That’s why, through a growing partnership between the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business and Upper Albany Main Street, students are working alongside local entrepreneurs to strengthen these businesses while gaining valuable real-world experience.
The collaboration is rooted in a simple idea: business education should extend beyond the classroom. “Business schools have a responsibility not only to teach theory, but to demonstrate how business knowledge can improve lives and communities,” says Beverly Redd, executive director of Upper Albany Main Street. “By engaging directly with neighborhoods like Upper Albany, students see how business can be a powerful tool for community development.”
Many of the longstanding businesses along Albany Avenue struggle with adapting to the increasingly digital economy. That’s where Barney students step in—collaborating directly with business owners on projects like building websites, launching social media accounts, developing marketing plans, and implementing basic digital tools.
“We’ve seen very tangible outcomes,” explains Barney Professor Chavon Campbell. “Students have supported small business owners in beginning their journey toward bridging gaps in technology literacy by helping them establish a digital presence. For many businesses, that’s a critical first step toward long-term sustainability and growth.”
The partnership is a win-win: business owners gain access to professional marketing support, business strategy guidance, and digital tools which might otherwise be too challenging or expensive for them. Meanwhile, students get to see the impact of their work.
Chavon Campbell, Barney School of Business ProfessorStudents develop leadership, project management, teamwork, professionalism, and technology skills. But they also learn cultural humility, communication, and how to think critically about equity and economic development.
“Students develop leadership, project management, teamwork, professionalism, and technology skills,” Campbell says. “But they also learn cultural humility, communication, and how to think critically about equity and economic development.”
Upper Albany itself plays a powerful role in shaping the partnership. For generations, the neighborhood has been a center of African American entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and cultural identity in Hartford. That history guides the work being done today.
“Our partnership begins with respect for the neighborhood’s legacy and strengths,” Redd explains. “Students learn that successful economic development must build on the culture, identity, and priorities of the community.”
For many students, it’s a transformative moment when business owners who once felt hesitant about digital tools begin to gain confidence—and eventually start asking bigger questions about growth, expansion, and new opportunities. “That shift, from uncertainty to confidence, is incredibly powerful,” says Redd. “An entrepreneur begins to see themselves not just as a business owner, but as someone capable of innovation and long-term growth.”
Both Barney and UAMS are working to grow the partnership and explore greater possibilities in the future—all with the goal of preparing students to be success ready.
“This is an opportunity for students to apply their classroom knowledge in real time,” Campbell says. “They can see the impact of their work, follow projects from start to finish, and graduate with meaningful experience that employers value.”