We asked some of the most talented folks in the community to talk to us about projects they’ve worked on that they still think about, projects that really meant something. Have you had such an experience? Are you looking for inspiration for your next project? Check out the stories below, they are exciting, entertaining, and most importantly – inspiring.

Mark Gomez

In a way, I look at my art journey as my most meaningful project. This ongoing “project” got started sometime within the year 2020, when I was doing cognitive behavioral therapy. One major thing I struggled with, was expression; I was socially inept, and I couldn’t talk to people, or explain the emotions and thoughts I had. Although I made substantial progress through therapy, art is what made me progress further. It became my source of therapy, and my form of expression, allowing me to form meaningful connections with people and continue to further understand myself. Read more>>

Meg Chizek

My first love in the arts was dance. I started dancing when I was 8 years old. I am from a small town in Iowa and spent every summer in NYC training with the Rockettes or the Joffrey Ballet. I even went to college for dance! Needless to say it was a very important facet of my life and my identity. Read more>>

Mallory Hubbard

I knew I wanted my photography business to be more than just capturing beautiful moments through paying work- I wanted it to have a meaningful impact. Offering a philanthropic angle allowed me to use my passion for photography to give back to a particular cause and organization that meant so much to me, O.U.R., known as Operation Underground Railroad. Their organization rescues women and children who are victims of human trafficking. I reached out to their team and let them know I wanted to volunteer my time and skills to give back somehow & wanted to know if they had anything in mind. Read more>>

Carnage Bodybagg

My best Meaningful Project was when I did the Joyner Lucas “I’m Sorry” Veterans Edition remix for a mixtape I put out. I got so many messages on my socials of people going through things that they were Afraid to admit or I’ve also had people messaging about sending this to someone they knew going through things of such and said that they said themselves that the song truly helped them as well. and that helps prove me point also that music is definitely a major part of people’s lives. Read more>>

Alice Shepherd Erlac

I recently made a mindful colouring book, and it was the first time I made something slowly, lovingly and really aligned with my energy and the season.

I’m someone that historically pushes through, that fixates on set outcomes, and feeling in control.

But this wasn’t working as my own boss in my biz Creative Tea Breaks. I was glued to the computer, working too long days, not taking breaks, obsessing over content and copy rather than my passion, which is facilitating and art, and I was being very self-critical about my success and self-conscious about pricing. Read more>>

David Biscevic

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has to be my screenplay, MONTANA QUAGMIRE, which got me a lot of attention right after graduating from the Academy of Art in San Francisco in 2016. I had written four feature screenplays prior to writing “MQ” but I had decided to take on an entirely new approach. Up until then, I had written all my screenplays in a very textbook manner, (I was in school to learn the craft—what do you expect?) but with “MQ” I had decided to write the script as if I was telling MYSELF the story as opposed to trying to convince some agent or studio executive that I knew how to write—by doing that I found “my voice”! Read more>>

Ahku

The most meaningful project for me is the next one. I’m always looking forward to the new while being present in the now. My newest project I’m currently producing under my new company “Ahku Media Group LLC” is called “On Set With Ahku Unscripted “. It’s a talk show were I sit down with artist and we discuss their journey. Read more>>

Genevieve LeDoux

When Kelli Bixler hired me as the sole creative producer for Tumbleleaf from 2012-2014, neither of us could predict how this opportunity would transform my life. Amazon had just greenlit this preschool series—one of their first ventures into original programming when streaming television was still an unproven frontier. Read more>>

Lisa Quine

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was my first public mural, which truly kickstarted my momentum in Cleveland. I painted it in the Gordon Square Arts District, an area known for its vibrant many small businesses. The mural features bright colors set against a black background, making them pop. Along the edge of the wall closest to the sidewalk, the words ‘Dream Big’ serve as a call to action—for myself, for the small businesses in the area, and for anyone who sees it. Surrounding the message, flowers and swirling patterns create a sense of movement and vibrancy. Read more>>

Kyle Benjammin

The most meaningful projects are the ones I’m working on currently. I am currently working on 2 projects, One is a concept album about two bootleggers from the 1920’s/30’s era. I chose to do this concept because I as a Utah native who lives in Ogden want to show light on our Bootlegging past. As many Ogden natives know, the city was infamous for using tunnels to transport alcohol and even being so crazy it scared the infamous “Al Capone.” My second project is a concept album based on the struggles of a up and coming artist who is battling his inner demons, I draw a lot of inspiration from my personal life that I feel a lot of people can relate to. Read more>>

