author * equity
Hi! I’m Colin ✍🏻
I’m a Chicago-based writer, ad creative, poet, and hobby songwriter.
I refine understanding so that more of the people you want to connect with — want what you’ve got. Especially when what you’ve got does them good.
I work with people to untangle their organization’s messaging and bridge communication gaps.
I’m passionate about partnerships centered on social impact work and arts + culture.
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Grateful to serve as the Director of Communications at Vera Creative.
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Copywriting • Creative Strategy • Verbal Identity • Strategic Communications • Marketing + Branding Consultation
Projects
“A creative with heart.
A versatile copywriter trying to author equity.”
THE PEOPLE’S MAP
Change IL - Redistricting Reform
Building a grassroots movement to fight gerrymandering and put redistricting power back in the hands of Chicagoans.
The Challenge
For generations, Chicago’s ward maps were drawn behind closed doors, shaped by political deals rather than community needs. Residents were left divided, underrepresented, and silenced. CHANGE Illinois and the Chicago Advisory Redistricting Council needed a campaign that could cut through political complexity, educate communities, and mobilize everyday Chicagoans to demand a transparent, people-first process.
The Work
As Director of Communications, I led strategy, messaging, and copywriting to bring clarity and urgency to an often-overlooked issue. Our campaign — The People’s Map — framed redistricting as a fight for fairness, community power, and democracy itself.
Our work included:
Developing the brand identity and messaging framework for The People’s Map
Writing copy across the microsite, petitions, toolkits, and community-facing content
Coordinating PR, digital campaigns, and grassroots marketing to amplify awareness
Driving a bilingual communications approach to ensure access across diverse neighborhoods
Supporting testimony prep and public council communications to elevate resident voices
The Impact
The People’s Map campaign turned an insider process into a citywide movement:
2,067 petitions filed in support of The People’s Map
833 letters to aldermen demanding fair representation
157 official testimonies delivered to the City Council
14,103 website visits generating 37,000+ engagements
Over 1 million social impressions spreading awareness of the cause
Coalition expanded to 55+ partner organizations, uniting community groups across Chicago
In a historic effort that shifted the landscape of determining how wards are drawn. Chicagoans stepped up to take on the machine and influence how their neighborhoods are represented. The campaign reframed redistricting as a matter of equity and civic empowerment. Ultimately proving that when communities are given the tools, they can shift power in their collective favor.
Credits
Strategy & Communications: Colin Hill
Creative Direction: Camilo Vera
Art Direction & Design: Joel Lopez, Camilo Vera
PR: Cristina Vera-Bridges, Colin Hill
Social Media: Kevin Greene
Community Engagement: Jackie Marshall, Elijah Olige
Chicago Early learning
Annual Citywide Preschool Enrollment | CPS + DFSS
Year-round marketing and enrollment campaigns for the City of Chicago’s 500+ early education programs.
The Challenge
Chicago Early Learning needed to reach tens of thousands of families with clear, accessible messaging to support enrollment in free, high-quality early childhood programs. Competing priorities, shifting policy landscapes, and a diverse multilingual audience made it essential to build a brand voice that was welcoming, trusted, and consistent across channels.
The Work
Since 2017, Vera Creative has been the agency behind Chicago Early Learning’s marketing. I led strategy, communications, and copywriting across every touchpoint — from shaping the brand voice to writing all campaign messaging, commercials, and scripts. Our work spanned website copy, PR, social campaigns, paid media, and enrollment toolkits, ensuring families could find and access programs that fit their needs.
The Impact
Our sustained strategy has transformed the enrollment landscape for Chicago’s youngest learners:
105K+ applications submitted since 2021
161,000+ early learners enrolled to date
7M social media impressions driving awareness and engagement
2.5M website views with 667K unique visitors
79K+ families subscribed for updates and resources
Chicago Early Learning has become the go-to resource for families navigating early childhood enrollment in one of the largest preschool networks in the country, and is a leading example for early childhood marketing and enrollment campaigns due partly to its roots in equity, access, and human-centered design.
Credits
Creative Direction: Camilo Vera, Cristina Vera Bridges
Art Direction & Design: Camilo Vera, Joel Lopez
Marketing: Colin Hill & Nina Perez, Adriana Rodriguez, Kevin Greene
Copywriting: Colin Hill, Nina Perez, Adriana Rodriguez, Kevin Greene
PR & Media: Cristina Vera, Colin Hill
Community Engagement: Jackie Marshall, Elijah Olige, Estrella Salgado,
🏆Chicago Advertising Federation’s 2022 People’s Choice Award-Winner
GOYA - Public relations
MidWest - Media Relations + Reputation Management This is the kind of work that gets me props at casa de la suegra. Connecting Goya’s philanthropic dollars through Goya Gives with non-profits with intention, and getting the word out about the MILLION POUNDS of food they donate to people in need. We’ve also supported the success of their events and outreach.
We partnered with the GRLZ WKND team to transform a vision into a movement.
On International Women’s Day, a showcase of showstopping music artists with Chicago ties took the stage at Avondale Music Hall to a packed house.
GRLZ WKND
Content Creation + Copywriting + Social Media
