Every once in a while we have the good fortune of working on a project that we feel truly matters, a project that we’ll still be thinking about years from now. Maybe even something we can imagine telling our grandkids about – surely you’ve had moments like that where something you did in your professional life really mattered?
edison konan
Coming from west Africa my family and I never understood the importance of mental health. When my sister was 10 year she became a victim of a mental health disorder. She’d starve herself, isolate herself, and turn to self harm, as methods to cope. It was traumatizing and my family didn’t know how to help her or let alone understand what she was going through. Luckily a therapist was able to shed light on her mental health disorders and help her from causing more harm to herself. Read more>>
Babatunde Omokoku
The most meaningful project I worked on is Coming 2 America movie . I acted as Royal Zamunda Palace guest . The story of Coming 2 America is similar to my Father leaving his hometown Nigeria and moving to Newyork to work and find a woman that’s for him . He met my Mom who is Lightskin and Trinidadian like Shari Headley . I told Shari Headley “ I look like I can be your son “when we were on set of Coming 2 America movie . She laughed and said “Hey son . “ She have emotional thank you everyone for being here for this sequel , it’s been over 30 years speech . She hugged and kissed me on the cheek . Read more>>
Roger Carefree
Well the most meaningful project I’ve worked on would have to be my very first mixtape. It’s where I discovered the heart of who I was as an artist and as a person discovering what he truly wanted out of life. I just wanted to reach people. I didn’t care about being famous or getting rich. I just wanted people to relate in hopes that I could help them with my music. Honestly the pain motivated me. Trauma from my past, relationships, the loss of loved ones, questioning my own purpose. All of these things were a driving force towards the creation of my first project. Read more>>
Linsa N. Morales
Chiquita Pots started during the pandemic. Life changed fast, and in that time I feel that everyone started to get the best out of each other to survive that confinement. Each person began to develop abilities they didn’t know they had. That’s how it all started. I decided to start painting pots as a hobby, where I could distract myself, create and do something fun. The intention was to take these pots to elderly people close to me, who due to the pandemic I could not visit. It was a way of letting them know that I thought of them, that I loved them, and in the process brighten their day with a piece painted by me. Read more>>
Lauren Reeves
I had recently moved down south, and through our move we had a fantastic realtor who helped us with the stressful process of moving to a new area. Through that connection later on, he introduced me to a new client who was a joy to work with and had a wonderful story to share. Read more>>
David Feder (pronounced Fader)
One of the most meaningful ongoing projects in my life has been the Bay Jam Music Festival and all of its’ offshoots. In 1995 I volunteered to perform at the first Bay Jam fundraiser to help the local high school’s art and music programs. Soon I was running the event, and years later this arts charity work evolved into an organization that created the town’s amphitheater /performance space and continues to support local youth arts, In addition, this NFP, ICE, has widened to support many other arts organizations, more in school programs, adult arts enhancement programs, and programs for at-risk youth. Read more>>
Xori Amar
my first album, ‘melody LN.’ this project was the most meaningful to me in so many ways: it was my first album; it was created during the beginning of the pandemic when I had a ton of free time on my hands to reflect on life & turn it into creation; and the title of the album is is named after the first street that I grew up on. Read more>>
Roger Colombik
In 2013 I was invited to New Zero Art Space in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) to engage the burgeoning cultural community during a new, open period of social and political possibilities. Working with a group of young artists from New Zero and students from Stamford City Business Institute we established a forum for dialogue and oral history collection within the diverse community along 29th St. in downtown Yangon. Read more>>
Candace Bellamy
I am a Family Practice Physician and currently work for the US Army. A few years ago due to some work challenges, I sought inspiration and began looking at women in medicine, particularly some of the trailblazers. Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the first African American Surgeon General of the United States was one of them. I was able to track her down and interview her in 2018. After meeting her and hearing her story, I knew I wanted to do a documentary on her story. I was able to find filmmakers to work with and also took film classes to increase my knowledge. We recently completed production on the project. Read more>>
Catori Langley
