foundation Our sponsor for this project was the Seven Hills Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps individuals with developmental disabilities. Their programs emphasize the importance of career development skills in order to…

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Continue reading Worcester Regional Food Hub: Profitability of a Commercial Kitchen

Worcester Regional Food Hub: Profitability of a Commercial Kitchen

For our Interactive Qualifying Project, we worked in collaboration with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Environmental Council of Central Massachusetts to analyze the profitability of a commercial kitchen located in Worcester.  A commercial kitchen is a facility with space that can be used to produce large quantities of food.  The kitchen…

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Continue reading Abby’s House: 40th Anniversary Video

Abby’s House: 40th Anniversary Video

Our Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) was to create a celebratory video for the 40th Anniversary of Abby’s House. This video celebrates the accomplishments and impact that Abby’s House has had in the Worcester community over the last 40 years. It will be shown at the Abby’s House Spring-tacular event in April 2016, as well as…

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Continue reading Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester: Marketing and Recruiting College Student Volunteers

Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester: Marketing and Recruiting College Student Volunteers

Project Description The Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester ReStore outlet strives to eliminate poverty through housing. The ReStore uses the sales profit from donated items to fund Habitat for Humanity building days, days where houses are built for the community. To raise money for their builds, ReStore offers home improvement accessories, building materials, furniture and…

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Continue reading Seven Hills Foundation: Assistive Technology Intervention Process

Seven Hills Foundation: Assistive Technology Intervention Process

We are the Worcester Polytechnic Institute team sponsored by Seven Hills Foundation. From October 27th, 2015 to March 3rd, 2016, we worked with Seven Hills Foundation to develop a process to introduce high tech assistive technology solutions to people with disabilities living in community homes. Essentially, we developed a pilot smart home for people with disabilities.…

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Continue reading Worcester Art Museum: Family Accessibility

Worcester Art Museum: Family Accessibility

For our Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), we worked with the Worcester Art Museum(WAM) to gauge the interest of young children ages 0 – 4 in the museum. The museum needs information on this demographic in order to accomplish their goal of becoming a cultural staple in New England by 2020. Project Description The Worcester Art…

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Continue reading Mass Audubon: Broad Meadow Brook Trail Development

Mass Audubon: Broad Meadow Brook Trail Development

During our Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), in collaboration with Mass Audubon, we worked to identify, map and blaze a nature trail from the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary to the new Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. By creating a physical connection between these two locations, residents of the Worcester area will be able to experience nature in…

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