SE2

07/09/2026

The Positive Community Norms approach seems counterintuitive as a strategy in an era where media and politicians focus unrelentingly on the negative (the house that's on fire). But the evidence demonstrates it's highly effective. That's why we created this 101 primer for those of us who aren't behavior change scientists.

It is inspired by the great work of experts in this field, like Nathaniel Riggs of Colorado State University's Prevention Research Center, Dr. David Higgins of the University of Colorado, the pioneers at The Montana Institute, Rise Above Colorado and Kent MacLennan, Lora Peppard, director of ADAPT, the prevention arm of the national HIDTA network, and Alicia Stromme Tobin at Safe Yakima Valley. We're grateful for their leadership.

Patty Ferssizidis, PhD of ADAPT reminds us that Positive Community Norms is one strategy within a larger set of prevention strategies. Positive Community Norms can be paired with other strategies that address other risk and protective factors, she notes. Anyone interested in a deeper dive is encouraged to explore the ADAPT online resources and, if possible, attend one of the ADAPT trainings.

Positive Community Norms 101: How Telling the Truth Can Change Behavior - SE2 (https://na2.hubs.ly/H06yNSV0)

We're influenced by what we think everyone else is doing. Positive Community Norms helps communities see the truth—and change behavior.

07/07/2026

Meet our new SE2 teammate Jennifer Ramos: She's energized by community.

"My family immigrated from Mexico, and as the oldest daughter, I was raised to be comfortable with responsibility and to take care of others. That shaped me because I feel accountable for others’ well-being."

https://na2.hubs.ly/H06wGlM0

05/28/2026

After six months of providing communications support to the Colorado Chooses Vaccines coalition, we have a chance to reflect on the impact of this unique non-governmental effort to fill the void left by federal misinformation and government budget cuts.

Because there weren't sufficient funds for paid media, we relied on media outreach to spread expert, science-backed information. The results showed strong interest in this Colorado initiative, both within the state and nationally.

Thanks to compelling personal stories, articulate medical experts, and an energized coalition, we made an outsized impact.

It included:
237 media mentions driven or influenced by the coalition.
278 million reach for that coverage, much of it national, including NPR, KFF Health News, PBS, NBC, and STAT.
$2.57 million advertising value equivalent, according to Meltwater's analysis.

The attention demonstrates a strong need for this kind of public information and vaccine leadership in Colorado and across the United States. We're honored to have played a role in the coalition's creation, strategy, and outreach, and grateful for the financial support of the Rose Community Foundation and other donors.

SE2 simplified early learning guidelines into practical tools, helping caregivers support child development with clear, age-based guidance.

05/20/2026

Reports out of Washington say that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been instructed to downplay his vaccine skepticism in advance of the midterm elections. While he continues behind-the-scenes machinations to undermine vaccines, this means fewer headlines.

But even if there are fewer incoming threats, Kennedy has succeeded in sowing doubt about vaccines among the public, as reflected in survey research. SE2 Principals Susan Morrisey and Eric Anderson write about how public health leaders can respond.

Public health pulled back. Misinformation didn’t. Here’s why vaccine advocates must reclaim the narrative before it hardens.

05/15/2026

SE2 is honored have partnered with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) in helping shape the guiding narrative for From Many Paths, One Home: The Colorado Story. It's a powerful project uplifting the stories, resilience, and contributions of immigrant communities across Colorado.

We invite you to attend the upcoming screening and experience this important storytelling initiative firsthand. Through authentic voices and shared experiences, these videos highlight the many journeys that collectively shape our state and strengthen our communities.

Learn more and reserve your spot here:

This May, CIRC is launching its story-telling campaign, “From Many Paths, One Home: The Colorado Story.” Join us for an in-person screening of three short films, followed by a panel conversation. By centering voices of immigrants from across our state, we are telling Colorado stories — stories...

05/11/2026

Support lines work, but could they work better? SE2 Principal Brandon Zelasko explains in our blog that support lines could lower barriers and increase usage by anticipating potential users' questions or concerns.

"We are accustomed to subscriptions that are hard to cancel, services that overpromise and underdeliver, hidden fees, and systems that escalate our commitment once we enter them. So, when users encounter a support line, they assume it comes with strings attached or hard-to-spot fine print or catches."

Is this free? Is it confidential? Who answers. Is it a real person? What happens after I start? Can I get out of it? Will this create unintended consequences?

"When people can see what the first interaction looks like, engagement increases. When expectations are clear, perceived risk drops," he writes.

Support line hesitation may be driven more by uncertainty than stigma. Clarity, transparency, and realistic expectations can increase engagement and help people take the first step.

05/04/2026

We’re proud to partner with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) to help launch their new narrative project, The Colorado Story.

This powerful series lifts up real stories from immigrant communities—highlighting the experiences, challenges, and contributions that shape a more welcoming Colorado for all. CIRC has long worked to build community power and advance dignity and opportunity for immigrants across the state—and this project brings those voices to the forefront in a new way.

Explore the project and the stories at

The Colorado StoryFrom many paths, one home. Hope brought us here. Home is what we build together. Across Colorado, people come with the same hope: to put down roots, care for their families, and build a future.These stories are not just immigrant stories.They are Colorado stories, stories of belong...

04/29/2026

We teamed up with Safe Yakima to bring a fresh twist to youth substance use prevention—because sometimes the best way to shift norms… is with a little paws-itivity. 🐶🐻🐰

From claw-some creative to otterly fun messaging, this campaign uses animal puns to spotlight the truth: most teens are making healthy choices.

When you make the positive the norm, the message sticks... and works. Evaluation of the campaign showed that 54 of the 60 measured attitudinal and behavior change metrics moved in the desired direction—with 70% of those metrics showing statistically significant change.

04/24/2026

SE2 Principal Alvina Vasquez writes in our blog today about what can, and cannot, do.
"One of the biggest mindset shifts for me was understanding the difference between automation and augmentation.
- Automation is about efficiency—handling simple, repeatable tasks.
- Augmentation is about empowering people to make better decisions, especially when the stakes are high.
"SE2 operates in that latter space."

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

04/07/2026

Real change starts with real stories.

Quitting to***co isn’t a straight line. It’s personal. It’s messy. And for many people, it takes time, support, and more than one attempt. That’s why we believe in telling stories that reflect the full experience -- not just the outcome.

With the Colorado QuitLine Stories campaign, we focused on honesty over perfection. When people see themselves in someone else’s journey, it builds understanding, reduces stigma, and makes change feel possible.

We’re honored that this work earned Best of Show Online Video Campaign at the 2026 Internet Advertising Competition, but what matters most is the people behind the stories.

Thank you to CDPHE and Costello Productions for bringing this to life. And an even bigger thank you to all the people who bravely told their quitting stories.