Kurt Reppart
Project Scope: Chair of Marketing & Communications Strategy
Project Length: 24 months
For two years, I served as the Chair of Marketing and Communications Strategy for Kurt Reppart’s campaign for Grand Rapids City Commissioner.My role was to support Kurt in building a campaign rooted in clarity, safety, and genuine connection — not fear-based messaging or polarization.
This campaign unfolded during a politically volatile time marked by dark-money influence, high community tension, and rapid shifts in public sentiment. My job was to keep communication grounded, values-aligned, and strategically responsive, no matter the pressure.
The Challenge
Political campaigns rarely move slowly or gently. This nonpartisan race was no exception.
We navigated:
Dark-money attacks and attack ads
Sudden waves of online negativity
Community polarization
High-stakes public moments requiring immediate response
Through all of it, the goal was consistent:
Communicate in ways that honor the nervous system — creating safety, clarity, and trust for constituents.
Rather than leaning into fear or urgency, we focused on prosocial messaging, motivational strategy, and values-forward communication.
The Work
Over the course of the campaign, I managed and directed:
Three mass mailings of postcard campaigns
Two large-scale political events
Full social media strategy and messaging development
Website design and ongoing website management
Paid-per-click (PPC) advertising strategy
Rapid-response communication during moments of crisis, misinformation, and public tension
Alongside the tactical execution, I coached Kurt on communication approaches that fostered emotional regulation, connection, and safety — both in person and through digital channels.
This ensured every message reflected his integrity, calm leadership, and commitment to the community.
The Impact
The campaign maintained:
A consistent, human-centered communication tone
High engagement with constituents
Strong brand alignment across all materials
Rapid, regulated responses to high-pressure moments
A values-led approach that stood out in a polarized field
The strength of the campaign wasn’t built on volume — it was built on trust, coherence, and the kind of communication that supports people’s nervous systems rather than activating them.
Kurt Reppart | Former Grand Rapids City Commissioner
“ I was serving as a City Commissioner here in Grand Rapids at the time and Megan was an integral part of my campaign team. She created all of the marketing/branding/communication materials for my campaign. I was drawn to her unique approach that uses language to honor the nervous system and communicate with an understanding of trauma and how language can create a sense of safety and belonging. All of the work we did together was high quality, impactful, and the work came with ease. There was plenty of creative experimentation in these strange political times we live in. We tried a wide variety of new ways of connecting with voters and neighbors. We had such wonderful alignment with regards to policy and how to truly create change for marginalized individuals and communities in our City. She brought a thorough systemic understanding to this ‘political’ work and often coached me on how I could show up in new ways”
