Better Is Possible // Plywood People

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B E T T E R I S K U L A P R O J E C T // SARAH BUCHANAN The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 changed the culture of that country forever. Sarah Buchanan is continually in awe of the tenacity of the Rwandan people to overcome in the face of such incredible adversity, and she wants to see them thrive.

“There is an education gap in the developing world, and the success of a family depends on the success of their farm. So the best way to help production was to help parents afford their children’s school fees.”

Without a product to sell or a market to sell to, these families are at risk for falling into a perpetual cycle of poverty. Kula Project seeks to break that cycle through empowering local farmers to grow amazing coffee and sell it for fair prices.

90% of the families who receive aid through Kula Project use their profits to buy food, to pay school fees, and to obtain healthcare. The investments made in these people and communities are not a one time transaction.

When a farmer plants a coffee tree purchased by

Kula, it takes roughly three years before it bears any fruit, which is then later processed into the coffee we use.

Sarah remembers being in the home of her friend Odette, a Rwandan farmer. “Odette picked up one of the coffee trees,” Sarah recounted, “and hands it to her son, Sabeem. And she said, ‘This may look like a tree to you, but one day it’s going to send you to school.’”

From the beginning, Plywood challenged her to not only think about her dreams but how she would practically accomplish them. “Because if you’re better, you’re organization is better, and therefore your work will be better.”

Plywood has provided a unique and diverse community of dreamers and entrepreneurs, which has encouraged Kula Project’s success, especially with the struggles of being a young non-profit. “Even though all of our organizations and companies are different, you realize that the problems you face as a social entrepreneur are very similar.”

“EVEN THOUGH ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DIFFERENT, YOU REALIZE THAT THE PROBLEMS YOU FACE AS A SOCIALENTREPRENEUR ARE VERY SIMILAR.”

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B E T T E R I S P R I S S Y T O M B O Y // TRACEY PEARSON While working three jobs and going to school at night, Tracey finished her degree, and she began working in the beauty industry and then became a fitness instructor. As she began her career, Tracey recognized her story in the lives of the women she encountered.

Young women need an outlet to simply be themselves, to learn about confidence, receive affirmation for who they are, and to have someone give them a broader perspective.

Prissy Tomboy is a lifestyle brand that empowers, supports, and recognizes young female athletes. It makes the lives of young women better by supporting their choice to live a healthy lifestyle, creating a community of support with like-minded girls, as well as providing mentors and role models to help them continue down a path towards greater success. “From beginning to end, it’s a very powerful experience for girls.

They say ‘I did that!’ And we show them that if they can accomplish something simple, they can accomplish anything.”

Plywood has been an avid supporter of Prissy Tomboy from the beginning. “Being ambitious, you sometimes try to take on too much, but Plywood has helped clarify my goals and pointed me in the right direction.”

Receiving the feedback and coaching from Plywood has been huge for Tracey.

“Anytime I have a question, I never get a straight forward answer, but I get sound advice from people I trust. That allows me to make my own choice about what’s best for me as a person and best for my company.”

It is that personal connection and emotional support that has made her journey as a business owner and advocate for young women a success.

“BEING AMBITIOUS, YOU SOMETIMES TRY TO TAKE ON TOO MUCH, BUT PLYWOOD HAS HELPED CLARIFY MY GOALS AND POINTED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.”

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B E T T E R I S L A L A B U // BRIAN & KERI FOSSE Brian and Keri Fosse were rising the corporate ladder not looking to have children anytime soon. When they went to visit Keri’s Aunt in Africa, they met someone who would change the trajectory of their lives forever.

They met an incredible woman named Lalabu who showed Keri how a mother wraps a cloth around her and the baby, allowing the mother to continue with her everyday tasks.

Keri noticed that babies are a part of the active life of the village, not off in a playpen or in a car seat.

When they were getting ready to bring their first child into the world, Keri remarked, “I want to carry my baby like the women in Djibasso.” And they set to work to create a product that would make it easy for American women to wear their babies. Brian and Keri launched their company, naming it Lalabu after the woman who inspired them, impacting numerous moms across the US

while also giving back to moms in Africa through microfinance loans.

