From Alabama to the West Coast: What I Learned at SMMW + Canva Create 2025

And yes, Kangaroo Willie stole the show 

Canva Create 2025

I, along with my teammate ShaElla, aka Sha, (our Communications Manager) had the chance to attend two powerhouse events in the marketing and design world: Social Media Marketing World (SMMW) in San Diego and Canva Create in Los Angeles. 

We went out there not just to soak it all in—but to bring back insights that could help us better serve Alabama families and tell the NSFA story in more impactful ways. 

Also, we brought Kangaroo Willie—our fearless (and fuzzy) mascot—who may or may not have outshined us at both events. 

SMMW was packed with people talking about where content is heading and how to stay human in a world obsessed with automation. 

Everyone loves Willie

One session called “Authenticity at Scale” really stuck with me. It reminded me why our work at NSFA can’t just be strategic—it has to be empathetic. The families we serve don’t want to hear polished brand-speak. They want to feel seen, heard, and supported. 

We also heard a lot about how short-form video is still dominating—but the most successful content? It’s not the most produced. It’s the most honest. That’s something Sha and I are already talking about integrating more of—real stories, real moments, less polish, more purpose. 

Also… Willie was a hit. People stopped us to ask about him and all wanted to take selfies with him. One guy said, “Why don’t we have a mascot like this?” Honestly, great question. 

Canva just keeps evolving, and the tools they unveiled this year felt like they were made for small, mighty teams like ours. 

Their new Brand Kit and Magic Studio updates are going to help us move faster without sacrificing quality. I was especially excited about how we can use their text-to-video tools to turn simple updates into engaging visual content. It’s a huge deal for a lean team trying to make a big impact. 

Canva Create

Also, Canva’s focus on supporting creators and nonprofits really resonated with me. They’re building not just tools, but an ecosystem where people like us can thrive. 

And yep, Willie made waves here too. One person literally had a strategy session with how Willie can make huge impacts in the charter space just by being himself! No, seriously, it really happened!  

These two events reminded me that our communications work isn’t just about putting out content—it’s about building trust and creating momentum. Whether we’re sharing a school success story or a legislative update, we have to do it in a way that’s clear, human, and rooted in the why. 

We’re already taking action on what we learned. From how we structure our school spotlights to how we use AI tools in our workflow, things are shifting—and it feels good. 

Also, PSA: Kangaroo Willie now has fans coast to coast. 

If you’re part of the NSFA community—parents, educators, advocates—you’ll start to see these changes soon. More video. More voices. More storytelling that reflects the impact we’re making across Alabama. 

We’re just getting started. 

Absolutely 4 Our Kids, 

Candie