At REC Philly, we specialize in culture-first storytelling that drives real connection, and the #BlockByBlock campaign for United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is a powerful example of that work in action.
United Way hired REC Philly to lead the full creative development and production of this initiative, aimed at increasing awareness and usage of the 211 hotline, a critical resource connecting Philadelphia residents to safety, support, and community services.
The Challenge:
Raise visibility of the 211 hotline and encourage residents to use it, in a way that felt accessible, trustworthy, and culturally authentic.
Our Approach:
We crafted a strategy that put trusted local voices at the forefront, ensuring the campaign would resonate authentically within the communities it was designed to serve.
Through a series of short, powerful, social-first videos, we featured respected Philadelphia leaders including:
- Dr. Sheena Howard
- Speedy Artis
- DJ Diamond Kuts
- Manny215Mayor
REC Philly led every step of the process from creative concepting through full-scale production, delivering storytelling designed to meet people where they are, spark conversation, and drive real engagement.
The Impact:
Since launching, the #BlockByBlock campaign has generated over 33,000 impressions across platforms, helping not only to amplify awareness of the 211 hotline but to start critical conversations around safety, access, and community care.
United Way entrusted REC Philly with this important mission and together, we demonstrated the power of strategic storytelling to drive both awareness and action, one block at a time.
Watch the full #BlockByBlock series here
Instagrams: manny215mayor, speedyartis3 , drsheenahoward , djdiamondkuts
