Throughout BCOM 350, I was challenged to apply my communication skills to real-world scenarios for the Coalition to Empower Victims of Gender-Based Violence (CEVGV). What started as an assignment to produce social media content rapidly developed into an opportunity to combine purpose-driven storytelling with professional development. This post looks back on my experience with the CEVGV, the lessons I learned, and how this work has increased my employability and my knowledge of social impact on communication.
1. Creating Social Media Content and Improving Employability
Creating content for the CEVGV took me beyond theoretical communication skills and moved me into practical applications. I began to understand how to tailor a message for sensitive and vital causes such as gender-based violence prevention and remain professional, informative, and empowering. My time in BCOM 350 has and assisting the CEVGV has refined my ability to:
• Think intentionally about message tone, timing, and audience engagement.
• Use digital services like Canva, Google Workspace, and Zoom to organize and distribute content professionally.
• Show initiative and ingenuity in a service-oriented role, these traits are highly respected by employers.
I have the ability to include my work as part of a portfolio with concrete examples of content, engagement methods, and community outreach. This is a powerful skill to bring into interviews and be able to show employers how I can use communication to serve a greater cause.
2. Lessons in Collaboration and Teamwork
One of the greatest takeaways from my time in BCOM 350 was understanding how to work as a team towards a shared objective. Creating content for the CEVGV necessitated ongoing contact with classmates, constructive feedback loops through Trello, and trusting your team to complete their assigned tasks.
The team considered multiple perspectives when editing posts, choosing statistics, and picking imagery. These discussions taught me that successful teamwork means:
• Listening actively to guarantee all team members are heard.
• Delegating roles based on strengths, such as design, writing, research, and scheduling.
• Accepting feedback as a tool for development, not as criticism.
Working in this way mirrored the subtleties of a real work environment and reinforced how cooperation is crucial when working on socially responsible campaigns.
3. Calculating Our Impact
Our goal was to design posts that raised awareness and inspired action. To measure our achievements, we observed at social media metrics such as post reach, shares, and engagement rates. The posts that had the best performance were those that:
• Distributed personal stories and survivor-centered messaging.
• Contained statistics that were easy to digest and visually attractive.
• Presented actionable resources such as hotline numbers or links to support services.
Some of our top-performing posts emphasized the 3 things to look for in an abusive relationship. Watching it resonate with the CEVGV’s audience was worthwhile and showed that content can be both informative and powerful when created considerately.
4. Guaranteeing Content Was Accurate, Appropriate, and Engaging
With a topic as somber as gender-based violence, precision and compassion were non-negotiable. To generate quality content, I used a multi-step process:
A. Studied thoroughly ensuring reliable sources such as the CDC, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), and Statista.
B. Cross-checked data with other sources before entering them in posts.
C. Crafted captions and post text with empathy, utilized trauma-informed language to prevent victim-blaming or sensationalism.
D. Developed visuals in Canva that were clean, in line with the CEVGV’s brand, and appropriate in tone.
E. Programed posts for important awareness dates, such as Sexual Assault Awareness Month or Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
By handling the content with care and attentiveness, we preserved the integrity of the message while increasing its relevance and readability.
5. The Role of Statista in Our Success
Access to Statista was very important for confirming our content was factual and compelling. Statista’s data pictures added a professional style to our posts, and more notably, they helped communicate multifaceted issues quickly and clearly.
For example, I utilized the visual below in one of our awareness posts about violence against women worldwide:
(Statista, n.d.).
This chart offered a global perspective on gender-based violence and helped emphasize the widespread nature of domestic violence. Statista’s instinctive interface made it stress-free to find updated data and add visuals into our Canva designs.
Using Statista also showed me the significance of visual storytelling in digital communication. A single well-sourced diagram can have more information than a paragraph of text and draw viewers in before they read the caption.
Final Reflection: Turning Skills into service
This assignment was more than an academic requirement it was an opportunity to make a difference. Designing content for the CEVGV showed me of the influence communication has in defining public awareness and advocacy. It also gave me direct experience incorporating course theories to the real world, from social media strategy to ethical communication.
Most importantly, it increased my commitment to using communication as a force for good. Regardless of if I end up in marketing, HR, nonprofit outreach, or public relations, this knowledge has prepared me with both the abilities and the heart to lead with purpose.
References:
Statista. (n.d.). Family and partner femicide rate worldwide by region. Statista. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1538130/family-partner-femicide-rate-worldwide-region/
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