World's Fastest Growing Motivational Movement Now Taking to the Streets

AUSTIN, Texas, June 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- #Besomebody, the fastest growing Motivational Movement in the world, with online content reaching 1.5 Million people in more than 25 countries every week, is embarking on a six-week, global graffiti expedition that will take their inspirational message to the streets.

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"We are literally 'tagging' the world," said #besomebody Founder, Kash Shaikh. "We're bringing together two of the most expressive and accessible forms of human communication – social media and street art. Our content has always been real, raw, and personal. We don't tell people what to do, or how to do it; we just want to make them feel something... Graffiti is the same way. This expedition is so cool because we're creating lasting emblems of those positive emotions that people can see, touch and feel all over the world."

The expedition will encompass 15 cities, 11 countries and four continents in just six weeks. Three cities have already been "tagged" – Austin, Dallas and Mexico City – with London, Amsterdam, and beyond also on the itinerary. The locations have ranged from the 40-foot high University Co-op building across the University of Texas campus, to an iconic bus in Roma-Condesa, the beautiful Arts Zone in Mexico City. Other sites will include schools, parks, and city centers.

The four-man expedition team includes Cincinnati-based graffiti artist Danny Babcock, founder of Higher Level Art, one of the top Street Art groups in the country, and Josh Heuser, Founder of Agar, a culture-creating Marketing and Social Intelligence agency. Heuser was also part of a small group of marketers and influencers that attended an invite-only reveal of the broader vision for the #besomebody movement at SXSW in Austin, Texas earlier this year. Young filmmaker, Matthew "Snow" Rowe, will document every step of this #besomebody journey.

"I instantly connected with the #besomebody movement," said Artist, Danny "Gamble" Babcock. "Positivity and passion have always been driving forces in my life, and it was clear early on that Kash and the #besomebody community around the world shared that same mindset. I can't wait to paint something special in each of these cities that connects with the locals and resonates with the world. We want to inspire people to be inspired."

This expedition is quite an undertaking for a small, unsponsored and unfunded crew. Shaikh, however, is no stranger to bold global campaigns and uncomfortably big ideas. He spent nine years helping build some of the world's biggest brands at Procter & Gamble, including Old Spice, Olay, and Tide, before heading to Silicon Valley to lead Communications and Social Marketing for GoPro. The camera company, once only known by surfers and skaters, is now the fastest growing Camera Company in the world, with over $500M in sales in 2012.

He began sharing the "#besomebody" hashtag via social media in 2009 while leading work in developing markets for P&G, visiting more than 40 countries in a two year span. It came to life through the people he met, the stories they shared, and the universal truths that connected the two. Along the way, #besomebody grew from an active blog, to a passionate community, to today, the most diverse and inclusive social media-driven movement in the world.

"The most amazing part of the planning has been the amount of people who simply want to help, with no strings attached," Heuser said. "The universal response we've been getting from local governments, building owners and partners has been 'we'd love to be a part of something so positive, thank you for including us.' There's no price for that type of meaningful connection."

#Besomebody is a purposefully broad platform, which, Shaikh believes, is why it's been so widely embraced by such a diverse audience. Their content originated with blog posts and motivational "#beCards" but is now expanding to include photos, videos, and music, as they look to give talented, everyday artists a global stage to showcase their passions.

"For so many years, people asked me to summarize #besomebody in one sentence," said Shaikh. "Put it in a box or place it in a bucket. But I've learned that definition is the enemy. When we define, we confine. The power in #besomebody is in its lack of definition. There are no limits, borders, or boundaries. It's as big as you make it, and as personal as you take it... It's yours. And that's why anything is possible."

#Besomebody content can be found on seven social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as on their website, www.besomebodyblog.com. More than 20 videos and hundreds of photos from the Graffiti Expedition will be shared over the next few months.

About #besomebody.
#Besomebody is the fastest growing Motivational Movement in the world, reaching more than 1.5 Million in over 25 countries every week through some of the most shared motivational content in social media. People all over the world are sharing their passions, promises, and proclamations using the "#besomebody" hashtag. The #besomebody blog (http://www.besomebodyblog.com) has become an always-on destination for real, raw, and deeply personal blog posts, #beCards™, photos, videos, art and other forms of unfiltered human expression.

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SOURCE #besomebody.