This fall, Rebecca Weaver's Fall 2014 Technical Communication class had the opportunity to work with Hagar Civilization Training Missionary (HCTM) to create the WestSide non-profit's digital presence—a website, social media presence, and tactile marketing materials, including letterheads, business cards, event flyers, and newsletter templates. HCTM, headquartered at 19 Joseph E Lowery Boulevard NW in Atlanta, works on neighborhood revitalization and community building.

The technical communication class, part of Georgia Tech's Writing and Communication Program, provided students with a semester-long experience working for a community client with real deadlines while developing strategies for composing professional communication. In addition to creating communication projects for HCTM, students produced an instruction manual to guide the organization in learning to utilize these new materials. While working on this rel-world application, students studied communication theory, including the causes and effects of the digital divide, characteristics of digital philanthropy, best practices for non-profit digital communication, and the WestSide's history and relationship with Georgia Tech.

On December 4, students presented their completed projects to representatives from HCTM, the WestSide Communities Alliance, Tech's Community Engagement Office, and various LMC and other faculty, students, and staff. Sister Precious Mohamed, HCTM's founder, expressed deep pleasure and gratitude for the students' work in helping her organization "enter the digital age and become available to the community."