Thus far, the most meaningful project I have worked on was the SIstahs In Business Expo (SIBE) in 2021. The SIBE opportunity is where I received some of the best professional advice I have encountered thus far from CEO Aisha Taylor Issah and award winning tv & radio host Bevy Smith. Aisha reached out to me to be the official media correspondent for her expo at a time when I was not charging very much. I had been told time and time again that either my previous interview experience was not extensive enough to ask for more or since I am not with a large media outlet I should be happy for the opportunity and work at times 10-12 hour days for as low as $100. Read more>>
SkyQuajus Turner
I would say one of my most meaningful projects I’ve done so far is “LIBERATION” which was my first solo photo gallery I curated this past summer. A collection of old photos as well as new photos that I put together adding a live visual show that allowed everyone who attended to understand that I’m not just a photographer but I am also a visual artist. During the earlier stages of planning I remember thinking how do I get people to feel the things I feel when taking a photo but also learn about who I am as a person and randomly it clicked that I just needed to set people in an environment that I would put myself in mentally when creating an image but instead display it in a unique way. Read more>>
Deja Stewart
The most meaningful project to me has to be the photoshooI did earlier this year called “A colourful ascension.” It was the first project I directed myself, and the message was to highlight my vunerability with the fear of success. The fear of your “gifts” and the change that comes with claiming them. At that time it was important to me to not let that fear overtake me, but to embrace it. Ironically it took me a whole month to post it, and I was posting other content because I was a bit nervous showing a more vunerable side of me. However, I decided to make the shoot become my ministry, and I felt so much better once I followed through with releasing it. I was super proud that I showed up for myself, and I felt beyond blessed to receive the love i did. Read more>>
Sarah Stone
I run a discussion group for “fringies.” I started using the word “fringie” after someone jokingly used it in conversation with me and I liked it. A fringie is someone on the edge or outside of Christian faith. So, atheists, agnostics, skeptics, people who have been disillusioned or wounded by the church… those kind of folks. Several years ago I was talking with a friend who had grown up Christian and had walked away from his faith, but really missed the deep discussion and community of the church, so I came up with an idea for a group I now host once a month, called “Conversations.” Read more>>
Xavier Alvarado
The most meaningful project that i am invested in is my life journey in Artist. Producing and curating art collections is a field that iv’e been boldly persuing for some time now. Art has shaped and designed my life as i’ve created a workspace and business that allows my passion to flourish as opportunity to connect and inspire individuals throughout all avenues of life. I’ve learned that art is deeply rooted in my lifestyle as it continues to educate myself about what it means to be fulfilled in the course of life. Read more>>
Yadiel Reyes
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my first album. Just to even release a project is so meaningful to me. The album contains lots of different vibes and tracks. Records produced from Jayson ‘Koko’ Bridges, Grammy Winning Producer who’s won a Grammy on the production of Bad Boys 2 Soundtrack song “Shake Ya Tailfeather with Nelly, P. Diddy, and Murphy Lee, to DJ Rafi Mercenario, Daddy Yankee’s Official DJ & Producer for Ivy Queen, Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, Nicky Jam, Etc. Even a feature from 2 time Grammy winning lead singer of reggae band “Morgan Heritage,” Peetah Morgan. All these things for just my first album is so accomplishing and something to always remember. Read more>>
Shaina Ofstein
When I was 18, my first job was at Walt Disney World. I spent around eight years there on and off. My most formative years as a young adult were spent around fellow cast members who became my closest friends, room mates, and even family. I like to credit a lot of my work ethic to the skills I learned while at the “most magical place on earth.” Read more>>
Allison Jones
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and, subsequently, had brain surgery. During my recovery, I was reminded of the concept of kintsugi that I learned about during my first time in Japan. Kintsugi is a Japanese art form of repairing broken potter using lacquer mixed with gold to highlight the beauty of imperfection. Read more>>
Tell Beall
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on recently has been this Visual Album of cinematic sequences called An Extroverted Introvert. That’s how I’d describe myself as a person, one who loves his own space but does love his people. In the sequences I’ve showed some deep meanings within my life which is something I do within most of my projects, I seek relatability and impact strongly. I had pieces that evoked the relationships I desire within a woman, a break-up that really changed my life and maneuvered me for better, one speaking on the struggles of being a broke college student in a horrible apartment complex, and one about my communal side and embracing my blackness with some beautiful people. Read more>>
