We help organizations do the hard, human work of building public understanding and support – so the projects that matter actually move forward.
[ OVERVIEW ]
At the intersection of communications, community, and government is public affairs (aka government relations, community relations, community engagement – you get it).
It’s how good ideas earn the public understanding and support to become reality – whether that’s a new transit funding model, a school referendum, a historic preservation effort, or a billion-dollar economic development project.
Here’s the thing: many people don’t wake up knowing they need public affairs help. They wake up knowing they have a project that needs community support, or a policy that needs to change, or a development that’s getting pushback they didn’t see coming. That’s where we come in.
Before we build a strategy, we build understanding. Who are the stakeholders? What’s the history? Where are the landmines? The best plans start by talking to people.
We write and say things that everyday people understand. Whether it’s a public information
campaign, a media strategy, or a briefing for elected officials, we make complex issues clear.
We bring people into the process – not just the ones who show up to every meeting, but the neighbors, business owners, and community members whose voices often go unheard. There’s a big difference between talking at people and building something with them.
Public affairs is not a set-it-and-forget-it approach. Political landscapes shift. Community sentiment evolves. New voices show up. We stay nimble. adjust in real time. and don’t fall in love with tactics that aren’t working.
[FROM THE TEAM ]
Here’s some of our thinking on public affairs, coalition building, and community engagement:
What we’ve learned from decades of coalition work – Soldiers Home, Near West Side Partners, Clean Economy Coalition, Move Forward MKE, and more.
Relationships first, strategy always. Public affairs is where strategy meets community, where storytelling meets policy, and where collaboration shapes real-world outcomes. Prefer to listen? Check it out on our Mueller Mic’d podcast.
Your community wants to hear from you! The best approach? Proactive communications. Residents are looking to you as their source of truth.
While not easy, the work to educate and engage residents can pay huge dividends in community trust, making tough choices a little easier.
No two projects are the same, but here’s the range of work we do:
We design wraparound strategies at the intersection of advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and media relations. When you need a full-scale effort, we have the relationships and the experience to work with your champions and get it done.
Big projects need public understanding before they need public approval. We help communities and developers tell the story of transformative investments in a way that’s honest, clear, and respects the people who live there.
Daily communication is underrated. The system you need in a crisis is the same one that builds real relationships with the communities municipalities and organizations serve. We help plan public meetings, digital outreach, direct mail campaigns and one-on-one conversations – whatever it takes to reach beyond the usual suspects and speak to the people who don’t normally attend community events.
Things go sideways. When they do, you want a team that’s been through it before. We build proactive plans, anticipate problems, and help communicate clearly when the stakes are highest. Our team includes former journalists who know exactly how the other side of the microphone works, too.
Referendums are high-stakes and high-emotion. We’ve developed a public information approach that helps municipalities engage and inform their communities honestly and effectively.
The best way to move something forward often means bringing the right people into the same room. We build and sustain coalitions – preservationists and developers, business leaders and neighborhood advocates, elected officials and community organizers – and help them find shared ground.
[ WHAT ABOUT LOBBYING? ]
We lobby at the local level and support lobbying strategies at the state and federal level.
Here are a few examples of public affairs work we’re proud of:
Mueller worked closely with Coalition members to develop a messaging
New Leadership Rollout: While anticipating the rollout of MPM’s vision
Throughout all of those challenges, Mueller Communications provided strategic counsel,
Mueller Communications’ role with Near West Side Partners (NWSP) has
Site Selection Announcement Upon engagement, the Mueller team immediately got
The Greater Milwaukee Committee, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, City
TOGETHER
Every community is different. Every project has its own nuances, history, and interested parties. That’s what makes this work interesting – and that’s why we’d rather hear your story than pitch you ours.
Whether you’re a municipal leader with a tough vote ahead, a developer who needs the community in your corner, or a nonprofit building something bigger than you can do alone – we’re here to help.
[ READY TO TALK? ]
Click the link below to send us a message or call us directly at 414-390-5500. We’ll pick up the phone.
[ NOT QUITE READY? ]
Our Quick-Start Guide to Public Affairs gives you a real framework – no jargon, just the stuff that works.