“What 2M Means 2Me” Advertising Campaign and Building Bridges to a Better Life Program and Recognized by Multifamily Executive Magazine at National Housing Conference

WC Smith was nationally recognized by Multifamily Executive Magazine on Oct. 3, receiving top awards in marketing/advertising and community service categories.

Honored were WC Smith’s “What 2M Means 2Me” marketing campaign and the Building Bridges to a Better Life (BBBL) program. The awards were presented during the Multifamily Executive Conference, held in Las Vegas Oct. 2-4. The conference is sponsored by the publisher Hanley Wood.

What 2M Means to 2Me received the Grand Award in the Marketing & Advertising category. The campaign spotlighted WC Smith’s 2M property, which is part of Washington's New Communities initiative. The building includes 93 affordable units, with 59 units set aside for residents of a former public housing complex. The campaign was an effort to address and counter concerns by some about the co-mingling of affordable and market-rate units in the building.

What began as a video of a resident sharing her story about moving to an affordable unit and how that gave her “peace of mind, a safe haven” soon expanded to a campaign that invited 2M residents living in market-rate apartments to share their stories. The campaign reflected the building and living in DC; a whole community made up of individuals with different backgrounds and stories but ultimately being more alike than different. The campaign ran as a contest, and with winning stories posted to the 2M website and on social media.

Building Bridges to a Better Life was recognized as the Merit Award winner in the Community Service category. BBBL is a program created by WC Smith and Building Bridges Across the River that provides housing and support services to families who were living at the DC General shelter and hotels. Working with several nonprofit partners and the District of Columbia government, BBBL helps families find new homes, outfit the apartments, and connect with education, health and employment services. Families served receive support for up to a year following their placement.

WC Smith committed in September 2018 to find housing for 91 homeless families. As of Oct. 1, 2019, 72 families were placed in apartments in WC Smith properties. Several participants in the program have gone through employment training, received certifications and have found full-time employment; others have enrolled in higher education programs.

“We’re honored to be recognized by Multifamily Executive Magazine for our work with Building Bridges to a Better Life and What 2M Means 2Me,” said WC Smith CEO Chris Smith. “These awards are testament to our employees’ hard work and the impact these efforts have on our community. We’re very proud of our staff and these initiatives.”

Multifamily Executive Magazine received nearly 315 entrees for awards, and selected 28 for recognition in 17 categories.

ABOUT WC Smith

WC Smith (www.wcsmith.com) is a Washington, DC-based multidisciplinary real estate firm, providing integrated property development and property management services to the Washington metropolitan area for more than 50 years. Since our founding in 1968, we have built communities across all 8 wards of Washington that uniquely combine the city’s long-term vision for growth with our residents’ vision for how a neighborhood best serves their needs and desires.

Supported by a dedicated workforce of more than 600 employees, WC Smith continually compiles and manages a portfolio that ranks us in the top-10 of commercial real estate developers in the Washington region. Our development expertise is wide-ranging: we acquire, renovate and reposition market-rate and affordable multifamily communities, repurpose obsolete facilities and build new office, residential and mixed-use properties. Recognized and respected as one of the most experienced and capable property management firms in the Washington metropolitan area, WC Smith manages more than 11,000 rental, condominium and cooperative units valued in excess of $3.5 billion.

About Multifamily Executive

Multifamily Executive provides coverage on all segments of multifamily housing, with a unique focus on operating performance. In print, online, or in-person, MFE supplies the information multifamily pros need, in the medium they prefer.

About Hanley Wood

Hanley Wood is the premier company serving the information, media, and marketing needs of the residential, commercial design and construction industry. Utilizing the largest analytics and editorially driven Construction Industry Database - powered by Metrostudy - the company provides business intelligence and data-driven services. The company produces award-winning media, high-profile executive events, and strategic marketing solutions