At The Hopeful Change Project (THCP), hope has always been the foundation. For over two decades, the youth-centered nonprofit has empowered underserved and at-risk young people to build brighter futures. But even hope needs the right tools—and that’s where a group of Georgia Tech MBA students stepped in.
Through the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact’s Pro Bono Consulting Practicum, MBA teams partnered with THCP to support their digital transformation. What started in Fall 2024 as a mission to digitize the organization's paper-based student intake process soon evolved into something much deeper.
The first team designed digital forms, streamlined workflows, and launched initial training. Yet, when it came time to put the system into practice, new barriers appeared.
This spring, a second MBA team picked up the baton, determined to move the project from "plan" to "practice." Onsite at a THCP workshop, they discovered a critical disconnect: most of the participating youth didn’t have smartphones or tablets. No devices meant no access to the new system.
Faced with this unexpected challenge, the students didn’t back down. Guided by Kathleen Kurre, Consulting Advisor for the Practicum, they turned to the Georgia Tech network. Within days, connections were made: Clint Bailey, CEO of TechBridge and a Georgia Tech alumnus, introduced the team to Richard Hicks, CEO of InspiredU. Thanks to their generosity—and the help of InspiredU’s Megan Roedl—THCP received three tablets, closing a crucial gap.
The students didn’t stop there. They configured the devices, tested the digital system, and hosted hands-on training for the THCP team. Step by step, they worked to make sure technology became an enabler, not a barrier.
This collaboration reflects what makes the Pro Bono Consulting Practicum so powerful: it’s not just about classroom skills—it’s about real-world impact, community connection, and resilience in the face of challenges.
And the partnership with THCP didn’t end with the consulting project. In Spring 2024, THCP served as a community partner for Georgia Tech’s Ideas to Serve program, sharing firsthand insights that shaped students’ social innovation projects. In Spring 2025, they welcomed two Social Impact Fellows: one student helped strengthen THCP’s social media marketing, while the other focused on enhancing operational systems to support future growth.
Together, Georgia Tech students and The Hopeful Change Project are proving that with the right skills, networks, and heart, it’s possible to build bridges—digital and otherwise—that lead to lasting change.