Capstone Project

Section 1

For my Communication Capstone project, I worked with the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative (HWPI). My project focused on providing valuable digital media to support their currently active fundraising campaign called Bridging the B2B. This community-based project is related to raising funds to help with the installation of the historic Bell Road Bridge.

My work on this project is related to the Academic Service Learning (ASL) aspect of the communication capstone at EMU. What is ASL? ASL is a way of learning through working within a community for a local non-profit in a way that benefits both the student and the community.  

The Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating the development and enjoyment of non-motorized recreation pathways in Washtenaw County and surrounding areas. Their mission focuses on creating awareness, raising funds, and coordinating efforts among individuals, civic groups, local businesses, and government entities to establish a network of accessible trails that connect people, communities, and nature. One of HWPI's primary focuses is the Border-To-Border (B2B) Trail, a non-motorized pathway initiative led by the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. The B2B is an ADA-accessible, paved pathway consisting of eight different trail corridors that connect various cities, parks, and destinations throughout Washtenaw County.

This semester, I worked on the Bridge the B2B fundraising campaign, an initiative focused on completing the Dexter trail connection and restoring the historic Bell Road Bridge. The project is spearheaded by HWPI, which is deeply committed to enhancing outdoor access and increasing community engagement in Dexter. This current campaign leverages peer-to-peer fundraising to raise awareness and support for this effort. My role involved creating user-friendly tutorials to guide fundraisers through the setup and customization of their fundraising pages.

I chose to work with this agency because their mission has a tangible and lasting impact on the Washtenaw County and running communities. By improving trail connectivity and restoring a landmark bridge, the project promotes health, sustainability, and historical preservation. Our contributions empower local volunteers and donors to take action more effectively, ensuring broader participation and greater fundraising success. Supporting this initiative means supporting community connection—both physically, through the trail, and socially, through collective fundraising.