About Plywood People.
Plywood People is a nonprofit in Atlanta training and supporting a global community of social impact leaders. We do this through community, education, and experiences that inspire people to dream.
Over the past ten years, we have worked with 1200+ startup founders, social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders, all working to solve social issues and make their communities a better place.
Meet the team.
Jeff Shinabarger / Founder & Executive Director
Emily Giordano / Programs & Partnerships Manager
McClaine Wellem / Marketing Manager
LaTasha Brown / Event Space Manager & Podcast Producer
Cheyenne Joyce l Community Coordinator
Our Values.
We will be known by the problems we solve.
It is not our intention to be known as influencers or celebrities, but we strive that the work we do would create a good impact and solve the issues of our community and world.
Choose a life of excessive generosity.
We give of the resources we have been given: our platform, our connections, and our content.
We do this in several ways. When someone from our community is looking for a connection, we try to find the best fit from our Advisors whether it be marketing, storytelling, legal needs, etc. We share our stage with upcoming projects. We also provide scholarship opportunities to all of our programs and events for those who need financial assistance.
Make every space better.
We walk into every space whether it be digital or physical and aim to make the experience better. From connecting two people that might not know each other, to moving the trash cans to a better spot, to consistently brewing coffee, to thinking through every minute of an event.
Promote rhythms for sustainable lifestyles.
Our team puts equal value on working hard and resting. We strive to create an environment for our team and community that promotes work-life balance. We know this looks different for everyone, so we do not have a prescribed method, but we can share what works for us.
Everything has a season, but seasons must end. If we’ve been running hard for an extended period of time, we must do a full stop to reset.
We create spaces of belonging.
Our team strives to create spaces that make people feel welcome. We may not always get it right, so we approach situations with a posture of learning.
Our events are created to inspire and challenge new ways of thinking. Our front door welcomes all.
Plywood is a diverse community made up of individuals with varying perspectives and life experiences. We believe we can all learn something from everyone.
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Why “Plywood People”?
Because of his work in the social entrepreneurship space, Jeff found that people were always telling him about their ideas or introducing him to someone with an idea that was ready to launch. He started referring to this group of problem solvers as "Plywood People", as plywood - often used to cover broken windows or potholes - always found itself solving a problem. He formalized this community of start-ups doing good in 2010 with the launch of Plywood People, a 501c3 organization.