Alternative Messaging
engaging and educating communities 

PS 34 M 5th graders with their original plastic bag puppet creatures at City Hall Rally, March 23, 2015.

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What is Alternative Messaging?

Alternative messaging is a creative, arts & media based method of engaging the public and catalyzing action on the typically unappealing topic of garbage reduction as well as climate change, composting, and plastic pollution.

These innovative projects use art, digital media, 3-dimensional data, and public performance to go beyond simple poster communication. The ultimate goal is to grab the viewer on an emotional level that will be memorable and inspiring.

Our alternative messaging projects communicate that making change can be fun and entertaining. We lead these projects as part of school based programs, as well as with intergenerational community groups.

Cafcu high school volunteer, Tim, wearing the No-Styro puppet, engaging kids, adults and elected officials at the Maker Faire, NYC, 2013.

Cafcu's after school "Curbside Compost Messaging" project with students from PS 167 in Brooklyn.

Alternative Messaging 
Projects 
include:

• Giant Puppets 
• Curbside Compost Messaging
• Kid Friendly and Fun Graphics
• Container Messaging 
• Youth Made Media
• Co-created Music Videos

PS 20 M second graders constructed a giant polar bear puppet out of one day's worth of styrene foam lunch trays. CafCu's Make Change Messaging curriculum bridges school garbage issues to Climate Change.