SII: What's Up

Come learn how you can get involved with the Social Innovation Initiative this year. Don't wait, become a changemaker today! There will be free Meeting Street cookies.

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The Social Innovation Initiative is pleased to announce the launching of its brand new website, http://swearercenter.brown.edu/sii/. It is the new home of SIIhub, SII's interactive blogging community, it includes profiles for all of the projects and people involved in SII, and much more!

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While Twitter and Facebook are familiar to most people, best practices regarding their usage in marketing, brand building, and integration into an overall business strategy are only beginning to develop. This workshop will articulate not only what social media is, but also will provide a context and specific techniques to help you exploit its power for good. Opportunities abound for people who are fluent in social media marketing; those looking to build/grow a business or get a job are encouraged to attend. George Howard is the manager of Carly Simon, Grammy and Academy Award winner and multi-platinum selling artist.

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Want to blog on an issue you're passionate about for an audience of students, professors, activists and nonprofit leaders? SII is expanding our team of bloggers to help broaden our coverage of the most important causes of our time. Each blogger will contribute to a leading blog covering news and offering commentary on a social, political or environmental issue, convene nonprofits and activists working on the issue, and help people translate their passion into concrete action.

Email Kyla Wilkes for more information and to apply.

A Better World by Design brings a global community of innovators to Providence, Rhode Island, to reach across disciplines and unite under a common goal. Presenters share engaging stories, workshops teach creative skills, and discussions reframe perspectives. A Better World by Design is an immersive experience that deepens our understanding of the power of design, technology, and enterprise to reshape our communities and sustain our environment.

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Mark your calendars now for the first-ever Social Enterprise RI (SERI) Summit, to be held Thursday, November 12, 2009 at Bryant University. SERI, www.socialenterpriseri.org, aims to connect Rhode Island's growing number of social innovators. Join the wave of social innovation that is cresting over Rhode Island!

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Five lucky finalists will survive the second round of this year's Boost Your Business contest--and that's when the real pressure kicks in. The fortunate five will have less than three weeks to run a daunting gantlet, including the preparation of a formal business plan (20 pages max) and a 10-minute Power Point presentation, delivered to a panel of six expert judges under the hot lights at Forbes' video studio in New York City. The sweat will really start pouring during the post-presentation Q&A sessions--and we capture it all on tape for our readers to pick apart when deciding who takes home the grand prize.

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Cutting through the clutter to get the attention of foundations and other social investors is not easy. To win donor support, SE leaders must sell clear and compelling stories that differentiate them from other organizations. Pitching SE is your opportunity to refine your pitch, focus your ideas and wow a panel of seasoned judges at our annual conference ForSE 2009: Forum for Social Entrepreneurs. A panel of experienced non-profit and social investors will evaluate your pitch, and provide feedback and constructive advice.

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