BBMG and the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) today announced that the first event in the brand innovation firm’s new FIVE x 5 (“five by five”) series will take place November 7 at BBMG’s studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

A curated innovation strategy session designed to help five social enterprises workshop their immediate real-world challenges with a cross-section of fellow planners, strategists, creatives and technologists, FIVE x 5 aims to foster greater collaboration and community while accelerating bold new solutions.

The series begins with start-ups Rally.org, a crowdfunding platform for social good; Thinx, the manufacturers of leak- and stain-resistant “thoughtful underwear”; Drive Change, which provides job training to formerly incarcerated youth; Upraised Learning, a group that partners with schools, families and community organizations to increase student success; and Ignite Good, a grant-giving initiative of the Heartfelt Foundation that aims to maximize the social impact of young people.

“These passionate change-makers deserve all the help we can muster,” said Mitch Baranowski, co-founder and chief creative officer at BBMG. “Our firm has a long history supporting disruptive social innovation and this new event series gives us a great forum for collaborating with like-hearted design thinkers to do some real good in a short amount of time.”

"At CSI, our approach is aimed at supporting social entrepreneurs and investing in their success," said community animator Allie Mahler. "We're excited to partner with BBMG to curate the inaugural FIVE x 5 event because we know the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the benefit it can have for our members in their ventures."

At 5:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every other month starting on November 7, 2013, BBMG will host five social enterprises and participants from across disciplines to work in small groups through real-world challenges facing the invited start-ups. After each working group shares insights and solutions, the evening will conclude with discussion and networking.

Systems thinkers, designers, entrepreneurs, technologists, strategists, storytellers and change-makers of all kinds are invited to RSVP here (space is limited and RSVP required).

Start-ups interested in being considered as a featured social enterprise for a future FIVE x 5 event should email Carola Beeney at cbeeney@bbmg.com and share their challenge in 300 words or less.

FIVE x 5:: At-A-Glance

What: BBMG and CSI Present FIVE x 5

Why: To help build five growing social enterprises

Participating startups: Rally, Thinx, Ignite Good, Upraised Learning and Drive Change

Who should attend: Planners, Strategists, Creatives, Technologists

When: Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013; 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Where: BBMG, 20 Jay Street, Suite 1012, Brooklyn, NY

Cost: Free (space limited; RSVP required)

RSVP: fivex5.eventbrite.com

About BBMG
Founded in 2003, New York-based BBMG is a globally recognized brand innovation firm dedicated to creating disruptive business solutions and delightful brand experiences that help clients drive revenue and positive social impact. By integrating branding with sustainability expertise and innovation strategies, BBMG helps organizations identify growth opportunities, forge new markets, create new brands and drive real culture change. Recent clients include adidas, eBay, Eileen Fisher, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal Paris, MillerCoors, NBCUniversal, Samsung, Seventh Generation and Target. For more, please visit www.bbmg.com.

About CSI
The Centre for Social Innovation is a coworking space, community and launchpad for people who are changing the world, with three locations in Toronto and one location in New York City. We provide our members with the tools they need to accelerate their success and amplify their impact. Together, we’re building a movement of nonprofits, for-profits, entrepreneurs, artists and activists working across sectors from farming to finance and everything in between. We’re catalyzing new ideas for a better world. Find out more at socialinnovation.org.

BBMG

BBMG

BBMG is a brand and social innovation consultancy dedicated to creating business growth and positive social impact. We’re strategic creatives and creative strategists, culture experts and design thinkers. We build brands with purpose that are relevant to a new generation and resilient for the fast, transparent and volatile world we live in today. To learn more about how we build brands for humans, visit www.bbmg.com.

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