Inaugural One Cumberland Community Meeting

c21 Event Planning Case Study

Challenge
In early 2023, the new One Cumberland nonprofit was largely unknown within the community due to a lack of formal introduction. The Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID) sought to host a large event to raise awareness about the new nonprofit, celebrate the CID's 35th anniversary and position One Cumberland as the go-to organization for community fundraising in the Cumberland district. The CID hired c21 to plan and manage an inaugural community meeting, scheduled as an early morning event on March 2, 2023.

Solution
Cumberland CID and c21 first set some goals:

• Sell 300 event tickets
• Attract at least six gold-level sponsors
• Present an expert panel highlighting Cumberland’s diverse amenities
• Establish One Cumberland as a key player in community engagement

To achieve these goals, c21 developed a comprehensive event plan that included:

• Event logistics: catering, entertainment, audio, photography, décor, attendee giveaways, a detailed run of show and more
• Social media strategies and graphics to promote ticket sales
• Media relations strategy to attract event coverage by reporters and news stations
• Onsite event management and support to make ensure flawless execution

c21 and Cumberland CID worked together to create a detailed planning timeline and met weekly to ensure all tasks were completed on schedule. c21 coordinated closely with the TK Elevator venue for all logistics, including staging, catering and audio/visual needs. A creative stage backdrop was designed by c21 and executed by Yes Events and catering was provided by TK Elevator's team, featuring breakfast options for attendees. A special cookie giveaway, featuring the One Cumberland logo, was sourced from a local vendor to promote community support.

c21 developed a detailed run of show for all event logistics, as well as helped create a program featuring expert panels and a keynote from Mike Plant, CEO of The Atlanta Braves Development Company, which worked to develop The Battery within the CID. c21 and CCID also worked with the Atlanta Opera to host a performer to entertain the crowd, highlighting the CID’s strength in the arts. This meant sourcing, renting and moving a grand piano in and out of the event space. The program was designed to showcase Cumberland’s strengths and rich culture while fostering a sense of community among attendees.

The event was scheduled to take place early in the morning, which posed logistical challenges for vendor deliveries. c21 and Cumberland CID managed vendor deliveries and set-up the evening before, ensuring a seamless experience on event day. The event successfully began at 7 a.m. with over 300 attendees, who engaged in networking before the program started.

Results
The inaugural Cumberland Community Meeting was a resounding success:

• All 300 tickets were sold
• Nine gold sponsors were secured, surpassing the goal of six
• Attendees praised the informative panels and inspiring keynote speech
• One Cumberland was established as a leader in community engagement, fostering valuable connections among attendees

Through thoughtful planning and execution, the event not only celebrated the CID’s legacy but also set a strong foundation for future community initiatives under One Cumberland.