StartingBloc educates, inspires and connects tomorrow's social innovators. Through inspirational talks and world-class leadership training, the Fellowship guides emerging social entrepreneurs and demonstrated leaders with potential to create new solutions to global challenges. With more than 1,500 Fellows from over 50 countries, StartingBloc is becoming the premier program that launches young talent to create positive economic and social impact.

StartingBloc's five-day 2011 New York Institute ("NY '11") will take place May 26 - 30, offering knowledge from visionaries and change makers:

• Houston Spencer, VP of Strategy, Alcatel Lucent
  
• Scott Sherman, Founder, Transformative Action Institute
  
• Mitchell Wade, Founder, Institute3
  
• Joe Sibilia, Founder & CEO of Meadowbrook Lane Capital & CEO of CSRwire
  
• David Barber, Co-Founder of Stone Barns Center & Blue Hill Restaurant
  
• Jeremy Heimans, Co-Founder of Purpose

The ambitious program will also offer inspirational sessions with Houston Spencer & Mitchell Wade, Yao Huang of the Hatchery, social entrepreneur and activist Tanya Fields, IE Business School Professor Max Oliva, Sustainability Analyst Alex Lackner and Alexia Vernon, Leadership & Millennial Coach.

"Our New York Institute continues our long tradition within the social innovation community in New York City," says Ms. Pentz (BOS '07), StartingBloc's CEO. "We aim to nurture exceptional leaders, offering structured working assignments that pass knowledge. This particular institute draws candidates from over 20 US states and five countries. In addition, our sessions energetically engage candidates to apply their developing skills to real-world issues."

"StartingBloc has been absolutely crucial to launching [my organization] Ayllu," says Fellow Melissa Richer (NY '08). "We have contacted prominent individuals and institutions that we would have never had access to without the StartingBloc network. The Fellows are living proof that real change is not just about bold ideas, but bold social networks."

The New York Institute for Social Innovation includes "The Wealth of Knowledge in the Room," a forum for selected industry leaders who are invited to connect and offer mentorship to this latest class of StartingBloc Fellows. The NY '11 StartingBloc candidates will also have a chance to pitch their own ideas to their peer group in the "Ideas Marketplace" session, which enables them to garner constructive feedback and discover potential partners and advocates for their ventures.

In addition, the NY '11 StartingBloc candidates will participate in the Social Innovation Competition ("SIC") with partners Recyclebank and Purpose. The SIC is designed to offer the candidates the opportunity to apply their new found knowledge and skills. The NY '11 candidates will work in teams to generate the best solution for a real world case challenge proposed by Recyclebank.

Additionally, sessions will focus on the art and science of building relationships and cultivating team-building skills. Overall, the NY '11 candidates will leave the program with a framework to transform individuals, communities, and the world.

MEDIA may actively participate or observe all StartingBloc activities by emailing Adriana Pentz at adriana@startingbloc.org to request a full agenda. Media may also call 646.287.2565 to confirm their presence. The Institute will take place at the Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012, Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:30 PM; Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9 AM - 6:00 PM, and Monday 9 AM - 4 PM.

All are invited to celebrate the launch of the NY '11 class at the Launch Party on Sunday Evening, May 29th, from 7 - 10 PM, at Tammany Hall, 152 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10012. Visit http://nylaunchparty.eventbrite.com to purchase your ticket for $20 for the event. A few tickets are also available for the general public to experience one entire day of the StartingBloc Institute for $100.

ABOUT Hailed by Worldchanging.com as an organization that "produces a fun and natural synergy that compels you to 'act now' with your decision to change the world," StartingBloc is a 501(c)3 educational Fellowship program that trains and connects emerging leaders, mostly in their 20s, to create new solutions to global challenges. Participants may be leaders of their own initiatives, or change agents within larger organizations. Learn more at www.startingbloc.org.

StartingBloc

StartingBloc

Hailed by Worldchanging.com as an organization that "produces a fun and natural synergy that compels you to 'act now' with your decision to change the world," StartingBloc is a 501(c)3 educational Fellowship program that trains and connects emerging leaders, mostly in their 20s, to create new solutions to global challenges. Participants may be leaders of their own initiatives, or change agents within larger organizations. Learn more at www.startingbloc.org.

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