Chicago Early

Learning

Government

Chicago Early

Learning

Government

Chicago Early

Learning

Government

Overview

As Marketing Manager at Vera Creative, I led marketing strategy and digital communications for Chicago Early Learning, a citywide initiative by the City of Chicago, the Department of Family Support Services, and Chicago Public Schools, which provides equitable access to high-quality early childhood education through 500+ preschools citywide.


My work focused on strengthening awareness, engagement, and enrollment through marketing strategy– including email, website, social media, and paid ads, as well as data-driven campaign optimization. Annually, I conducted data surveys to gather insights that informed marketing and enrollment strategies for the following year.


Through a mix of strategic planning, creative execution, and continuous performance analysis, our efforts contributed to record-breaking enrollment numbers and a stronger connection between the program and Chicago families. The campaign’s success was recognized with multiple industry honors, including awards from the American Advertising Awards (ADDYs), Hermes Creative Awards, and MarCom Awards.

Marketing Strategy

The marketing strategy for Chicago Early Learning was grounded in audience insights and data-driven decision-making. I contributed to campaign direction and marketing decisions by analyzing hours of focus groups with parents and caregivers, paired with comprehensive annual surveys, which I designed, distributed, and refined year over year.

Across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, these surveys gathered feedback from more than 2,100 families, including both English- and Spanish-speaking participants, providing valuable qualitative and quantitative data that directly informed creative concepts, messaging, and media placement. By translating audience insights into actionable strategies, we introduced new ad channels and creative solutions that drove thousands of new users to the Chicago Early Learning website and strengthened engagement among priority audiences.


In addition to this work, I also led data collection and analysis for the Education Workforce Center, an initiative of the Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship and City Colleges of Chicago. This included managing feedback surveys and analyzing focus group data from 958 early childhood educators, providing key insights to support recruitment, retention, and professional development efforts across Chicago’s early education workforce.

The marketing strategy for Chicago Early Learning was grounded in audience insights and data-driven decision-making. I contributed to campaign direction and marketing decisions by analyzing hours of focus groups with parents and caregivers, paired with comprehensive annual surveys, which I designed, distributed, and refined year over year.


Across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, these surveys gathered feedback from more than 2,100 families, including both English- and Spanish-speaking participants, providing valuable qualitative and quantitative data that directly informed creative concepts, messaging, and media placement. By translating audience insights into actionable strategies, we introduced new ad channels and creative solutions that drove thousands of new users to the Chicago Early Learning website and strengthened engagement among priority audiences.


In addition to this work, I also led data collection and analysis for the Education Workforce Center, an initiative of the Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship and City Colleges of Chicago. This included managing feedback surveys and analyzing focus group data from 958 early childhood educators, providing key insights to support recruitment, retention, and professional development efforts across Chicago’s early education workforce.

Marketing Strategy

The marketing strategy for Chicago Early Learning was grounded in audience insights and data-driven decision-making. I contributed to campaign direction and marketing decisions by analyzing hours of focus groups with parents and caregivers, paired with comprehensive annual surveys, which I designed, distributed, and refined year over year.

Across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, these surveys gathered feedback from more than 2,100 families, including both English- and Spanish-speaking participants, providing valuable qualitative and quantitative data that directly informed creative concepts, messaging, and media placement. By translating audience insights into actionable strategies, we introduced new ad channels and creative solutions that drove thousands of new users to the Chicago Early Learning website and strengthened engagement among priority audiences.


In addition to this work, I also led data collection and analysis for the Education Workforce Center, an initiative of the Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship and City Colleges of Chicago. This included managing feedback surveys and analyzing focus group data from 958 early childhood educators, providing key insights to support recruitment, retention, and professional development efforts across Chicago’s early education workforce.

Website Design & Management

As part of my role, I focused on enhancing Chicago Early Learning’s digital presence to better serve families seeking early childhood education options. I led the redesign and ongoing management of the organization’s website, transforming it into a user-friendly, visually engaging, and information-rich platform that reflected the updated Chicago Early Learning brand.



The redesigned site was launched in March 2023, featuring refreshed visuals, campaign imagery, and expanded content to make it easier for parents and caregivers to find the information they needed.  The design's impact was immediate and significant. In April alone, the site welcomed 65,000 new users, and within the first six months, it achieved over 536,000 views, 38,000 returning users, and more than 2 million clicks. By improving accessibility, navigation, and storytelling, the new website became a central hub for families across Chicago, empowering them to explore, compare, and enroll in high-quality early learning programs with confidence.