B/ue Robin
When I did the Her Heart, My F/ag production at the Sandy Springs Museum, it was the first show I used my funds, blood, sweat, and tears and got to see a concept come to life. The initial purpose was to put on a group exhibition tying art, music, dancing, food, and history. The piece focused on the love of country, and it was the first time I tackled creating an experience for the viewer instead of just painting for them to see. Janice, the griot, shared stories about the hardships of enslavement and the responsibility for freedom. Ideally, the show raised questions around freedom, and the audience was allowed to deeply experience the art more intimately since we created an interactive and thought-provoking space for them to embrace it. Read more>>
Renrick Palmer
One of the most recent meaningful projects I’ve worked on was playing the character Hassim in the Award Winning Best Short Film “Hold Up” written, produced, and directed by Alex Berg. The experience will live on with me for a lifetime as I played a homeless individual who was hungry longing for friendship and understanding. He attempted to sell a bottle of lotion throughout the day to buy himself something to eat unfortunately no one was interested, forced with the realization that he would once again not have a meal to eat he realized he had no option but to beg the next person to buy him a meal if they didn’t purchase his item, and he did just that. Read more>>
Mark Teodosio
The Realest Bayani is a comicbook series I created 3 years after the passing of my cousins Marlon Ramos. I named the protagonist after him and incorporated some of his life elements into the character’s story. Being a comicbook referencing hip hop music artist, at the time, known as Mark Marvel, I decided to transition into writing my own comicbook series. Instead of centering my energy around promoting a corporate giant without sponsorship I thought, why not make my own MARVEL COMICS. Read more>>
Andres Irias
Although every project I’ve made (Perception, Synchronic, Rememory as the latest) is meaningful to a certain extent because of the people I have the pleasure of working/being creative with, I can’t deny that the project I am currently working on could be one of the most meaningful ever. The short film titled Walküre, is actually the last short film I will develop. I have always been wanting to make feature films and naturally I will transition to those, but Walküre feels like the perfect last short to go out with a bang. Read more>>
Shontay RacQuel
“Wow, her hair is really thick.” “Why don’t you give her a perm?” ‘Does she cry when you comb her hair?” These are a few of the comments that I often overheard from others concerning my natural state of hair, growing up as a little black girl in the 1990s. This unfortunate yet common experience inspired me to create one of the most meaningful and powerful collections during my final year of graduate school at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Read more>>
Allison Shaw
The most meaningful project I have worked on is photographing my friends for their senior photos when I was in high school. Having friends trust me with a photograph that encapsulates who they are as a person in that time of their life is very important to a lot of people and I was honored to have friends who wanted me to do that for them considering at the time I was merely an amateur with a camera. Read more>>
Melvin Cotton III
To date the most meaningful project has been show series I created with my wife called “Faith & Food”. This is an inspirational cooking show we created together. My wife is a cook, she’s loved cooking since she was a child. From what I’m told she use to pretend she had a cooking show as a kid and pull all her mom’s pot/pans out on the floor in the kitchen. As a creative, my wife and I have served in various roles to mentor and inspire youth (this is how we met). Long story short; her and I decided to combine out skill sets, (her as a cook, me and a producer) to create a show that both inspires people to eat healthy (feed their stomachs) and feed their spirits. Faith & Food was born; Read more>>
Raphael Umscheid
As a multifaceted artist that paints, photos, and videos this world, I’ve worked on a few projects that come back to my mind over and over as the years go by. That distance from a project gives me the space to process and sort out why it was so important, where as, in the moment, I tend to think the latest project is the best. In this case, I was invited to join the musical group, The Ray Talley Dancers (now reformed as the Notnaughts, from Portland, Oregon at an artist’s residency in Seaview, Washington. The musicians requested that I make a film that week concurrently with their creation of music, for a live show at the residency at the end of the week. Read more>>
Raafeke
