A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. … A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. … A particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants. … The people of a district or country considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities; society. — Oxford Languages dictionary, via Google

There are a lot of ways to define community. I’ll add another: “Community” as a verb.

The act of making that place, of creating that feeling of fellowship, of uniting the people that bring “community” — the noun — to life.

We’re all in this together.

And we are at our best as a community when we work together to tell the story of the people, places, history and traditions that make us, our hometowns, our businesses, and our organizations unique.

That starts with clear, concise, accurate and compelling communications.

Communications

It starts with a plan. It has to.

Have a plan, work the plan. That’s how you’ve grown your community, business or nonprofit, so why wouldn’t you use this approach to shape your internal and external communications? Ask yourself, what are your goals and objectives? What is your desired outcome? Who is your audience? What are your key messages? What are the tactics necessary to deliver those messages to your audience, and meet your objectives? And what are the realities to take into account along the way? Get those on paper upfront. Set clear expectations. Then deliver, and measure your success. That is a strategic communications plan, and that’s what Brooks Communications + Community can deliver with you.

Then the magic happens, as you bring the plan to life. And we will be with you every step of the way … because if you don’t tell your story, someone else will tell it for you, and probably not how you want it told. Let’s tell your story, together.

Writing & Editing

Get rid of the buzzwords. Forget the corporate speak. Get to the point. And no more misspellings and misplaced apostrophes! Let me help you deliver compelling content, quickly, and cost-effectively. Digital content like website content and social posts. Speeches. Employee memos. Press releases. Blogs (including my own). Long-form pieces. Email newsletter content. Awards submissions. Annual reports. I want to help with your next writing project.

Your History Story

You own your authentic heritage. It’s a competitive advantage. Let me help you own that story. As mayor, we partnered with the Bucyrus Foundation on an intentional and ongoing effort to celebrate the manufacturer that defined our city for generations. At MillerCoors, I led the investment in and management of the archives; ensuring the history story of company, brands, people and places was told well. I even helped create a history museum.

Media & Public Relations

I have deep experience both in and with the media to ensure others are telling your story in the way it needs to be told. From staging big media events to pitching local and regional media to cultivating the relationships necessary for consistent coverage, I have delivered for my city and my clients for more than a decade — raising their profiles, building buzz and breaking through.

Meetings & Events

I’ve supported dozens of events over the years, big and small. Symposia, with high-profile business, nonprofit and political leaders. A sales meeting for more than 1,000 on the infield of a Major League Baseball stadium, complete with the National Anthem, first pitches and personalized baseball cards. A red-carpet TV show premiere party for more than 600. Awards shows, recognition dinners, socials and ribbon cuttings … let me plan your next event – and help you execute it.

A Creative Partnership

With partners like Trozzolo Communications Group, and its innovative, student-powered Carl Collective agency, we are truly a full-service agency. It starts with video. I have produced hundreds of videos in my career, helping build a corporate video network from the ground up. Need graphic design help? Want help starting or improving your social media platforms? Digital marketing solutions? With my partners, we do that and more, connecting you to your key audiences.

+ Community

“Erik, you are a builder.” Someone once told me that, and I laughed. My first thought: You don’t want me anywhere near a construction site. Then I thought about it: I DO love building things, and it’s what motivated me as South Milwaukee’s mayor for more than seven years. We built something special in South Milwaukee. We built community.

Downtown revitalization. New business growth. Historic, multi-million dollar investment by the Bucyrus Foundation in the telling of the story of our legacy manufacturer. New and exciting special events. A statue for Da Crusher. Exciting partnerships to restore the Oak Creek watershed and deliver city services. Strong leadership during the pandemic. We did all of these in South Milwaukee with a community mindset – a belief that we can’t do this alone, nor should we.

It’s a core principle that has guided me my entire professional life.

Let me help you build your community — whether that’s your municipality, business or organization — as your partner, starting with how you communicate.

Communications Strategy & Planning

So few governments have a communications plan, and every government needs one. Let’s build one, together. Maybe start with an audit to determine what platforms are working and which ones aren’t. Then let’s sit down and explore your goals, key audiences, messages and tactics to deliver those messages to those audiences to achieve your goals. In an era of constant change around how people receive and share information, combined with your dwindling resources and staff being stretched thinner than ever, this approach is critical.

