Six states passed Right-to-Work (RTW) statutes between 2001 and 2017 that made it illegal for employers to require their workers to pay union dues. The team theorized that the loss of union benefits such as regular wage increases, health insurance, and job protection may have impacted workers’ ability to pay rent. Since rent nonpayment is the leading cause of eviction filings, the passage of RTW statutes would be associated with an increased rate of filings. The team developed a difference-in-difference statistical model to determine if eviction filing rates changed after the passage of 21st century RTW laws. The model uses two-way fixed effects to control for location stability and time variation. The team found that RTW implementation does not have a significant impact on eviction rates in four of the states that implemented RTW in the 21st century, concluding that RTW statutes do not impact unionization rates enough to significantly alter eviction filing rates.

Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a national, nonprofit, and non-partisan organization that connects the hip hop community to the civic process to build power and create positive change. HHC’s Respect My Vote! Campaign empowers first time voters to cast their ballots, educates people with felony records on their voting rights, fights back against voter suppression, and advocates for the voting rights of various communities. To expand its efforts, HHC launched the Respect My Vote! Tool to help returning citizens—people with a felony or misdemeanor conviction—determine if they are eligible to vote. As part of its Respect My Vote! Campaign, HHC engaged a Capstone team to inform updates for the tool in three target states: Kentucky, Louisiana, and Virginia. The team researched legislation on voter eligibility requirements, gathered data on areas with the most returning citizens, and identified potential partners to help promote the Respect My Vote! Tool in the target states. Building on its findings, the team delivered a strategic outreach plan that incorporates recommendations to promote HHC’s Respect My Vote! Tool.

Queens Community House (QCH) is a multi-service settlement house with the mission of providing individuals and families with tools to enrich their lives and build healthy and inclusive communities. QCH’s Young Adult Food-Sector Employment Initiative (YAFSEI) is a workforce development program that targets at-risk young adults in Queens and prepares them for job opportunities in the food sector. QCH engaged a Capstone team to develop a business plan for a café in partnership with the Queens Museum that would allow YAFSEI trainees to receive instruction and gain real-life experience in the food industry. The team researched and evaluated various business models and crafted a comprehensive and effective business plan based on programmatic and socioeconomic data to guide the museum café’s operations.