PM Challenge supports Worcester nonprofit in addressing food insecurity

The School of Professional Studies recently concluded the PM Challenge, a multi-round competition that brought graduate students together to develop practical, executable project plans that maximize results with minimal budget and resources. 

The competition was sponsored by the Master’s in Project Management program, which is accredited by the PMI Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC). The program is also STEM-Designated.

The challenge involved creating fundraising solutions for The Mustard Seed, a Worcester nonprofit that provides meals and food assistance to vulnerable community members, including older adults, people experiencing homelessness, veterans, and individuals in need. Teams were asked to create low-cost, community-driven fundraising strategies that could be implemented within six months, while also addressing outreach, donor engagement, sustainability, and the human side of food insecurity.

By working with an existing nonprofit, participants applied project management skills to a real-world community issue with direct local relevance. Their ideas aimed to help strengthen The Mustard Seed’s capacity so the organization can continue purchasing food, expand its reach, and better serve Worcester residents facing hardship.

“The PM Challenge reflected Clark’s commitment to experiential learning, community engagement, and student-led impact,” said Mary M Piecewicz, MSPM program director. “It also showcased how graduate students can use project management not only as a professional skill, but also as a tool to create meaningful change.”

The PM Challenge was managed by MSPM students Abhishek Rajendra, Singh Janu, Faith Akello, Manjari Gupta, Romain Kiragoulou, and Karanveer Singh.

The Challenge judges were Mike Beneditti, house and volunteer coordinator at The Mustard Seed; Ray Davis PMP, assistant director of engineering at the city of Worcester and a member of the MSPM Advisory Council; and Aakash Garg, CFA, PMP, program manager in the Enterprise Project Management Office at Commonwealth Financial Network and a member of the MSPM Advisory Council.