Saving a National Treasure for Future Generations of Heroes

Community Engagement:

We have facilitated significant grassroots support through the creation of a Community Advisory Council made up of preservationists, historians, veterans and elected and business leaders. This group has been a springboard for community engagement in identifying a vision for the future use of the District’s vacant buildings. Every member of the council has a different reason they are interested in and concerned about the Soldiers Home. We have been successful in bringing this group together by identifying each point of view and finding the common denominator. Every member of the group has united around the need to return the District’s vacant buildings to their original purpose – the service of veterans. They have truly become ambassadors of the Soldiers Home.

Social Media:

Mueller has launched and manages numerous online networks of supports including a highly engaged Facebook network of more than 9,800 followers.

Earned Media:

Over the course of the past decade, the Soldiers Home has been featured in hundreds of media placements – including in the New York Times – helping to raise awareness of the District, promote major milestones in our effort and encourage action.

Fundraising Support:

Mueller Communications provided communications support and counsel to MPA’s Every Hero Deserves a Home capital campaign, supporting MPA in its successful fundraising of $4.25M.

App Development:

Perhaps one of the more interesting ways that we have increased awareness of and engagement with the Soldiers Home was by creating a free, downloadable walking tour app for smartphones. It has been a great tool for getting local residents out to the grounds to experience them firsthand. To-date, the walking tour has been downloaded and streamed thousands of times.