Clear communication for Ypsilanti Township.
As a former municipal Communications Director, I understand the demands of local government. I combine that experience with hands-on writing and design to keep residents informed, promote Township programs and tell the community’s stories.
Municipal experience from the inside.
I served as Director of Communications for the City of Cleveland Heights, following roles as an outside designer and Communications Specialist.
Residents deserve clear, useful information. I approach that responsibility with care, bringing municipal experience and hands-on writing and design to support Township staff and the community they serve.
A Township identity grounded in its communities.
Ypsilanti Township brings together established neighborhoods, Ford Lake recreation, Willow Run history and local businesses. Its 2040 Master Plan emphasizes neighborhood reinvestment, entrepreneurship and stronger community places.
I would connect that identity to useful public information: recognizable service updates, stories from different neighborhoods, and clear invitations to programs and public participation.
People and local businesses
Short profiles that show residents, businesses and work happening close to home.
Willow Run and Township stories
Archival visuals and resident voices, with facts and permissions checked before publication.
Ford Lake and public programs
Seasonal guides and captioned videos explaining where to go and how to participate.
Proposed content directions, selected with Township staff within monthly capacity.
Community context: Ypsilanti Township 2040 Master Plan, Township parks and Township fire history.
The person in the planning meeting does the work.
Frances Eugenia Design is intentionally lean. The Township works directly with Frances for planning, writing, creative direction and delivery. Decisions made in the planning meeting carry into production.
Direct access
One accountable lead from planning through production.
Fast decisions
Less internal routing when priorities or deadlines change.
Context stays intact
The person hearing the need is the person shaping the response.
Staff support
Clear briefs, agreed priorities and organized files reduce staff coordination.
Services aligned with Township priorities.
Brand refinement + standards
Review the existing identity, clarify visual and messaging standards, and create practical guidance staff can use.
Public-facing materials
Design and refine graphics, outreach materials, brochures, signage, reports, recurring templates, and priority communications.
Social content system
Branded graphics, copy support, repeatable content structures, and a visual rhythm that can respond to Township priorities.
Community stories + short video
Basic edited and captioned videos using Township-approved photos, footage and archival material, with stories about local people, places and programs. Any new filming scope is agreed in advance.
Newsletter + direct mail
Copywriting, design, layout, and coordination support for quarterly newsletters, email communications, and direct-mail pieces.
Strategy + staff support
Monthly leadership planning, strategic communications counsel, brand training, and flexible support when priorities shift.
The Township’s anticipated content volume will be prioritized within the 30-hour monthly capacity based on production complexity, filming needs, revisions and newsletter work.
How the engagement works
Direct access. Fast response.
You have direct access to the person planning, writing and designing your communications. Your requests come to me, and I stay involved from the first conversation through delivery.
Same-day response
I acknowledge requests received during Eastern business hours the same day, confirm what’s needed and establish a delivery timeline.
Urgent needs get priority
Contact me directly by phone or email. We’ll confirm the deadline, identify approvals and adjust the workplan around the most pressing needs.
Up to 30 hours monthly
Includes planning, meetings, writing, design, revisions and reporting, guided by an agreed monthly workplan.
Monthly planning + on-site capture
One monthly planning meeting by video or phone, plus up to two local photo/video capture sessions per month scheduled around Township priorities and included within the monthly workplan. Additional meetings use monthly capacity.
Township priorities guide the work
We set priorities together and adjust them as deadlines and community needs change. You’ll know what’s underway and what comes next.
Additional work by approval
Work beyond monthly capacity is estimated in advance and billed at $115/hour only with Township approval.
The first 90 days.
Understand. Audit the brand and channels. Confirm priority audiences, recurring deadlines and approvers. Establish the request queue and baseline measures.
Stabilize. Deliver initial brand guidance and priority templates. Build the editorial calendar. Produce the first agreed newsletter, social or storytelling work.
Document and train. Hold the employee brand training session. Refine standards and file organization. Review results and agree the next-quarter communications plan.
Before release: Verify facts with the department owner, secure Township approval, and check dates, links, readability and captions or alt text as applicable.
Relevant municipal experience.
City News
Challenge: A recurring City newsletter needed stronger structure, cadence, and list health.
Work: Editorial restructuring, list hygiene, content direction and a consistent publishing rhythm.
Result: Open rates moved from roughly 40% to above 70% after list cleaning and cadence improvements.
Communications Department Design
Challenge: Public communication was spread across departments without a fully built communications operation.
Work: Role definition, intake and approval workflows, publishing routines and visual standards.
Result: Helped establish the City's first formal communications department and a working structure for requests and publishing across departments.
Cain Park + Cultural Campaigns
Challenge: Changing programs and formats needed recognizable continuity.
Work: Campaign systems across print, social, signage, calendars, events and public environments.
Result: Flexible visual systems designed to remain recognizable as information changed.
Publication design and civic campaigns.
FOCUS Magazine
Publication design and editorial presentation for the City of Cleveland Heights. Relevant to quarterly newsletters, print materials and community storytelling.
View publication work
Cain Park 2025
A season identity across posters, calendars and social graphics. Relevant to event campaigns that adapt across print and digital formats.
View campaign workEstablish a baseline and review the trends.
Review performance with Township staff and use the findings to adjust content and priorities within the agreed monthly capacity.
Up to 30 hours each month across the proposed services, including meetings, revisions and reporting. Deliverables follow the agreed monthly workplan.
For approved work beyond the monthly capacity or optional consulting. Scope and estimated cost agreed before work begins.
Printing, postage, mailing services, paid media and outside production costs are separate and require prior Township approval. Reasonable local travel for agreed Township photo/video capture is included.
Standards and working materials the Township can continue using.
Your project lead and references.
Frances Eugenia Design is an independent practice with client relationships dating to 2015. Work spans municipal communications, publication design, civic campaigns and longstanding private-sector clients.
Frances Eugenia Collazo is the principal, primary Township contact and person responsible for performing the recurring services. Her experience as a municipal Communications Director informs the strategy, writing, design, scheduling and delivery.
Collette Clinkscale
Director of Public Works, City of Cleveland Heights
cclinkscale@clevelandheights.govContinuity by Design.
I’d welcome the opportunity to support Ypsilanti Township’s staff and serve its residents.
Principal, Frances Eugenia Design
frances@franceseugenia.com
(231) 321-1100
franceseugenia.com
Contact Frances