Referendum Communications

When I was mayor of South Milwaukee, our public safety referendum to sustain our paramedic program and add two new police officers passed 2-to-1. That’s because we invested in a public education campaign to inform voters on the issues at hand, delivering information in a clear, compelling and transparent way. Let me lead that in your community — bringing a professional perspective and “campaign mindset” to ensure voters know what’s at stake as they head to the polls.

Community Conversations

Community engagement is critical, now, more than ever. As mayor, I made this a priority, seeking to not only inform constituents on key issues, but also give them real opportunities to offer meaningful feedback and feel ownership of the outcome. I can help you make this a priority for your community, too. Maybe it’s hosting a visioning or ideation workshop. Or organizing a listening session around a controversial topic in your community. Or, facilitating a multi-partner conversation. Let me help facilitate that for you.

Advocacy

Municipal, county, state and federal governments are at their best when they work together to advance their common interests for the public good. That’s the ideal. We all know how it really works, however: Governments too often at odds, fighting an often zero-sum game for scarce resources, with different policy aims, and with competing agendas, political or otherwise. I am here to fight for you and your community and organization. Let’s start with an advocacy strategy and plan — and get to work promoting your interests.

Campaign Communications

Running for office? I can help you tell your story. I think of a political campaign as delivering on a big communications plan. Your goal: Get elected. Let’s build and execute a plan to get that done. Situational analysis, audience exploration, key messaging, platform assessment, tactics to deliver the right messages to the right audience at the right time … thinking through all of these are critical as you launch and execute your campaign. I successfully did this six times as an alderman and mayor. I want to share what I learned with you, and help you win.

A Partnership to Deliver Crisis Communications

I am shocked at how unprepared many communities are to communicate in a crisis. Wonder where you are at? Crack open your emergency plan and go to the “Communications” section. I bet you’ll find outdated contacts, nonexistent media outlets and maybe a fax number or two. Let me and my crisis communications partner — former South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joseph Knitter, a top expert in this space with more than 40 years of experience in emergency response and leadership during your most difficult times — help you fix that. Start with the basics. Then let’s explore things like audiences, scenarios, roles and responsibilities, action plans, messaging, templates, and more, together. Let’s also get your key people media trained. Now is the time to do this work, so you can be at your best when you most need to be.

My Clients

My Story

My name is Erik Brooks, and I want to help you tell your story, together. Here is a little of mine.

My first love is family, and I am blessed to be married to Sarah for nearly 25 years after we met while working for the Marquette University newspaper. We have two children and have proudly called the City of South Milwaukee home since 2002.

Communications Professional

My professional experience is unique and wide-ranging.

I have spent more than 25 years as a communications professional …

After graduating from Marquette University, I started out as a sports, news and business journalist and editor for several media outlets, covering everything from local meetings and small business grand openings to NCAA Tournament basketball games, Major League Baseball and the NBA.
I joined Miller Brewing Co. in 2007 and spent the next 12+ years there and at MillerCoors, telling its story to a variety of audiences in a variety of ways — all rooted in strategy and all focused on delivering clear, compelling and impactful content to the right people at the right time and on the right platform.
I made another longtime dream a reality in January of 2020, when I launched Brooks Communications — and put my skills to work for a small but mighty list of clients.
Most recently, I returned to my alma mater to launch and lead Carl Collective, an innovative, student-powered agency in partnership with Marquette.

Learn more on LinkedIn.

Building Community

I entered politics in 2009, first as an alderman, then as mayor of the City of South Milwaukee from 2014 to 2021. Both were very part-time jobs, on paper, but the experience I gained in leading a city was invaluable in my professional life.

I was re-elected mayor in 2017 and again in 2020, driving a platform of economic and downtown development, Oak Creek watershed restoration, investments in vital city services, improved government efficiency and, of course, enhanced communications. I delivered on those promises and we built things. I also led the city through the pandemic, recognizing we are stronger, together, as a community during crises, too.

Building Skills, On and Off the Court

And then there is basketball.

In the spring of 2024, I was proudly named an assistant coach at Mount Mary University after spending three seasons leading the Saint Anthony High School girls basketball program. I came to basketball coaching like many do – through my own kids. My journey started with coaching my son in sixth grade, continued with my daughter, and soon grew to include other young people who became like family.

Now, coaching is a passion I’ll have forever. A passion to help others through basketball. A passion to teach lessons on and off the court. A passion to give back. A passion for the game. And a passion for building community, through sports.