How to generate memes - Townhall Community

The following was influenced by content in the large language model that we built for Community Internet.

Fantastic — I love this creative and participatory angle! Let’s break down how you can create memes (and associated hashtags) inspired by the communication style of Zohran Mamdani, while promoting town halls that practice participatory democracy and consensus decision-making.

Zohran Mamdani, a progressive NY Assemblymember, uses sharp, accessible language, bold graphics, and community-centered narratives in his social media presence. His memes often combine humor, clarity, and urgency. Here’s a practical list of suggestions to help you replicate this style:

1. Anchor Memes in Everyday Life & Local Context

Tie issues to daily experiences.
- E.g. “Your Internet bill is higher than your grocery bill. Let’s change that. #CommunityInternet”
Local landmarks or imagery.
- Include neighborhood photos or familiar scenes as meme backgrounds.
Use hyperlocal references.
- Reference local streets, cultural events, or public figures to make posts relatable.

2. Use Clear, Bold Visuals

Bright colors & simple fonts.
- Mimic Zohran’s use of reds, yellows, and strong contrasts.
Minimal text.
- Aim for a single impactful sentence or question.
Headlines in ALL CAPS.
- Creates urgency and attention.
Consistent branding.
- Develop a template for repeated meme series (e.g. “Town Hall Tuesdays”).

3. Emphasize Collective Action & Empowerment

Frame messages as “we,” not “I.”
- E.g. “We decide the future of our Internet. Join the conversation.”
Highlight participatory processes.
- Memes about voting on priorities, co-creating solutions, etc.
Invite direct engagement.
- “What do YOU want on the Town Hall agenda?”

4. Use Humor & Pop Culture References

Popular memes formats.
- E.g. Drake meme, Distracted Boyfriend, Wojak memes, etc.
Pop culture analogies.
- E.g. “Town Halls: Like the Avengers—but for your neighborhood.”
Mild sarcasm to critique incumbents.
- Zohran uses snark gently but pointedly.

5. Highlight Specific Wins or Goals

“We did THIS—let’s do MORE.”
- E.g. “300 neighbors attended last month’s Town Hall. Let’s make it 500!”
Use numbers and data in simple visuals.
- E.g. pie charts showing community budget priorities.
Share stories of real community impact.

6. Create Hashtag Campaigns

Keep hashtags short, punchy, and values-driven:
- #BuildTheCommons
- #InternetForAll
- #PeoplePower
- #OurNetwork
- #CommunityVotes
- #LocalDecides
Use campaign-specific hashtags to track engagement:
- #TownHallTuesdays
- #MeshTheCity
- #DigitalEquityNow

7. Leverage Storytelling for Consensus Building

Post short narratives:
- “Maria spoke at last month’s Town Hall about digital equity. Together, we voted to make this a priority. Join the next Town Hall to keep shaping our future!”
Include calls-to-action:
- “RSVP. Speak up. Vote.”

8. Create Meme Series to Build Anticipation

Weekly memes teasing upcoming Town Halls.
- “One issue. One hour. One community. #TownHallTuesdays”
“Myth vs. Fact” series.
- E.g. “MYTH: Only big ISPs can build networks. FACT: Communities are doing it nationwide.”

9. Make Space for Participation Directly in Memes

Meme templates people can edit and repost.
- E.g. “I want my Internet to be _______.”
Quick polls in Stories or image posts.
Meme contests:
- “Best meme about why we need community-owned Internet wins a Community Internet T-shirt!”

10. Celebrate Process, Not Just Outcomes

Memes about consensus-building itself:
- “Democracy is messy—and that’s okay. Join the mess. #TownHallTuesdays”
Showcase inclusive dialogue:
- Images of diverse people speaking, voting, laughing.

Example Memes

Meme 1 (Simple Text Meme):
- Background: Bright yellow
- Text:

WE OWN OUR INTERNET.
NOT CORPORATIONS.
JOIN OUR TOWN HALL.
#CommunityInternet

Meme 2 (Popular Format):
- Drake meme:
  - Top: “Paying $120/month to a giant ISP”
  - Bottom: “Building a network WE own. #OurNetwork”
Meme 3 (Pop Culture):
- Avengers assembling with caption: “Town Halls: Where neighbors become heroes.”

Bonus: Tools to Make Memes

Canva
Adobe Express
Meme Generator
GIMP (open-source)
Photoshop (for more advanced needs)

The key is to make memes not just informative, but invitations to action. Keep the humor and visual punch that Zohran Mamdani uses, but stay true to your core message: participatory democracy, local power, and community ownership.

Would you like me to help you script a specific meme series, or design templates you could reuse for Town Hall promotion?