Albany Park Community Center (APCC) – one of the largest social service agencies on Chicago’s North Side provides services that meet the needs of community members as they decide their own life path. We are proud to begin a partnership with our new client APCC. We are working to bring awareness to their vital services and have already garnered media coverage with Univision, a media company serving Hispanic and Latino Americans, and other neighborhood outlets.
New Intern Joins Communication Strategies Group
Communication Strategies Group welcomes Payton Blakney as a communication intern. Throughout the internship, Payton will draft communication content, pitch to media, develop digital media outreach for social media, and assist staff with other projects as needed. Payton is a recent graduate from Eastern Illinois University located in Charleston, Ill. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and a minor in advertising. As a student at EIU, Payton was the president of The Agency, a student-run media production firm, fundraising chair for the Public Relations Student Society of America, and a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association’s collegiate honor society. Also, Payton worked as a social media intern for EIU’s Department of Communication Studies. This fall, Payton will return to EIU to begin earning her master’s in strategic communication.
“I am honored to be a member of CSG. I look forward to gaining experience in the industry and learning from experienced communication professionals.”
Sharing the Story on Pre-vivorship
We read about fundraising events every day. But what really stands out are the stories behind those events, and demonstrating the impact of donors’ investments. Read how one woman’s story came full circle, as we garnered media attention from our client’s target outlet: http://makeitbetter.net/better-you/hereditary-breast-ovarian-cancer-prevention-options-empowerment/
Communication Strategies Group Welcomes New Hire
Joining Communication Strategies Group as Communications Coordinator is Olivia Zimmermann. Olivia earned her bachelor’s degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Public Relations, with a minor study in Corporate Communications. There, Olivia gained more than three years of professional public relations, marketing, advertising, and graphic design experience through three other internships. Olivia was in the Public Relations Student Society of America, Milwaukee Chapter as well as Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association’s collegiate honor society.
“I am so excited to be introduced to CSG’s unique client base and pleased to help drive change in their organizations.”
Restoring Consumer’s Confidence in Hair Restoration
Hair restoration surgery requires specially trained surgeons who are well-versed in the proper techniques. Our new client, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, engaged CSG to target both consumers and their own members, and put an end to the world-wide dangerous practice of unlicensed technicians performing surgery. CSG created an integrated campaign to educate consumers about hair loss treatment and restoration. Coverage in international media outlets including Reader’s Digest and Health News Digest, is driving consumers to the ISHRS website to find a qualified physician member.
We are working with ISHRS on a new consumer friendly website as well. Stay tuned!
Game On!
At CSG we continue to advise and share our expertise in membership engagement and marketing communications with national associations. To get Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine members excited about a new conference and introduce them to new benefits, we developed the Alliance All Star game, a fun way to encourage members to break from their comfort zone and meet new people, including those from different member organizations. Players completed various activities and then entered to win a number of prizes.
Learn more about how associations are engaging members with gamification in an article authored by CSG’s Candice Warltier that appeared in the Forum Magazine. Click to read article.
Physicians Walking the Walk
With the changing landscape of the media, landing coverage isn’t easy. But the CSG team pulled together a package for the Gaples Institute that enticed WGN-TV to come out and cover healthcare providers learning how to cook so they can practice what they prescribe. Take a look!. Click here
The Molecularium® Project
We just landed The Molecularium® Project (www.molecularium.com) as a new client! We are working on a PR strategy for the flagship education effort of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Nanotechnology Center aimed at boosting global science literacy. We will soon launch NanoSpace, a new, web-based, virtual theme park for children of all ages that encourages children to explore the world of atoms and molecules with games, activities and short animations in a fun-filled amusement park and learning environment.
CSG at TCW Salutes 100 Women Making a Difference Event
CSG’s Lynda Baldwin and Candice Warltier were among over 200 guests who enjoyed networking among “Chicago’s best and brightest female minds”.
CSG Accepts Publicity Club of Chicago’s Golden Trumpet Award
Communication Strategies Group proudly accepts the Publicity Club of Chicago’s Golden Trumpet Award for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s “Reality Check” campaign.
CANDICE AND LYNDA OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES GROUP WITH MARIA WYNNE, CEO, GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER CHICAGO AND NORTHWEST INDIANA
CSG Recognized with Three PR Awards
We are thrilled that we won three awards for Reality Check, an integrated marketing campaign we partnered on with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI), designed to empower girls ages 13-17 (Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts) to share the “real” realities of their lives. IABC declared us the 2012 Bronze Quill Awards winner. We received the Golden Trumpet from The Publicity Club (PCC) and PRSA recognized the campaign with an Award of Excellence in the public service/partnerships category.
CSG Executives Mentor Youth
CSG Principal Candice Warltier dusted off her sleeping bag and headed to Camp CEO, a leadership camp hosted by the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, where she was paired with a Girl Scout “buddy.” Over camp fires, canoeing and a scavenger hunt she shared her success story and tips on what girls can do to prepare for the future.
Moose Appear on “Queer Eye”
CSG landed Moose International, an international organization of men and women dedicated to caring for young and old, on Bravo’s “Queer Eye For the Straight Guy”. Our team worked to prepare the Moose members for the Reality TV program that featured the Fab Five performing a complete makeover of the interior of the Huntington Moose facility on Long Island. In addition, they helped twelve diverse men of the Loyal Order of Moose raise money to benefit the children of Mooseheart, a nonprofit child residential facility and school based outside of Chicago, Illinois. The members posed for an all-in-good-fun, almost-nude fundraising calendar in the style of Calendar Girls, the hit 2003 Disney movie. The program increased awareness for the organization among the public and generated excitement among existing members.
