At Capital Strategic Solutions (CSS), we believe that effective public communication isn’t just about sharing information – it’s about inspiring action.
That principle guided our work on the Think Blue Massachusetts campaign, a statewide public education initiative designed to help residents understand how everyday behaviors impact local waterways and stormwater quality. While the science behind stormwater pollution is well established, one of the campaign’s greatest challenges was helping people see the connection between their individual actions and the health of their communities.
To meet that challenge, we knew we needed a message that was simple, relatable, and memorable.
Building a Campaign Around Everyday Actions
The Think Blue MA campaign focuses on practical behaviors that can make a meaningful difference in protecting Massachusetts waterways:
- Picking up after pets
- Preventing vehicle fluids from entering storm drains
- Using fertilizers responsibly
These actions may seem small, but collectively they have a significant impact on water quality across the Commonwealth.
As the campaign strategist and project manager, CSS worked closely with municipal partners and stakeholders to develop a communications approach that translated technical environmental concepts into messages that residents could easily understand and apply in their daily lives.
Finding the Right Creative Partner
Once the campaign’s messaging framework was established, we partnered with MediaBoss to bring the vision to life.
Over the years, CSS and MediaBoss have collaborated on numerous municipal and public-sector communications initiatives. Their team consistently demonstrates a unique ability to transform complex public policy and educational topics into engaging visual stories that resonate with audiences.
For Think Blue MA, MediaBoss proposed a stop-motion animation concept that immediately stood out.
In a digital landscape increasingly dominated by computer-generated and AI-generated content, stop-motion offered something different: authenticity. The handcrafted sets, physical props, and meticulous attention to detail created a visual style that felt approachable, memorable, and distinctly human.
The result was a creative execution that captured attention while reinforcing the campaign’s central message—that small actions can have a big impact.
The Power of Collaboration
Successful public awareness campaigns are built through collaboration.
The Think Blue MA project brought together environmental experts, municipal stakeholders, communication strategists, creative professionals, and trusted local voices, all working toward a common goal: helping residents better understand their role in protecting Massachusetts waterways.
MediaBoss’s creative team transformed campaign objectives into a compelling visual narrative, while veteran broadcaster David O’Leary lent a familiar and trusted voice to the project, helping make the message feel conversational and accessible.
Together, the partnership demonstrated how strategic communication and creative storytelling can work hand in hand to increase public understanding of important issues.
Recognized for Excellence
We were thrilled to see MediaBoss receive a Silver Telly Award for Excellence in Craft: Best Stop Motion for their work on the Think Blue MA video.
The recognition is a testament to the creativity, craftsmanship, and dedication that went into every frame of the project.
While awards are always appreciated, what matters most is the impact of the work itself. Public education campaigns succeed when they help people better understand an issue and empower them to take action. The Think Blue MA campaign continues to do exactly that by encouraging residents across Massachusetts to make simple choices that contribute to cleaner water and healthier communities.
“One of the reasons we’ve enjoyed working with MediaBoss for so many years is their passion for storytelling and their commitment to getting every detail right. They understand that effective public communication is about more than delivering information – it’s about creating a connection with the audience. The Think Blue MA project is a perfect example of how strategic communications and creative storytelling can come together to drive meaningful public engagement. We’re thrilled to see their work recognized with a Silver Telly Award and grateful to have partnered with them on this important initiative.”
— Nichol Figueiredo, CEO, Capital Strategic Solutions
“So much of infrastructure is unseen, which is why communication about it is so important. Even the most innovative solutions can only be effective if the people they serve understand their value. The benefits of these projects touch citizens, cities, towns, and future generations. Our job is to make the unseen, and often complex, easy to understand by showing the real-world impact. We love working with CSS because they share our belief that effective communication helps communities make informed decisions and ultimately improves quality of life for everyone.”
— Ian Barrett, Creative Director, MediaBoss
Looking ahead
At CSS, we’re proud to partner with organizations that share our commitment to meaningful public engagement.
Projects like Think Blue MA demonstrate that when thoughtful strategy is paired with innovative creative execution, complex issues become more accessible, communities become more informed, and important messages have the opportunity to create lasting change.
We congratulate the entire MediaBoss team on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to continuing our partnership on future initiatives that help educate, engage, and inspire the communities we serve.
About Capital Strategic Solutions
CSS is a certified woman-owned, disadvantaged business enterprise of municipal experts delivering creative, cost-effective solutions that maximize success and minimize risk. With deep local government expertise, we craft tailored strategies to meet each community’s unique needs.
Our capabilities span public administration, municipal finance, human resources, policy development, emergency management, public safety, public works, water operations, interim municipal services, public relations, community engagement, project management, grant writing, and onsite support. We partner with clients to define clear goals, overcome challenges, and implement human-centered plans that drive performance and transform communities.