The Drexel University ExCITe Center has always been a place for students to learn and improve on their app development skills. Now, we are expanding what we can do for not only Drexel students, but also for the surrounding community. On June 3rd, with the help of WordPress, Rebrand Cities, the Lancaster Avenue Business Association (LA21), and the West Philadelphia Business Association, the ExCITe Center hosted their inaugural Website Build-A-Thon.

During this event, Drexel students helped 12 local business owners create or update websites with the goal of improving their digital presence. An active web presence can have an incredible impact on a business, especially when surrounded by over 40,000 undergraduate students in the University City area alone. By uniting Drexel students with local business owners, we hope to create a relationship that can benefit both parties. Our students will gain invaluable web development experience while also enhancing their skills on teaching others how to utilize WordPress. The small business owners will gain a website that can display the spirit and personality of their business that will increase their visibility and develop a strong digital presence. By forming this strong bond between Drexel University and the Lancaster Avenue Business Association, we hope to bring attention to these local businesses, and show students how many options they have, only blocks away from campus.

Drexel University has a goal to become the most civically engaged university in the country, and by connecting Drexel students with our local community and its businesses, the ExCITe Center is set to help achieve that goal.

Below are some of the websites that we have worked on for the local business owners:

https://blackstarsupply.com/

https://lapearlbeauty.wordpress.com/

https://nadirahsalon.com/

https://sugarbearschildcare.wordpress.com/

https://championdentistry.wordpress.com/

We will be looking for dedicated students to help us expand this project and strengthen the bond that has been formed with the Lancaster Avenue Business Association. Prior WordPress experience isn’t needed.  The ExCITe Center wants students with the willingness to learn web development skills and the passion to help and teach others how to create a beautiful website. By participating in this initiative, students will learn valuable skills and gain a great resume boosting experience. If interested, or if you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us at civic@excitecenter.org.