Sankofa Community Development Corporation:

Expanding Community

Sankofa Community Development Corporation (Sankofa CDC) operates in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, with a mission centered on health, wellness, urban revitalization, and environmental justice. Their aim is to create a local environment that fosters positive health outcomes and builds healthier communities for future generations. Sankofa hired DMS Communications to develop a comprehensive strategy to use social media platforms and earned media to amplify their mission and expand their reach.

Situation

Sankofa was clearly doing great work in the Lower Ninth Ward, and had recently completed 20 acres of wetlands restoration, the Sankofa Wetlands & Nature Trail. However, not enough people–residents, families, kids, schools, teachers, and outdoor enthusiasts–knew about the park and other Sankofa efforts including the People’s Garden, Main Street Initiative, and food pantry.

Instagram, LinkedIn and Earned Media Strategy

DMS Communications developed a roadmap to consistently raise awareness, engage donors, partners, and volunteers, maintain a strong social media presence, and earn media attention.

• Wrote strategic earned media plan and developed press releases and pitches for media stories that showcase Sankofa’s work
• Share impactful stories as story posts or reels about Sankofa’s projects, community impact, and personal journeys.
• Engage the audience with regular project updates and program highlights.
• Promote events like “Nature Fest” and “Second Saturday”.
• Garner support for “GiveNOLA Day” through clear calls to action.
• Provide in-depth insights into restoration and reforestation projects.
• Use visuals like before-and-after photos to illustrate progress.
• Collaborate with partners to emphasize environmental justice commitment.
• Encourage visits to the wetland park for community health and children’s outdoor activities.
• Shared educational content and interactive STEAM learning opportunities.

Social Media Results

• Reach Metrics: Instagram post reached more than 40,000 followers
• Followers: More than 2,500 overall followers
• Shares: Sankofa’s content was received well, being shared over 450 times
• “Nature Fest” garnered high engagement with more than 300 people in attendance.
• “Second Saturday” events maintained consistent engagement over time, with strong local participation and increased interest in various activities.