Morgantown MarCom

Service 03

Public Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement

Decisions that affect your organization are often made by people you don't talk to every day. We help you reach them and explain your position clearly. Heather has lobbied at the West Virginia Capitol and helped pass state legislation. Here is what public affairs work can include. Every engagement is scoped to what you need.

  • Government and community relations

    Working relationships with the offices and communities that shape your work.

    • Legislative affairs and lobbyingWorking with legislators and staff at the West Virginia Capitol on the issues that affect you.
    • Government outreachContact with local, state and federal offices on your issues.
    • Briefing materialsOne-pagers and leave-behinds for meetings.
    • Meeting prep and follow-upTalking points before, thank-you notes and next steps after.
    • Community outreachConnecting with the neighborhoods your work affects.

  • Stakeholder mapping and engagement

    Knowing who has a stake in your issue and how to reach them.

    Heather Severt speaks with community leaders during a building walkthrough.
    On site with community leaders. Photo Credit: Robert Fornataro
    • Stakeholder mappingWho has a stake in your issue and where they stand.
    • Audience prioritiesWhat each group cares about and what worries them.
    • Engagement plansWho to reach, in what order and when.
    • Listening sessions and site visitsBringing people together to hear concerns and see the work.

  • Coalition and partner communications

    Helping partners speak with one voice.

    • Shared messagingTalking points every partner can use.
    • Partner toolkitsReady-to-share posts, graphics and sample language.
    • Coalition updatesAgendas, summaries and regular updates for partners.
    • Joint announcementsWritten for partner groups to release together.
    • Letters of support and endorsementDrafted in your organization's voice, ready to sign.

  • Advocacy and issue campaigns

    Making a clear case on the issues that matter to you.

    • Issue messagingThe case for your position, with fact sheets to back it up.
    • Campaign planningGoals, tactics and timelines mapped out ahead of time.
    • Grassroots outreachEngaging supporters in their own communities.
    • Action alertsTimely asks that tell supporters exactly what to do.
    • Letters to the editor and op-edsWritten for you or your supporters, then submitted to local papers.

  • Public meetings, hearings and testimony

    Preparing for the moments when you speak on the record.

    • TestimonyWritten and reviewed testimony for hearings.
    • Hearing prepGetting ready for hearings and public comment periods.
    • Town hallsPlanning and materials for community meetings.
    • Practice sessionsRehearsals with the questions you are likely to face.

Need the message behind the effort? See Communications Strategy, or see all five areas of practice.

Questions

Common questions

What does a public affairs consultant do?

Public affairs work helps organizations build relationships with officials, community groups and other stakeholders, and explain their position on issues that affect them. It can include government and community outreach, coalition communications, advocacy campaigns and preparation for public meetings and testimony.

What is stakeholder mapping?

Stakeholder mapping identifies the people and groups who have a stake in your issue, what each one cares about and where they stand, so outreach goes to the right people in the right order.

Can you help us prepare testimony or public comments?

Yes. We help draft and review testimony, prepare for hearings and public comment periods, and run practice sessions with the questions you are likely to face.

Contact

Start a conversation.

The best first step is a short conversation about what you are trying to accomplish. Email is the fastest way to reach us.

Heather Severt

Founder + Principal

Email us

Send a message

Your information is used only to respond to your message.