Elevating Community Impact Through an Integrated Strategic Communications Approach

Montbello Organizing Committee (MOC), a nonprofit Community Development Corporation, plays a critical role in addressing food insecurity, affordable housing, economic opportunity, transportation, mental health and wellness, and climate issues in the greater Montbello community. As the organization grew from a mostly volunteer resident committee into an organization engaged in planning and building the FreshLo Hub — which includes 97 units of affordable housing, retail space, a mental health center and a grocery store that will open in mid-2026 — it was important to have a cohesive communications strategy and strong brand  to elevate visibility, strengthen partnerships, attract funders and engage residents effectively. Additionally, MOC required consistent storytelling across multiple platforms to ensure community members, partners and stakeholders remained informed, engaged and aligned with its mission and services. With more than 55% of Montbello’s residents identifying as Hispanic and nearly 25% as Black, language and cultural considerations were key in all communications. As engagement efforts grew, MOC also identified the need for an updated website that could better serve as a central, user-friendly hub for community information, resources and events.