Social Enterprise Greenhouse

Complex event planning to raise important issues during a statewide special election

Services

Event Planning
Media Outreach
Public Relations

The Challenge

During Rhode Island’s 2023 special Congressional election, there were many candidate forums and events but none that raised questions and issues most important to small businesses, especially women-owned and minority-owned businesses. Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG), a nonprofit business support organization for social impact-focused and under-represented entrepreneurs, knew these issues needed a space for discussion in front of the public and Rhode Island’s business community.

The Solution

Social Enterprise Greenhouse reached out to Half Street Group to plan and coordinate all aspects of a public forum and media event featuring the 11 congressional candidates. Half Street managed all event planning details and logistics, including outreach to each campaign, event invitees, and members of the media, media credentialing, and coordinating press releases and media outreach. Additionally, Half Street’s experienced team helped prepare the event moderators, SEG’s CEO and the president of Rhode Island’s Black Business Association, to ensure a successful and focused forum. 

The Impact

With Half Street’s unmatched attention to detail and strategic media outreach, SEG’s congressional forum attracted a standing room-only crowd of over 150 people on a weeknight with 10 of the 11 candidates participating. The forum was the first time the candidates went on record to discuss their business development and economic priorities, and engage on issues of vital importance to the state’s business owners of color and female entrepreneurs. The event also raised the profile of Social Enterprise Greenhouse with extensive media coverage, and a successful event proving SEG to be an impactful convener – especially during an election season. SEG’s forum elevated topics of workforce development and entrepreneurship to congressional leadership. Half Street took on the complexities involved in this high-stakes event to support SEG’s impact-focused mission and the Rhode Island small business community.