The most meaningful project I have ever worked on is my debut novel, Radiance Lost. Although it’s been a year and a half since it was published, the journey from the first draft to the final product was highly emotional. I wrote the story for myself and my siblings, but realized that this story was for every black person that wanted to live in a fantasy world with meaning. I had to start over from scratch at one point, and when my heart was ready to publish I had to wait year after year so that I could use my money to get through school. Now, my book has sold over 200 copies. That may not be that much online, but imagining a room filled with 200 people who believed in my dream and enjoy my story is still mind-blowing to me. Read more>>
Danovan Dean
I’d personally have to say my most meaningful projects are definitely weddings and Boudoir shoots. Weddings for the most obvious reason that its a celebration of love and life for two amazing people, and secondly…it’s a party! On a higher level, my boudoir sessions are my most sacred work. I don’t take on many at a time because it’s never just “point and shoot”. I prefer to take the time to establish a rapport with my clients, find what makes them tick, how do they experience vulnerability, what direction are they going in life, what’s important to the, etc. So typically it turns into a therapy session before and during the process because I’m always making sure I stay connected to the moment and that I keep the conversation open and flowing to retain the level of comfortability that’s consistently seen throughout my art. Read more>>
Karla Grzymala
The most meaningful project I have worked on is starting my foundation this year. I wanted to create something that could help young artists, give back to the community, and would inspire others in a positive way. The Be A Good Human Education Foundation was created at the beginning of this year and has been a passion project for me. As an art student and teacher, I know that there is a need for scholarships and grants for artists who want to continue enriching their lives through the arts. I wanted to have a way to give back to my students and help other members of the community by providing financial assistance. Read more>>
Amber Bambler
The most meaningful project for me is a combination of two series: Water Therapy and Expressions. 2017 was a very challenging time (which I now facetiously call “Amber Bambler and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year”). This time included sexual harassment with no repercussions, a friend dying from a drunk driving accident and my boyfriend disappearing on me in the middle of a painful miscarriage. I tried to keep myself going in various ways but artistically I shut down. I was so deep into my victim story that I didn’t even want to create, which now I see as a huge red flag. Read more>>
Ella Tasso Adams
I’ve been the traveling private chef for Flatwater foundation for the last 5 years. Our foundation connects individuals with free therapy to help heal and clear their mind after a cancer diagnosis. To provide that therapy a few selected members of Flatwater travel around the world and paddle board to raise money. I am there to provide them with the healthy nourishment they need to keep their bodies moving. Each challenge I leave feeling so completely loved and lucky to be a part of such an astonishing achievement. I know that becoming a chef and feeding athletes is exactly where I belong. Read more>>
Christie Goldstein
I live close to the gulf coast where hurricane season is something we take very seriously. Even with our preparedness, in August of 2017, a Cat4 hurricane named Harvey, caused about $125 billion in damage, took over 100 lives, and dumped a year of rain in less than a week. So many people lost everything and our photography community looked to do what they could to help in some way. I partnered with two other photographers to photograph as many families as we could to give them new family photographs. The amount of gratitude that was shown to us was staggering and will not be forgotten. Read more>>
Brandon Duke
My very first project: The Ironhead Series. My good friend, J.K. Hulon had started making walking canes due to an injury he sustained will serving in the U.S. Navy. He wanted to launch a crowdfunding campaign and needed some video for it. It was my first full project on my own. I had worked on several short film projects in the past, but I was always serving someone else’s vision. This would be all on me. We did a 4 hour shoot and got enough footage to make 4 videos. I bought a new guitar and bass to make the music, even though I hadn’t seriously played in years. I managed to put together some music tracks, that I was pretty proud of at the time. I enjoyed the process so much, I decided that would be the focus of my company, Karkata Media: to help shine a spotlight on talented people who had something to say or were trying to do good in their community. Read more>>
Tracey Jones
I spent the last 3 years networking, showing and sharing with various artist from the Tampa Bay area. I’ve never been so humbled and inspired by our many differences and how each of us is so unique. From the style of art, to the materials used and even backgrounds, there’s so much creative diversity. When Vanessa Oatman of EVOZ Marketing asked to collaborate with me to bring some of these brilliant artists together for an event to remember, I couldn’t turn it down. This project has been a year in the making. In that year, I’ve watched most of these artists not only continue to topple achievements that most people could only dream, but continue to grow in their craft. That, to me, is why this project is so meaningful. I’ve spent three years of my life watching us all grow TOGETHER. And in that, we all share this special bond. Read more>>