“I don’t think Lalabu would be a company without Plywood,” Brian shared. Without the conversations that happened at a Plywood Retreat, giving Brian and Keri the tools, ideas, and bravery to actually begin, Lalabu might have stayed an idea. Plywood became a sounding board as they navigated the various challenges new entrepreneurs face, and provided them with a group of people who understood the struggle.

Additionally, the practicality of having a space to work out of at Plywood Place allowed them to separate their work and home life. “We didn’t realize how big of a deal that was until we got it! It gave us a place to work and a community to be a part of, and it really legitimized the work we’re doing.”

“I DON’T THINK LALABU WOULD BE A COMPANY WITHOUT PLYWOOD.”

“IT GAVE US A PLACE TO WORK AND A COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF.”

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B E T T E R I S Y O U ’ V E B E E N N O T E D // K E L S E Y & L I N D S AY E D W A R D S “It started off as a blog, and then just a t-shirt line, and because of Plywood, it became something much bigger.” Kelsey and Lindsay Edwards were not looking to make an impact in their city when they started You’ve Been Noted. They were looking to improve people’s days by telling them they liked their style, taking a photo, and writing a quick blog about the street fashion around Atlanta.

The unity You’ve Been Noted helps create in Atlanta is a byproduct of their work with Plywood. “The instant connections that you make through Plywood has absolutely made You’ve Been Noted a better company. We were instantly part of a network of creative problem solvers and entrepreneurs that you can go to with problems or celebrations.

Having that support network in place has been incredible.”

As their blog expanded and their reach grew, Kelsey and Lindsay noticed something interesting: a grand disconnect between people across the city. They saw this as an opportunity to bring together creatives from differing communities to showcase their work and encourage collaboration.

Lindsay says that having a group of people who understand the intricacies of starting a business, the ups and downs, and even the nuance of certain disappointments has been both comforting and empowering for them.

Plywood pushed both of them to examine their motivations, the “why” of You’ve Been Noted. “It was easy to say, ‘It’s just a blog, it’s just a t-shirt line,’ but [Plywood] pushed us to move deeper, and examine our purpose.

It took us to the next level.”

They created “The Ballog,” a curated event of about fifteen vendors with unique and varying products coming together for an evening of conversation and collaboration.

Numerous artists have begun working together as a result.

“THE INSTANT CONNECTIONS THAT YOU MAKE THROUGH PLYWOOD HAS ABSOLUTELY MADE YOU’VE BEEN NOTED A BETTER COMPANY”

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B E T T E R I S B R E A K I N T O B U S I N E S S // MONICA LAGE Monica fell in love with business in college.

Why had no one told her, talked to her or taught her anything about business before?

Why did she have to attend a university to realize her passion? That question pushed her to start Break into Business, an organization on a mission to educate and inspire Atlanta’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

“The problem was getting kids fired up about business before they entered high school. A friend and I took time off work and started the initial camp - it was a huge hit. When I moved to Atlanta I decided to host a small program at Georgia Tech. It exploded from there - this year we coached 200 kids who launched over 35 different businesses!”

No matter what field young people enter, medicine, law, or even being an artist or creative, Monica says that learning about business is paramount. “The skills they learn can be used for the rest of their lives.” Her hope is that Break into Business sparks a

drive in students to continue to pursue their dreams, and that one day she would see one of her students on the cover of the Wall Street Journal, launching their business with the foundations set in her program.

Monica says that simply having a space to work from at Plywood Place is inspirational.

“The interactions I’m able to have on a daily basis have been invaluable.” Being the leader of a growing non-profit organization, she began asking the question, “What’s next?”

She had students who were wanting more, and she had no idea where to go, so through discussion with Plywood, Monica created an Incubator program to run throughout the year.

“That’s the kind of stuff that doesn’t happen when you’re sitting at home, in your office, trying to move forward. You need the spark and inspiration of others around you.

Plywood has been amazing for that.”

“YOU NEED THE SPARK AND INSPIRATION OF OTHERS AROUND YOU. PLYWOOD HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR THAT.”

