Not a paid Harpy engagement.
Background
Since 2022, our founder, Alexander González, has served as Communications Lead for Seattle Public Utilities' Clean City Division — the city program responsible for litter removal, illegal dumping response, encampment cleanup, and public space health across Seattle.
The Challenge
Clean City was doing serious work — millions of pounds of waste removed every year — but had no unified way of telling that story. Messaging varied team to team, leadership wasn't consistently media-ready, and the division's annual report was a plain data document: standard program summaries, no storytelling, nothing that made the scale of the work land with the public.
The Approach
Built a division-wide messaging bank and talking points so every spokesperson told the same story
Transformed the annual report into a storytelling-driven Annual Impact Report — human-centered, with featured stories and focused impact numbers instead of raw data tables
Launched a full campaign around each report: press releases, blog content, social media, and partner communications
Ran proactive and reactive media relations to build the division's press presence
Led yearly media training so leadership could speak confidently and consistently with reporters
Overhauled the division's website for a more human-centered, transparent feel, with monthly data updates
The Results
2022 → 2025 transformation: the report evolved from a plain internal-style summary into a modern impact report that frames results in terms the public grasps instantly — by 2025, "5.3 million pounds of waste" became "equal to about 530 orca whales"
Volunteer engagement nearly doubled: Adopt a Street hours climbed from 16,103 (2022) to 31,938 (2025), a ~98% increase
Expanding media footprint: coverage grew from local-only to a national broadcast wire hit — ABC-affiliate stations in multiple states picked up the 2025 report as part of World Cup coverage
Trade recognition: feature coverage in Waste Advantage Magazine
Consistent local pickup: coverage included The Seattle Times, plus local TV (KING 5, KOMO), covered the story every report cycle
Leadership consistently press-ready: the Mayor and Council President were quoted by name in nearly every major report release, year after year
In Their Words
“When we first collaborated to share the story of Clean City, you not only understood my vision but also expanded upon it with your own insightful perspectives. I’m grateful for your hard work and dedication. Thank you for bringing our story to life and taking it beyond what I initially imagined for the people of Seattle. Your vision helped us reach a global audience, showcasing the exceptional efforts of the Clean City team and the World Cup Interdepartmental Team (IDT) in restoring Seattle's identity as the Emerald City during the World Cup 26 matches. Your partnership has truly made a difference!” - Lee Momon, Seattle Clean City Director
Ready for results like this?
Schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation with Harpy Strategy.