Kelsey Huntley
Writing my first book was something I really put my heart and soul into . I believe that it was something I had to share in order for me to heal . I literally wrote every word . It meant so much to me to the point that I was scared to actually release it . I always want my content to penetrate the hearts of my readers . I want to give them a glimpse and bring them along with me on my journey. My next book I’ll be taking them alittle bit deeper then the first book . I’m excited to share other part of me but always very nervous. It’s really a point of being vulnerable and allowing other people to see who I am . My writing gives me that power . Read more>>
Heather Eck
I’ve been very lucky to begin work on a project I was awarded a grant for called, “Look Them In The Eyes”. While it’s not completed yet, it’s been a deeply personal exploration of a current topic that’s very important to me; school shootings. I’ve had to sort of surrender to the creative process and allow myself some space for the scope of the project to shift depending on my reactions to the work and the emotions that bubble up for me while I’m working on this sacred project. I am excited to share more in the near future. Read more>>
Omar McClinton
That’s a very good question. Even though it’s very simple and straight to the point, you wouldn’t believe how difficult it is to answer properly, but I’m going to try. Most producers that have been around as long as I have always shared a common goal of being associated with a film that’s meaningful enough to change someone’s life after they’ve seen it. However, new producers getting into the industry may see things differently. They want to be associated with a film that makes a lot of money and accolades. I can’t blame them for that. Who wouldn’t? Read more>>
Yuliya Gabriella
I like to express spiritual meaning in my art, so every piece that I create serves the purpose to connect with a collector and guide them through a period in their life. The QUANTUM collection that I have been working on for 9 months consists of six art pieces, and each one of them has a secret message written in binary code that corresponds with the art and the meaning that I was putting into it. Read more>>
Daniella Koontz
Each year I am challenging myself to do two meaningful things. First, I choose one non-profit to donate my business time to – either by helping them update their headshots or by covering one or more of their events. I choose the non-profit based on something that is important to me. Giving back to my community is important, but it is also important to be appreciated and valued for what you are giving them, and not just because someone is looking for a free service. Read more>>
David Ventura Garcia
Our current project involves the transformation of an old school bus into a recording studio. It is the physical manifestation of a mission put into place back in 2017. The core of our mission involves discovery and the preservation of music and sound. We are a nonprofit arts organization that embraces the role that music and sound plays in our culture and in the soundscape of our lives. When we established Transient Mic, we realized that as a community, we have a responsibility to provide resources to artists limited by budget, equipment or location. We believe that we all have a voice and the need to preserve this voice is key to our growth. Read more>>
Sonya McGuire
Sing for a cure is a heart project for me that came about due to me experiencing first hand so many women battling with cancer in my life and in our community. Unfortunately, I watched them suffer horribly battling cancer without help nor the resources that were supposed to be in place to help them. It broke my heart to see so many organizations out there that were said to help but I watch so many women including family, friends , and single mothers pass away without ever receiving that help that they needed. As a sister, friend and family member I would go to Drs appointments. Read more>>
Jazmin Howell
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was painting my parents food truck tables recently. I love my family so much, we are so close and it was an amazing process to watch and be apart of. It took me 1 full day to paint 2 picnic tables, one of them was red,black, and white abstract. The other one was multi color abstract. I was so inspired to paint these tables, I felt such a rush when I was doing it. I have split personalities, so that is why I always choose to paint red, black, white because this is my horror side, my dark side. But there is so much beauty within my shadow side. Read more>>
Bryan Istenes