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B E T T E R I S M A G I C C I T Y W O O D W O R K S // L AW R E N C E S H E F F I E L D

There was a need for honest work in Birmingham, Alabama. Lawrence wanted to create a place where young men could get their first work experience and then network these individuals with employers who wanted to hire them, bridging the gap between unemployment and meaningful employment. And with the help of his friends, he began Magic City Woodworks In their year long apprenticeship, Magic City Woodworks gives practical job training to men who are looking to start a career in a trade, rather than going to a 4 year college or university. Knowing that each individual has their own aspirations, they encourage their apprentices to continue pursuing their personal ambitions, and connect them with people who can help take their dreams and make them a reality.

Lawrence says that watching his friends grow into the people they wish to become is the most rewarding experience of his life. He went on to say that Plywood has been instrumental in the success of his non-profit.

“Being around a community of problem solvers, being able to admit that we don’t have it all figured out and it being okay is amazing. Being able to pick up the phone, and knowing people all the way in Atlanta care about what we’re doing, is a tremendous help.”

Lawrence admits that he didn’t know much about starting a nonprofit or running a startup. However, through his connections at Plywood, his professional network, and a practical resources like “From Clouds to Concrete,” a 35-day actionable guide, helped transition his ideas into action.

Magic City Woodworks continues to thrive.

“BEING AROUND A COMMUNITY OF PROBLEM SOLVERS, BEING ABLE TO ADMIT THAT WE DON’T HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT, AND IT BEING OKAY IS AMAZING.”

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B E T T E R I S T H E B I G FA K E W E D D I N G // C A L L I E M U R R AY As a wedding photographer, Callie noticed that vendors across the board were having a similar problem: people didn’t know what services they were buying, and brides were losing track of the point of marriage in the midst of wedding planning.

Enter The Big Fake Wedding. This event allows future brides and grooms to attend a full blown fake wedding and to see numerous vendors in action, getting a taste for potential services. From cake tasting to seeing how a florist’s bouquet would hold up throughout an event, couples get a live demonstration of services and are able to build relationships with the people behind the price sheets.

Callie’s motivation goes much deeper. With each of their events, there are three main goals: to promote small and local businesses, to inspire brides and grooms,

and to encourage solid and committed marriages. In that, they not only help launch and grow other unique businesses, but they encourage these potential new customers to plan for their life, not just for their wedding day.

If it wasn’t for Plywood, Callie would have never been able to make her small business a full time career. For a long time, she felt like she was alone. “Sitting in a room of people who just ‘got it’ and were experiencing the same things as me kept me from quitting.

Connecting with this group of people has sustained me.”

Callie was connected with mentors and other entrepreneurs who knew how to build a successful business. Not only did she get the encouragement she needed, but she was provided with practical information and advice needed to help her business be as successful as it is.

“SITTING IN A ROOM OF PEOPLE WHO JUST ‘GOT IT’ AND WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THINGS AS ME KEPT ME FROM QUITTING. CONNECTING WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE HAS SUSTAINED ME.”

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B E T T E R I S S O W O R T H L O V I N G // ERYN ERICKSON Eryn’s journey began with a problem. She noticed that “it was common to feel unworthy of love, but uncommon to talk about it.” She started a blog in hopes of sharing other people’s journeys to self-worth and self-love.

After requests to purchase a shirt, a clothing brand launched, so that people could wear this message everyday and use it as a physical reminder of a message that gets lost in the everyday.

She put her home address on the blog, requesting people to send her their t-shirt so that she may spray paint this message on the back of them. Over the next six months, Eryn was overwhelmed by the response. She spray painted ‘so worth loving’ on hundreds of strangers’ t-shirts. It didn’t matter their past mistakes or what kind of background they came from or what someone else told them. They were worthy of love and acceptance and apparel was one way to remind them.

The biggest lesson Eryn has learned is that you have to be sustainable in order to reach many. “Having people share with me the ins and outs of their beginnings was life changing. I didn’t know what I was doing, and I still have no idea what I’m doing sometimes.

