So often mission and purpose driven folks have fascinating stories about where they draw their inspiration from. Often it’s a historical figure and so we’ve highlighted some of those conversations around historical figures and what some of the best and brightest have learned from them.

David Brown

I have a deep reverence for Malcolm X. I appreciate the fact that he was far from perfect, committed crimes that led to his imprisonment and was able to turn his life around for the greater good of his community and the people he represented. That takes a monumental amount of discipline and hardships. I found his vocabulary to be exceptional. Read more>>

Jade Clark

Katherine Dunham is by far one of the most influential historical figures. Through her artistry I learned the importance of recognizing our history and where we come from. More than that, I learned the value of community, finding the rhythm that binds us all and using it to bridge the gap between different communities. Read more>>

Carolyn Pedersen-Howard

Maya Angelou is a person I deeply admire, and I look up to. Her passing was a deep loss for her followers, but her legacy and her impact continues on in our hearts and minds. One of my all-time favorite quotes by Maya Angelou is, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Read more>>

Ciciley Hoffman

I look up to Eiko Ishioka, the Oscar winning costume designer and artist. Her designs were dark, bold, and fearless. Her creativity is unparalleled- gravity defying structures, beautiful textures and layering, and gorgeously daring shapes. She was absolutely brilliant. Her work in “The Cell” and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” are my all time favorite. She valued art and story telling and pairing the two with finesse and artistry. She reminds me to be adventurous and gutsy in my artistry and to stand up for what I know is the best course. Read more>>