A large section of United States citizens live far away from supermarkets and do not have an easy way to get to one. This portion of the population lives in an area called a food desert. Food deserts are geographic areas in which access to affordable, healthy food, such as fresh produce, is limited or completely nonexistent due to the absence of convenient grocery stores. Individuals living in food deserts are left to rely on convenience store snacks and fast food for their meals because they do not have access to a grocery store with fresh produce in their area. Unhealthy foods also lead to health issues, as people living in food deserts are typically at a higher risk of diet-related conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Harvest, a sustainable farming network, is a smartphone application that teaches and guides people living in small spaces through the process of growing fresh, nutritious produce in their own homes. The app will guide users through the entire process of gardening, from seed to harvest. Harvest would give individuals living in food deserts an opportunity to access fresh produce that they currently can’t access. An overwhelming response based on our user discussion and market analysis revealed that our platform was in demand. Development of a target market, brand guide, and full lifecycle were beneficial during the second semester as Harvest moved forward. Through the development of a website, social media platform, and smartphone application, Harvest grew traction for our platform. Our social media accounts saw a 1700% growth rate, and this wider audience was able to provide helpful feedback.

During a joint ASU-Prescott College visit to the Maasai Mara in Kenya in June-July 2018, it became obvious that many Maasai women produce beadwork sold locally to help support their families. The difficulties they face include inconsistent sales due to lack of customers, lulls in tourism, and unfair competition. During this visit, the idea of selling the crafts online via Etsy was suggested. It received overwhelming support from the community through MERC, the The Maasai Education, Research and Conservation Institute.

In the current age of modernization, the traditional way of living seems to be the way of the past. The Masai Mara Game Reserve, one of the world’s finest wildlife reserves, the nation's top tourist attractions became a big part of the Nation's economy post-independence after 1963. Seeing the potential of the tourism market, the Kenyan Government, back in 1960’s, passed various laws for land escheatment from the protected Maasai Reservation for key positions in politics (Olo-Dapash, 2001). This subsequently divided the Mara, allowed for foreign bodies to buy land, eventually leading to a rise in the cost of living. The traditional Maasai are currently fighting for a way to preserve their culture while still being able to live in their ancestral land. To combat high costs, many Maasai have turned to giving tours in the Mara as tour guides. The Maasai Education, Research, and Conservation (MERC) partnering with the Mara Guide Association created a facility, the Dopoi Center, to help the Maasai become independent. This research focuses on the limited medical facilities the Maasai have access to, and the feasibility of having a medical center at the Dopoi Center.