Krantz Strategies

Great to see the Chicago Tribune covering Cook County’s Environmental Justice Policy and the critical input from residents across the county. Public engagement drives meaningful policy change. From Skokie to South Holland and everywhere in between, residents have shared their concerns, priorities, and solutions to shape a more just and sustainable future. We’re proud to support Cook County’s engagement efforts, ensuring that community voices remain at the center of this process. To our Cook County network: If you haven’t shared your input yet, there’s still time to make your voice heard!

Krantz Strategies is proud to partner with the Alabama Dental Association on the More for Your Smile legislative campaign. More for Your Smile began two years ago as Krantz Strategies' very first project with the Illinois State Dental Society, where we helped secure meaningful dental insurance reform at the statehouse. Since then, this strategy, branding, and messaging have been instrumental in Rhode Island’s major legislative victories—and now, it’s generating buzz in Alabama. Yesterday, ALDA proudly launched More for Your Smile Alabama with a virtual press conference that garnered statewide media attention, shining a spotlight on the critical need for dental coverage reform in the state. Check out this awesome local coverage our team (H/T to Gabriella Spizzirri and Meredith VanKampen Krantz) helped secure:

As we reflect on what we’re thankful for this holiday season, Krantz Strategies is especially grateful for the outstanding nonprofits we’ve had the privilege to work with. With Giving Tuesday just a week away, we’re excited to share 6 organizations that continue to inspire us with their leadership and impact. Thank you to Illinois Joining Forces, Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness, Giant Steps Inc., Veteran Business Project, The Rise Foundation by Envoy, Inc. and the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation for the important work you do every day to uplift communities and change lives. Explore the list here: ? https://lnkd.in/gSqaUpBg

A simple philosophy: Don't just check the box. Achieve the goal.

This week, we paused to honor Veterans Day and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served our country. At Krantz Strategies, we are proud to work alongside organizations like Illinois Joining Forces to provide veterans and their families with opportunities and resources that make a real difference. Illinois Joining Forces recently relaunched their Connect-A-Vet campaign, an?initiative?designed to help veterans overcome isolation and find community, especially during the holiday season.?Chairwoman of Illinois Joining Forces, Erica Borggren,?joined the Ray Stevens Show to share tips on supporting veterans who may be struggling, highlighting Operation Connect-A-Vet. Erica also shares how veterans can turn their military experience into meaningful careers.? Listen to the interview here: https://lnkd.in/g-EUY6XJ.

Illinois-based Veteran Business Project recently launched a groundbreaking partnership with Canary Speech to help veteran entrepreneurs manage mental health with AI-powered voice analysis. This partnership is giving veterans real-time insights into their stress, mood, and energy levels, which translates to better well-being and business success. The potential goes beyond veterans, too. Imagine if detecting depression, anxiety or cognitive decline could be as simple as speaking into your phone. With this technology, that’s becoming a reality. Krantz Strategies is thrilled to partner with teams that are redefining mental health care, particularly for veterans who encounter unique challenges. Looking for more insight on how this technology works? Check out Audacy, Inc. Connecting Vets for a recent feature on our virtual media roundtable.

Krantz Strategies is proud to support CMAP’s Safe Travel for All as the public engagement consultant for Will County’s Safety Action Plan. When we started working on this plan, we had one goal in mind: making sure that every person feels safer on the roads. That’s why we’re energized about our efforts to connect with many voices in the community, helping to make a real difference for safe travel.

In the past five years, women-owned small businesses have surged, encouraging more underrepresented groups to pursue their entrepreneurial dream. In 2019, women made up 28% of new business owners, and by 2021, that number nearly doubled to 49%. Today, more than 14 million women are building their dreams—and the momentum continues! Here are some of our favorite ways we can all support women in business and champion their success: 1. Broadcast Your Wins – Be proud of your achievements and share them openly. When women tell their stories, they inspire the next generation of leaders. 2. Mentor or Volunteer – Be a role model! By being more visible, whether through mentoring or volunteering, you can encourage young women to pursue their own business dreams. 3.?Network with Women Entrepreneurs – Building connections with other women in business is one of the best ways to create support systems and grow together. 4. Support Women-Owned Businesses on Social Media – Even if you don’t own a business, you can still help by promoting female entrepreneurs on social media. Share their stories, products, and services to help spread the word and show your support! Cheers to all these amazing women building their dreams, one business at a time!

Key trends shaping nonprofit marketing in 2024 include influencer and peer-to-peer marketing, the growing demand for measurable impact supported by stories that stick, and the concept of generous listening to create more inclusive communications.? ? Thank you to Marquette Hamlin Group for engaging with Krantz Strategies to dive deep into these trends. We also discussed how veteran nonprofits can look beyond the nonprofit sector, drawing inspiration from for-profit strategies to stay ahead of the curve and stand out. Together, we led veteran nonprofits through a collaborative conversation on integrated marking and communications to help them make an impact in 2024 and beyond.? ? The key takeaways from the training? Good marketing takes more time than money. You need to conquer the basics before expanding into everything and anything. Most importantly, fear can undermine your communications strategy and message – be bold to truly make an impact.

It’s been amazing to support the Will County Safety Action Plan public engagement efforts, which are now officially underway across the community. The Krantz Strategies team was on-site at the Will County Fair to launch our interactive activities, including the Safety Hotspots Map and a community survey to identify safety improvement opportunities throughout the county. In just one afternoon, we connected and collected insights from over 100 Will County travelers. These efforts are directly contributing to making Will County roads safer for everyone. Do you travel in Will County? Is there a street where you don’t feel safe crossing or an intersection with dangerous conditions? You can help improve traffic safety by contributing to the Will County Safety Action Plan! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gV2hJKVa