Overview

Being a strong communicator on the public stage is one of the most, if not the most, valuable skill you can have today in the civic and political arena. Depending on your profession and role, 60-80% of your job could be strategic communications. (Yes, that high.)

“The Art of Strategic Communications in 2026” has one goal: to make you a stronger communicator in the civic arena.

For six hours over two weeks, refine your skills in a judgment-free space to practice message development and delivery. Get individualized attention on brand, message, and media.

While tech and media channels change rapidly, the fundamentals of how to communicate effectively to the public don’t—and won’t–change. (They haven’t changed in 2,000 years.)

Whom this course is for

Practitioners working on cultural, policy, and democracy issues, including nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, public health, issue advocacy campaigns, and academia

What you walk away with

• A compelling story and messaging architecture to be used over and over

• Becoming less risk-averse, more disciplined, more confident

• Use AI to help find and test messaging

• Avoiding pitfalls other leaders make, like leading with data or identity

• Navigating a more difficult comms environment during the severe political change the U.S. is going through

• Feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement

Agenda

Which parts of this agenda we hit depend on your level of skill and need.

I. Introductions and what you hope to gain out of our time together

• Communications as a “hard skill” –a must-have, not a nice-to-have.

• How public opinion or consumer sentiment works in today’s wild information ecosystem

II. Identify best practices and top communicators in the civic space as models

• Successful communicators tend to share a recipe for success.

III. Develop an overarching brand story and three supporting messages

• Your North Star

• Your audience

• Your optics and tone

• Responding to prickly political questions, opposition claims, and misinformation

IV. How to integrate ChatGPT

• Learn prompts to help brainstorm and test messages

• When to use AI and when not to

V. Refine your delivery

Simulations of message delivery in various venues (a speech, social media video, TV interview, an essay).

Your Guide

Kevin Nix has led or managed 10 national and statewide strategic communications campaigns (mostly wins) during his time in Washington, D.C. His issue portfolio includes public health, healthcare policy, marriage equality, military policy, veterans, and democracy.

Kevin has worked as Communication Director for powerhouse campaigns and nonprofits, including the Human Rights Campaign and Freedom to Marry. He has also worked in the largest nonprofit public health system in Texas, Legacy Community Health.

He has provided extensive message coaching to nonprofit CEOs, political candidates, elected officials, and everyday people who go on TV or who want to expand their social media video presence. He has worked in partnership with diverse partners and communities: the White House, Pentagon, nonprofit CEOs, candidates for office, attorneys, physicians, congregations, members of the military, low-income patients, and public health leaders.

Kevin’s work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Politico, Wall Street Journal, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and Texas Tribune.

He has a Master’s in American Government from Johns Hopkins University; a higher education certification from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center; and Bachelor’s from Tulane University.

Scheduling

The course is a total of 4-6 hours over, at most, a two-week period. Each session is usually an hour but you can schedule sessions at your convenience below. The cost of the course is $550. An investment in public communications pays noticeable dividends over a short amount of time. And it stays with you (with practice).

Want to chat about this course to see if it can address your specific needs? Schedule a 15-minute discovery call with Kevin.

Chat