Consult for a Cause

Every year, HUCG hosts Consult for a Cause, a consulting hackathon involving a non-profit organization. This year, HUCG is thrilled to be working with the Institute for Integrated Transitions, an international non-governmental organization aiming to bridge social and political divides and expand the spectrum of imagined solutions throughout peace projects worldwide.

Our own HUCG members along with pre-frosh who have indicated interest in our organization have been invited to participate.

 

CFAC Fall 2024

The Harvard Undergraduate Consulting Group (HUCG) is incredibly excited to present Consult for a Cause, a day-long consulting hackathon beginning on mid-August in collaboration with the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT).

Our goal is to bring together the bright young minds of HUCG and beyond to tackle real strategic challenges facing teams like IFIT that look to revolutionize the way non-violent conflict negotiations are handled. The day-long event includes opportunities to develop and showcase problem-solving skills and engage with like-minded students.

Participants spend the week working in teams of 3 - 4 members to produce a short slide deck summarizing research and key insights. At the CFAC event’s conclusion, all teams present their findings to HUCG’s Directors and the decks will be passed along to the IFIT team. 

The following is the prompt for the event: What is the current state of nonviolent negotiation modeling today? We will explore the latest developments, theoretical frameworks, and case studies that highlight the effectiveness and limitations of existing models. How can IFIT develop a market strategy that brings their new framework to the public? We will focus on strategic planning and market positioning for IFIT's innovative nonviolent negotiation framework. We will discuss target audiences, communication strategies, and implementation plans to ensure widespread adoption and influence. More information regarding the prompt will be released the day before the event.

Sign up with this form linked here!

Please contact info@harvardundergradconsulting.org if you have any questions or inquiries.

 
 
 

Previous HUCG-Hosted CFAC Events

 

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

In summer 2023, HUCG worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.


During CFAC, teams analyzed the current state of the UNHCR’s youth engagement relative to the overall landscape of youth engagement in global development. This culminated in recommendations for how UNHCR could build its youth advocacy network to maximize its impact in 5 selected countries.

 

Goddard Space Flight Center

In summer 2022, HUCG worked with the Goddard Space Flight Center, a major NASA space research laboratory that is home to the nation's largest organization of scientists, engineers and technologists who build spacecraft, and other instruments and technology to study Earth and our universe.


During CFAC, teams developed ways for the Goddard Space Flight Center to understand Gen Z’s perspective on climate change and to better engage Gen Z to address recent trends. 

 

American Heart Association

In Fall 2021, HUCG worked with the American Heart Association (AHA), the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, and strives to use research, education, and advocacy towards an equitable and healthy world.

During CFAC, teams developed ways for AHA to best leverage partnerships with high school students, administrators, and programs in order to boost youth engagement and health awareness.

 

NAACP

In Spring 2021, HUCG partnered with the Boston Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the oldest chartered branch of the NAACP. NAACP is the pre-eminent civil rights organization fighting to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.

During CFAC, teams developed communication strategies that focuses on both internal communication with its current members and external communication with the broader Boston community.

Boston Arts Music & Soul (BAMS) Fest

In Fall 2020, HUCG partnered with BAMS Fest, a nonprofit organization that breaks down racial and social barriers to arts, music, and culture across Greater Boston, through the presentation of an annual festival, signature events, and strategic partnerships. BAMS Fest celebrates and supports both artists and audiences, with an emphasis on Afro-diasporic voices, perspectives, and artistry.

During CFAC, teams developed a messaging strategy to cement their brand identity at the forefront of championing racial equity in art and music and recommended an infrastructure of year-round events to support Black and Brown artists.

 
 

Breaktime Cafe

In Fall 2019, HUCG partnered with Breaktime Cafe, Boston’s first supported transitional employment program for young adults experiencing homelessness. Breaktime tackles and prevents long-term chronic homelessness through early intervention and providing accessible pathways to launching a career.

During CFAC, teams proposed new methods for Breaktime Cafe to capitalize on its existing message and spread its mission through marketing and partnerships.

 
 

American Cancer Society

In Fall 2018, HUCG worked with the American Cancer Society, a global non-profit with more than 100 years history focused on eradicating cancer with 1.5 million grassroots volunteers. In fact, these 1.5 million volunteers have been the backbone of the American Cancer Society.

During CFAC, teams were tasked with identifying how volunteerism has been changing and how the American Cancer Society can adapt to those changes.