Since I started visiting all 185 Churches in the Diocese of Cleveland since 2016, I have seen so many beautiful Churches, and been able to celebrate many special occasions at them as well. Notable special occasions include celebrating monumental anniversaries for various Churches, such as their 75th, 100th, 125th anniversary, or other important dates in that Churches history. I have also attended Mass at various Churches for several priests ordination anniversaries, and even a newly ordained priests first ever Mass. Read more>>
Joshua Dean
I served on the board for a local chapter of the National Restaurant Association for several years. We would budget thousands of dollars each year to spend purchasing animals at the fair. Instead of bidding on the “winners”, we would go to the back and find kids with the animals they spent the last year tending too and ask them how much they spent raising that particular animal. Then we would offer them hundreds over that. Read more>>
Thee Nathan Gibbs
I recently was appointed as a member on the board of directors for Spoken Word Productions. We are a non-profit focusing on utilizing spoken word and poetry to assist individuals with coping with life’s struggles and traumas. I was selected by the president Scott Victor. He’s a veteran like myself. He also is an incredible poet and author. We have been working together through performances along with the monthly showcase we put together. It really is a fantastic event. Through our professional interactions we have performed at some of the best venues in Wichita, KS and really have watched the spoken word demographic here blossom. Read more>>
Jamila Mathis
The Grace Jones BoxBust has by far been the most pivotal and meaningful project I’ve completed. I grew up a fan of James Bond, so it’s no surprise that seeing a powerful black woman as a Bond girl was the absolutely flex from my vantage point. Maybe, because the women in my family were all tall, strong, strong-willed and stately that I understood the power in being a woman with height. And how that height sometimes leveled the playing field in this paternalistic world. Read more>>
Christian Tapper
The most meaningful experience I’ve had so far has been scoring a documentary film about the Grenadian Revolution of the 1980s and its legacy to this day. The film is entitled “My Mother Mary” and was directed by my fellow Caribbean-American friend, Kayko Donald. Kayko is from Brooklyn, New York and is daughter to the film’s centerpiece, Mary, who was born and raised in Grenada and witnessed the Socialist Revolution first hand. The film, narrated by Kayko, is a collection of interviews with her mother and other family members who lived through the rise and tumultuous fall of the popular revolution led by Maurice Bishop in 1979. Read more>>
Christina Wilson
My most meaningful project to date has been a play that I’ve written called SuffeRING. This project started YEARS ago and honestly, it still hasn’t reached the full potential of what I want it to reach but it’s so dear to my heart. So in college, we were tasked with creating a scene based on a Pearl Cleage play, she’s an amazing playwriting who has written fantastic plays like Blues for an Alabama Sky which EVERY actor should know! Anyway, I decided to do my scene on a play she wrote called Chains about a young woman who is dealing with drug abuse. The thing that caught my eye about this place is that she’s the only one we ever see speak on stage throughout the duration of the play. I thought that was magnificent and it takes a skilled actress to be able to memorize all those lines! Read more>>
Natalia Cardona Puerta
My first Mural Project at Hammer & Jacks is defenitly the most rewarding and meaningful project I’ve done so far! I’ve had dreamed about painting a mural for a long time, and this year I set myself to accomplish it. I reached out to one of my good friends: renewed Portland artist Mike Bennett and he put me in contact with Jillian and Andrew, the owners of the local toy store Hammer & Jacks. Upon meeting them we instantly clicked and they had the perfect wall for me to paint: the entrance to their new Play Room. This whooping 113 sqft surface was given to me to create! And the only direction they gave me was: Make is colorful! Read more>>
Emcee Millz
Every project of mine has been meaningful for different reasons. My EP “Growing Pains” is the first creative body of work that truly gave listeners insight into my thoughts, feelings, and actions. It is a special project to me because I was at a place where I didn’t think people would be open to that type of vulnerability from me. Read more>>
Roswell
Every project I feel like I tackle gains more meaning as I go on . Each one of my projects have been updates on my growth and current creative space. When I decide to take the time to present where on my journey I am I show a piece of every stop I’ve made a long the way. Read more>>
Alli Ward
I spent the first 15 years of my career in the corporate world as a marketing and data analyst. Very numbers focused with very little room for being creative. My blog grew as a way to express that creativity through DIY projects and craft ideas I had for my kids and for my home. When I first started, I would create projects for my local friends and family to inspire them how to make different things. I left that corporate job to pursue a full-time creative path for almost 10 years. Read more>>