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Visit Website →

Website Design & Management

As part of my role, I focused on enhancing Chicago Early Learning’s digital presence to better serve families seeking early childhood education options. I led the redesign and ongoing management of the organization’s website, transforming it into a user-friendly, visually engaging, and information-rich platform that reflected the updated Chicago Early Learning brand.



The redesigned site was launched in March 2023, featuring refreshed visuals, campaign imagery, and expanded content to make it easier for parents and caregivers to find the information they needed.  The design's impact was immediate and significant. In April alone, the site welcomed 65,000 new users, and within the first six months, it achieved over 536,000 views, 38,000 returning users, and more than 2 million clicks. By improving accessibility, navigation, and storytelling, the new website became a central hub for families across Chicago, empowering them to explore, compare, and enroll in high-quality early learning programs with confidence.

View Project →

Visit Website →

712K+

Visitors

2.7M+

Views

2.9M+

Clicks

141K+

Returning Visitors

Email Marketing

I implemented a comprehensive email marketing strategy to connect with families, increase engagement, and drive applications. Our subscriber base grew to over 49,000 recipients, making it one of the program’s most effective communication channels for reaching Chicago parents and caregivers.



From 2022 through 2024, I developed the email concepts, designed layouts, and wrote the copy, blending persuasive messaging with compelling visuals to highlight enrollment opportunities, program benefits, and key resources. In 2025, I continued to design and review all email communications, ensuring brand consistency and continued audience engagement. By refining audience segmentation, optimizing subject lines, and incorporating audience insights gathered through surveys and focus groups, we significantly improved engagement metrics and strengthened community connection.

View Project →

Email Marketing

I implemented a comprehensive email marketing strategy to connect with families, increase engagement, and drive applications. Our subscriber base grew to over 49,000 recipients, making it one of the program’s most effective communication channels for reaching Chicago parents and caregivers.



From 2022 through 2024, I developed the email concepts, designed layouts, and wrote the copy, blending persuasive messaging with compelling visuals to highlight enrollment opportunities, program benefits, and key resources. In 2025, I continued to design and review all email communications, ensuring brand consistency and continued audience engagement. By refining audience segmentation, optimizing subject lines, and incorporating audience insights gathered through surveys and focus groups, we significantly improved engagement metrics and strengthened community connection.

View Project →

Email Performance Highlights

Subscribers: 49,000+

New Subscribers: 17,120

Average Open Rate: 47%

Average CTR: 2.0%

Over the course of three years, I led the strategy, creative direction, and execution of a comprehensive email marketing program that sent over 4.7 million emails, achieved nearly 2.25 million opens, and generated more than 75,000 clicks.


By crafting strategic content, designing engaging layouts, and continuously analyzing performance metrics, I optimized campaign effectiveness year over year, resulting in steady growth in reach, engagement, and enrollment. One parent shared, “I love that the program exists and helps Chicago families. I also love that the emails I have received from Chicago Early Learning offer a lot of helpful and relevant information, as well as reminders,” highlighting the real-world impact of the program and my work.

Paid Search

Impressions: 44,000+

Clicks: 3,850

CTC: 8.67%

CPC: $0.16

I developed and managed a paid search strategy to increase visibility and reach parents during peak enrollment season. Recognizing that over one-third of parents discovered the program through online searches and that competitors appeared in sponsored ads, I recommended allocating a portion of the advertising budget to Google Search Ads.


I led keyword research, ad concept development, copywriting, and campaign optimization, ensuring our ads effectively targeted prospective families and stood out in search results. The campaign ran for six weeks during peak enrollment and delivered strong performance metrics.


Through strategic targeting and ongoing optimization, my work on paid search maximized enrollment opportunities and helped Chicago Early Learning compete effectively against other programs in the digital space.

Paid Search

Impressions: 44,000+

Clicks: 3,850

CTC: 8.67%

CPC: $0.16

I developed and managed a paid search strategy to increase visibility and reach parents during peak enrollment season. Recognizing that over one-third of parents discovered the program through online searches and that competitors appeared in sponsored ads, I recommended allocating a portion of the advertising budget to Google Search Ads.


I led keyword research, ad concept development, copywriting, and campaign optimization, ensuring our ads effectively targeted prospective families and stood out in search results. The campaign ran for six weeks during peak enrollment and delivered strong performance metrics.


Through strategic targeting and ongoing optimization, my work on paid search maximized enrollment opportunities and helped Chicago Early Learning compete effectively against other programs in the digital space.

View More Work →

View More Work →

View More Work →

© 2025 Nina Perez Creative & Hunnybee Marketing. All Rights Reserved.

© 2025 Nina Perez Creative & Hunnybee Marketing. All Rights Reserved.

© 2025 Nina Perez Creative & Hunnybee Marketing. All Rights Reserved.