In early 2023, Community Advocates for Public Education (CAPE) was started by a small group of concerned educators and parents in Fort Mill School District and has since grown to 1,400 members and 1,300 followers across York County. CAPE is known for its campaigns and events that invite the public to learn about the challenges facing our public schools and effectively advocate for our students, educators and the public education system as a whole in South Carolina.
Note: Since day one designing the CAPE logo, Mallory’s work as a Founding Organizer has been purely on a volunteer basis.
EVENTS
Above is a collection of 2025 CAPE Events that express the creativity in graphics and messaging that is utilized to engage the public on important issues and pro-public education partnerships (ACLU SC, SCASL, ProTruth SC, York County School District Offices, etc.)
CAMPAIGNS
While CAPE educates on issues affecting Public Education year round, its one- and two-week campaigns have proven especially effective in engaging the public, growing the CAPE community, and creating change York County. Below are several examples.
Important Note: CAPE does not collect or spend money on its campaigns. Campaigns depend fully on organic online engagement.
March 2025 Campaign: Tell Your Lawmaker to Vote NO on H.3927
During the 2025 legislative session, CAPE attended every H.3927 committee hearing and House debate, educating the public on its harmful effects along the way. Through several mini-campaigns aimed to educate and inspire action, online engagement for CAPE was higher than ever (not a small feat considering it was not an election time period).
Social Media Campaign Analytics: March 3 - 17, 2025
Views: 178,300 (+46.2%)
Reach: 36,700 (+421.2%)
Content Interactions: 4,200 (+249.7%)
Visits: 6,900 (+465%)
New Follows: +161 (+182.5%)
In addition, this campaign featured CAPE’s greatest performing reel ever thanks to a powerful speech from Dr. Jermaine Johnson (a speech that went on to go viral nationally and internationally). At the time, we were the only account we could find that shared the speech in full.
While CAPE focuses primarily on Facebook as a means to engage and organize locally, this reel was viewed 10,596 times, liked 784 times, and shared 449 times on Instagram.
November 2024 Campaign: Protect FMSD & Vote for 3 Pro-Public Education Candidates
As the #1 school district in the state, Fort Mill School District has much to be proud of and protect. With instigators attempting to divide the district around culture wars and manufactured outrage, it was imperative that we educate the public on who the pro- and anti-public education school board candidates were. CAPE is widely credited with the district’s victory in ensuring the election of 3 pro-public education candidates.
Social Media Campaign Analytics: Oct 5 - Nov 5, 2024
Views: 218,400
Reach: 23,500 (+389.4%)
Content Interactions: 5,200 (+376.8%)
Visits: 25,500 (+899.5%)
New Follows: +249 (+44.1.3%)
June 2024 Campaign: June Matters More in 2024
In the weeks leading up to the 2024 primaries, CAPE ran a two week campaign to stress the importance of voting in the primary and to promote pro-public education South Carolina House candidates. Community leaders credit CAPE for getting out the vote in an otherwise low turnout primary and ensuring Rep. David Martin’s win for District 26.
Social Media Campaign Analytics: May 21 - June 11, 2024
Reach: 14,600 (+529.7%)
Content Interactions: 2,400 (+624.6%)
Visits: 3,000 (+285.6%)
New Follows: +65 (+261.1%)
March 2024 Campaign: Drop Everything & Vote - Fort Mill School Bond Referendum
With neighboring Clover School District voting down a school bond referendum for the first time in its history, it was critical that CAPE educate the community on the importance of the bond and getting out the vote. From district leadership to community members, CAPE is widely credited with helping turn out the approval votes for the bond referendum.
Social Media Campaign Analytics: March 12 - 19, 2024
Reach: 4,900 (+694.7%)
Content Interactions: 1,200 (+1.3K%)
Visits: 940 (+1.3K%)
New Follows: +16 (+261.1%)
July 2023 Campaign (our first!): Save York County Public Libraries
With a wide presence of anti-intellectual freedom groups in York County, CAPE joined the fight against book bans in the summer of 2023 to inform and engage the community around protecting our local libraries. The weeklong campaign including beloved imagery, videos of county book banning antics, and a new Call-To-Action every day, grew CAPE by 80+ members, added 600+ signatures to the CAPE petition, garnered 25 statements of support from the public, resulted in great local and statewide press, along with a sign-clad crowd of CAPE members and testifiers at the County Council meeting.
Important Note: Roald Dahl’s Matilda quotes and imagery were chosen to appeal to Gen X / Millennial nostalgia and demonstrate the clear heroes and villains in the quest to maintain intellectual freedom for students. The only reason CAPE was able to borrow this beloved imagery was because the group is not formally organized or raising money.
Social Media Campaign Analytics: July 10 - 17, 2023
Reach: 3,000 (+100%)
Content Interactions: 648 (+100%)
Visits: 2,000 (+100%)
New Follows: +133 (+100%)
Keeping Things Fresh
While CAPE is committed to brand codes that define who we are, we recognize the need to grab and hold attention mid-scroll. We are always mixing up our themes based on the premise and timing of each post. Overall, we aim to be a positive, optimistic, unifying force in our community with every item we post.