Yusselly Garcia
I don’t have one specific meaningful project, as they all have something that makes them meaningful and unique from one another. I will say though, any project that involves David Ramirez behind the camera, Johanna Guio as the model, and me as the hairstylist and makeup artist. It will definitely be something out of this world. Read more>>
Treysi
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on until today would be culinary photoshoot for a well-known cruise line company based in Miami, FL. Since day one of starting professional photography, my dream always has been to work with high end restaurants, magazines, well-known chefs, and the most successful brands in the food industry. The intention behind this dream wasn’t to charge very high amounts and try to make the most money, but it’s to be able to share that space and have the experience of working with amazingly talented and successful people. It’s truly a pleasure to be around those people who have worked so hard and practiced a lot to get to the place they are right now. It takes a lot of time and energy to build a strong brand and grow a business, and I really appreciate having opportunities to work with highly successful brands in the restaurant and food industry. Read more>>
Christiana Renee
Meryl Streep once said, “I’m curious about other people. That’s my essence of my acting. I’m interested in what it would be like to be you”. I believe this is such a profound statement, because it points out the powerful reasoning behind what actors do for a living. To gain a sense of who someone is and then being able to express that affectedly to an audience through stage or film…is pretty powerful. I was blessed to embodied several characters and to tell some pretty amazing stories in my career, thus far. However, one of the most meaningful projects that I’ve worked on is a stage production called, “Lipstick Monologues”. Read more>>
Larissa Ensign
Women after the age of 40 have a lot of changes to their confidence, body and sometimes lifestyle. We tend to give so much to our families, careers and many others that maybe we feel a little disconnected from the feelings we had graduating high school, starting our jobs and raising our families. With so many changes, I notice that women may not value themselves as beautiful, confident, or successful due to so many changes. A photography session that focuses on a woman’s self expression, life contribution and adaptation can tremendously help increase self-confidence, reestablish direction and set the mood for the next years of changes as we beautifully mature. Read more>>
Davian Chester
The most meaningful project to me so far was with the black dating app BLK. This was also my first major client at the start of my Brand Storytelling. This project was great because the client saw potential in my art, was wonderful to work with, and the finished project had a huge impact on my work. BLK came to me with an idea about Valentine’s Day and to have an illustrated story showcasing the dating world during COVID. This was great to me because it was in line with what I do-Illustrating the Black Experience. Read more>>
Underground Sludge
The most meaningful project I worked on was last year when I created 110 coasters for a friend’s wedding. They placed them at their guest tables and gave one to each gift as a take-home gift. I was definitely a little nervous after agreeing to take on this large of a project. Not only did I have to HUSTLE to get the coasters created, I was also really worried that the bride and groom wouldn’t love them for whatever reason. Being a part of someone’s big day is stressful and I didn’t want to let them down. Read more>>
omó pastor
I went to Texas for the 2016 Inaugural Nate Parker Film Institute after graduating university, and I met a young man from Zimbabwe. Being that we are both from the Continent, we connected and spoke on various topics. The most important one was the conversation of the African immigrant’s struggle compared to the African-American’s struggle. I am first-gen born in America to Nigerian immigrants, and I have a deep understanding of both groups. After our discussion, I realized the ignorance of both groups, so I decided to create a film centered around this dialogue. My take was going to be quite different, and I believe through my film, Privilege, I was able to start conversation about what is not being said. My most meaningful project till date – my short film, Privilege. Read more>>
Dilan Jay
The most meaningful project is what I’m working on right now— my music, this new sound, collabs, and persisting in my craft. I’ve been making music for years. In fact, I started DJing local parties in my hometown when I was just 12 years old for $40 a pop. So music has been in my life for almost as long as I can remember. And my music has evolved (clearly) from DJing to rapping, to touring, to dialing back from the strictly rap-centric sphere, to diving into the singer-songwriter genre to hone my vocal skills, to today. Read more>>
Nikola Sekulovic
The most meaningful project I’ve had the opportunity to work on is HRC campaign. It’s meaningful to me because as an LGBTQ+ influencer I always want to make sure to amplify voices. Read more>>