The FIRE team supported the Yes For Westerville Schools campaign from start to finish, contributing to the decisive passage of a 0.75% Earned Income Tax for Westerville City Schools. Through strategic rebranding, clear and compelling messaging, and robust Get Out the Vote efforts, we were deeply embedded in every step of a winning campaign.

Campaign Branding

The Fire team worked with YFWS campaign volunteers to develop cohesive and consistent branding that stood out, reflected community values, and drove messaging throughout the campaign.

A collection of playing cards with the text 'West Virginia' and the number 1, featuring a heart symbol, scattered on a surface.
A pile of crumpled and folded t-shirts with red, white, and blue text and graphics, overlapping each other.
Graphic with the words 'YES FOR WETERUVE SCHOOLS' and a checkmark inside a square at the top.
A graphic featuring the phrase 'I love Westerville Schools' with a heart symbol in place of the word 'love', set against a blue and white background.
A sign with red and white background and blue and red text that reads 'Protect Westerville Schools'.

This video received over 80,000 views.

Messaging was developed and shared in order to create a consistent and controlled narrative around the campaign. Messaging was relayed through a variety of tactics, including detailed documents and training for volunteers, and through social media campaigns and events.

Message Building and socials

A flyer with a blue and white theme promoting voting for Westerville Schools in Ohio. It includes sections on funding, spending, and tax levies, highlighting community concerns and fiscal details.
A document detailing school budget cuts and changes. It includes sections on pay-to-participate fees, transportation, administrative positions, elementary and middle school positions, high school positions, support positions, and other items for consideration. The document also features a call to action with social media handles, a QR code for volunteering or donations, and a note indicating it was paid for by the community.
A flyer promoting a levy support campaign for Westerville City Schools, featuring the McWay Elementary logo and a message explaining the importance of the levy, with a blue border and icons for social media interaction.

social Media Video Projects

Campaign Organization

Emma Nelson served as campaign co-chair for the Yes For Westerville Schools campaign, overseeing campaign organization, strategy development, and team dynamics. She played a key role in building a collaborative, mission-driven team that successfully carried the campaign to passage.

2025 Levy Steering Committee organizational chart showing various teams and members, with a blue and white color scheme.
A detailed schedule for the 2025 Levy Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Blair IT, including agenda items, facilitators, and times for different sessions.

Labor Union Outreach and engagement

John Sands served as WEA Political Action Committee Chair and was a member of the Yes for Westerville Schools Levy campaign executive committee. As such, his job was to bridge the often tricky to navigate tricky nature of the relationship between labor and management, communicating with Union, District, and Campaign leadership to minimize misunderstandings. John was a fierce advocate for his fellow educators while working on the committee, reminding all involved what was at stake while refusing to make excuses for those members unwilling to get involved in our efforts. Through clear communication and targeted, realistic asks, we were able to engage hundreds of teachers as volunteers.

Introduction to WEA Membership

Teacher Get Out The Vote & Last Call for Volunteers!

Email from WEA dated October 22, 2025, encouraging Westerville City School District residents to vote YES on Issue 39 and the school income tax, emphasizing the importance of teachers and community involvement.
Text-based flyer with school-related events and announcements, including a school board meeting, lit drop routes, a rally for public schools, and a dress-up day for teachers.
Screenshot of a communication with announcements about Wear Your I Love Westerville Shirt Day on Monday, November 3, and Election Day on Tuesday, November 4. Includes details on staffing, shifts, and volunteer sign-up links, with a closing message of encouragement from Sands.

Get Out The Vote and Grass Roots Efforts

The FIRE team led innovative, grassroots Get Out the Vote efforts that energized the community and built momentum throughout the campaign. From coordinating “Weeks of Action” to launching the widely visible I Love Westerville Schools t-shirt campaign, our strategies centered on authentic community pride and peer-to-peer engagement. We activated supporters through targeted peer-to-peer outreach, student-led rallies, and volunteer-driven conversations that met voters where they were, ultimately turning enthusiasm into action and votes.

Flyer for Westerville Student Rally to protect schools, scheduled for October 5th at 3:30 PM at City Hall, promoting protest to save arts, music, gym, libraries, sports, clubs, college classes, and more, with images of students and signs.
A campaign poster encouraging voting for Westerville Schools with text messages about planning to vote YES, including a checklist option, colorful design, and bold fonts.
A digital poster encouraging Westerville school voting, listing daily activities from October 30th to November 4th to support the schools, including texting friends, sharing posts, neighborhood walk, rally, wearing school shirts, and voting on Election Day.
Poster encouraging support for Westerville Schools with information about donation and voting deadlines, featuring multiple hands holding signs and ballots.