Plywood People Founder Jeff Shinabarger Wants Atlanta to be Known for Social Innovation

ATLANTA - July 23, 2013 - PRLog -- Atlanta history is marked by the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact on humanity. It also is home to some of the largest brands in the world, including Coca-Cola. Plywood People founder Jeff Shinabarger wants to leverage those two aspects of Atlanta’s historic landscape to inspire new ideas that shape the future.

“In 2014, the world will travel to Atlanta for the grand opening of the National Human and Civil Rights Museum,” said Shinabarger. “A few of the largest global non-profits call Atlanta home and the city has deep roots in faith traditions that have pursued social justice projects for generations. We want to continue a legacy of addressing needs in revolutionary ways.”

Gathering 600 pioneers who are designing the future, “Plywood Presents” will be held on August 15-16 at Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta. Shinabarger and others will present and promote ideas that have potential for positive world change. Business innovators, cultural creatives, along with non-profit activists and entrepreneurs will convene in one room for something memorable. Conversations will move those gathered toward collaboration. And a few will win over $20,000 in cash, gifts and services designed to take their problem-solving idea to the next level.

“I believe many great ideas in the world never get off the ground because of one consistent reason: money.” Shinabarger continued. “While it’s hard to get funding for an unproven concept, I don’t believe that people should ask others to invest in an idea unless they have done the hard work of putting up personal money, sweat equity and social capital themselves. I don’t want the reason for a problem solving idea to not break daylight because of money any longer. So, we are giving money away.”

The Problem Solving Competition will highlight five problem-solvers with ideas to meet social needs. Plywood People and sponsors will give away $7,000 in cash along with business consulting and coaching on best practices from leaders in their industries.

In the past year, Plywood People has instigated and contributed to 60 new start-ups creating new solutions to old problems. Plywood People lives by this mantra: “We will be known by the problems we solve.”

Last year’s winners included Jen Soong, founder of SOMA Goods, Erin Levin, independent documentary film producer of IMBA!, and Jarrett Helms, founder of Cradle&Thread.

"Making a film about a little girl in Uganda who wants to be the first female president of her nation is crazy expensive, not to mention mentally and emotionally draining,” said Levin. “Winning the Plywood Problem Solving Competition changed the game for me. Not only did it help push our fundraising efforts forward, I also gained a huge community of supporters.”

Presenters at this year’s event include: Kohl Crecelius, founder of Krochet Kid intl; Brad Montague, creator of Kid President; Grace Kim, Director of Partnerships at GOOD/Corps; Alex Cox & Mark Slagle, Co-Founders of Good Spread; Charles Lee (http://charlestlee.com), CEO and Chief Idea Maker at Ideation; Father Gregory Boyle, Founder of Homeboy Ministries (http://homeboyindustries.org); Nathan Williams, Founder of Kinfolk Magazine (http://kinfolkmag.com); Alphonzo & Allison Cross, Co-founders of Boxcar Grocer; (http://boxcargrocer.com) Dana Tanamachi, founder Tanamachi Studios (http://tanamachistudio.com), Todd Henry, Founder and CEO at Accidental Creative (http://accidentalcreative.com); Anil Dash (http://dashes.com); Midas Whale (http://MidasWhale.com), Indie Musicians.

WHERE:          Buckhead Theatre | 3110 Roswell Road Northeast | Atlanta, GA 30305

WHEN:          August 14, 2013, 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | August 15, 2013, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Learning from practitioners that do what they teach, those gathered will be equally inspired toward action, challenged to think and given practical takeaways to implement. Watch more here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BJzYlfDFdU



For more information on the event, please visit http://www.plywoodpresents.com.  To purchase tickets, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4039546392/eorg.

About Plywood People:

Plywood People is a division of Suffered Enough, a 501c3 organization formed to creatively support organizations conducting charitable activities and to provide relief to the poor, distressed and underprivileged.

About Jeff Shinabarger:

Jeff Shinabarger is passionate about communicating the needs of the impoverished and connecting them with the privileged in our culture to determine what is enough in all of life. He launched Plywood People, an innovative community addressing social needs through sustainable goods, awareness campaigns, and creative services. In 2013, he will release his first book entitled, More or Less: Choosing a Lifestyle of Excessive Generosity. Jeff lives in East Atlanta Village with his wife, Andre, daughter, Jada, son, Neko, and boxer, Max.

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