But it’s because of people at Plywood who circle around me and help me figure out the non-glamorous things you’re faced with as a leader that we’ve been so successful.”

Plywood has helped Eryn take from just an idea and make it a force for good.

She was amazed to see the amount of people who wanted to carry the message of So Worth Loving. Eryn and her team are making the world a better place by creating a safe environment for people to share their stories of redemption and stories of picking up the pieces of shattered lives.

Eryn says Plywood’s support system has been huge for her business. “If it wasn’t for Plywood, I probably would have fired myself a long time ago or quit.” So Worth Loving continues to reach people with their message of hope and has been a part of reshaping the way people view themselves.

“IT’S BECAUSE OF PEOPLE AT PLYWOOD WHO CIRCLE AROUND ME AND HELP ME FIGURE OUT THE NON-GLAMOROUS THINGS YOU’RE FACED WITH AS A LEADER THAT WE’VE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.”

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B E T T E R I S R E F U G E C O F F E E // K I T T I M U R R AY When Kitti Murray moved to Clarkston, Georgia, she did so with no other agenda than to be neighbors with the people around them. Since 1980, the UN has relocated over 70,000 refugees to the Clarkston area, and CNN has described Clarkston as the most diverse square mile in the world. Kitti and her husband Bill simply fell in love with the people of Clarkston, an incredible mashup of African, Asian, and Arabic cultures. For Kitti, being a neighbor became a bit more involved, and the dream of Refuge Coffee emerged.

The jobless rate in Clarkston is double the national average, and yet refugees often prove to be resilient contributors to the community. “Our goal is to give refugees the opportunities they lack in order to build a life here.” Refuge Coffee hires and trains refugees to be baristas. Not only are they working to address joblessness, but they work to create

intentional community in a place that desperately needs it.

Refuge Coffee has effectively created a multi-ethnic gathering space for people to mingle and create lasting relationships.

The coffee truck is an extension of the living room, and it gives space for people to enjoy the community that they wouldn’t otherwise know lived there.

“Plywood helped me shape this idea and demystify some of the nuances of starting a business. I’ve never felt alone in the process, and Plywood is a big reason for that.” From sound business advice to simply sharing in the struggle of leading an organization, Kitti says that Plywood was and continues to be a refuge for her as she works to bring hope to Clarkston.

“PLYWOOD HELPED ME SHAPE THIS IDEA AND DEMYSTIFY SOME OF THE NUANCES OF STARTING A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE. I’VE NEVER FELT ALONE IN THE PROCESS, AND PLYWOOD IS A BIG REASON FOR THAT.”

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B E T T E R I S R O O T C I T Y M A R K E T // JEN SOONG Root City Market started three years ago at Plywood Presents. Jen Soong was selling some products that were handmade by women in the Atlanta area and found it challenging to convince people to buy local. Not to mention that it was hard finding places to sell the local goods. So Jen gathered some of her favorite vendors to create a space for local artists and creatives to showcase their work.

Jen saw the creative potential in Atlanta, and she wanted to see that potential grow. With just twelve vendors to start, she created Root City Market, a quarterly pop-up market that gives a space for all things local, and it spotlights makers and creatives proudly crafting in the south. With a network of over 150 vendors, these gatherings have averaged a few thousand in attendance and continue to grow with each event.

“More than selling great products, it’s about building a community. It’s not competitive

but rather about showcasing talent. And Plywood has been a huge supporter of Root City Market from the beginning.”

Jen actually presented her idea for her business at the Plywood Presents Idea Competition, and from there people rallied behind her. Through the Plywood Retreat and relationships she’s built with the team, Jen shaped her business model and put it into action.

Her biggest piece of advice for every young social entrepreneur is to get involved with Plywood, go to Plywood Presents and begin building a network of people who are going to be supportive of the dream they have.

Jen says, “Everyone needs that support and cheerleading on their journey, and Plywood provides that.”

“EVERYONE NEEDS THAT SUPPORT AND CHEERLEADING ON THEIR JOURNEY, AND PLYWOOD PROVIDES THAT.”

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A R E

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