Margaret Craig

I guess my project called the Albatross would be one of the more meaningful projects it is certainly pivotal. My first degree in biology let me to have an interest in the environment as part of my work. The way I was taught however was not to be literal in your addressing your project so my work was always about observation of things unseen in nature and lending towards thinking about the human intervention whether intentional or unintentional. I have been doing exhibitions using recycled materials in combination with mixed media and my prints calling them alternative evolutions. The premises that that we have put this resource in the environment and and nature will eventually use it. Read more>>

Chris Herakovic

My most meaningful project is my large wooden flower. It started out simply as just figuring out how to do it, but through the process it turned into a contemplation of where I was at in life. In just a few short years I was diagnosed with the beginning stages heart failure and my marriage was ended and I was facing homelessness. But, despite the circumstances I came out of this project in a much better, happier place in life. Read more>>

Brandon Cox Sanford

I was born HIV positive from my HIV positive mother, Lynette. She passed away at the young age of 26 from AIDS complications in 1998. This was due to fear of the stigmas attached to HIV and AIDS. Twenty years later, I created the Keeping It Positive Movement in which I use stand up comedy and social media to remove stigmas with education, entertainment, and empowerment. Since then, I’ve traveled the country, met countless celebrities, been featured in magazines, newspapers, and other media outlets. I feel as though stepping out of fear and sharing me and my mom’s story has helped a lot of people. Read more>>

Katrina Brees

sculpture — it’s a piece of legislation called Donna’s Law, named after my mom.

For decades, I’ve been known as a very political artist — someone who creates bold, often polarizing work that breaks traditions and smashes barriers. I’ve always used art to challenge the status quo and speak truth to power. But when my mom died by gun suicide, people expected me to make art about it — some visual piece to process the grief. Instead, I realized that the most powerful and meaningful thing I could do wasn’t to make art, but to use all my creative talents to create something that could save lives — a law that might have saved hers. Read more>>

Neon Lytes

Right now, the most meaningful project I’m working on is BE FANTASTIC (title still in the works, but I kinda love it). This project is more than just music—it’s a journey of self-discovery. Every song I write, every vocal take, I’m peeling back layers and learning more about who I am as an artist. Read more>>

Margaret Watson

My most meaningful project to date was releasing my last collection of poetry, Pieces of Me.
As a domestic abuse survivor, I wanted to tell my story through my poetry.
Not for kudos or sympathy, but as part of the healing process and also to inspire others who have been in a similar situation.
I met my abuser when I was 28 ( I will be 58 in May).
I lost over a decade of my life because I was not strong enough to withstand the abuse I suffered at his hands. Read more>>

Sierra Larson-Baker

The most meaningful project I have ever worked on (so far) has been my group trip to England. I’ve always wanted to visit England, specifically Oxford, and in October 2024 I finally had the chance to do it! Not only did I get to visit my great-grandfather’s homeland, but I got to tour with some of my online friends! Read more>>

Malachi Alexis

I’ve worked on many projects that mean a lot to me—Jim and Skin Deep among them—but right now, the project that truly holds my heart is The Last Performance. This film is deeply personal, not just because of the story it tells, but because it reflects so much of what has shaped me as an artist. Read more>>

Maxine Parkin

The most meaningful project to me, is having taken photos of my grandfather and grandmother. Something that felt very simple at the time, are some of the photos I hold most dear after he passed away in 2024. It gave me the perspective I need when photographing weddings. This is a celebration of love, but you never know when it will be the last time all the people you love are in one place again. I hold a huge responsibility when taking photos and I will never take that for granted. Read more>>

Mark Neurohr-Pierpaoli

I wear many hats. In addition to being a full time high school English and history teacher, I operate a small business leading guided walking tours of several historical downtowns in central and southern New Jersey. A few years ago, as we were looking to expand the business, I decided to look at developing one of our popular “Haunted History Tours” in a new city. I have a connection to New Brunswick, NJ: I graduated from Rutgers University, and then taught at New Brunswick High School for over a decade. One of my tour guides also lives closer to New Brunswick than our other city tours, so we decided to build the tour there. Read more>>

KENS

Our upcoming album Atarayo is by far the most meaningful project any of us has ever worked on. This is a behemoth of a collaborative project with around 80 people working on it, across 10 countries in 3 different continents. This being our second album, we wanted to take everything to the next level. We had a vision of making a grand album that’ll change the stigma of a Jazz-adjacent instrumental band, will cross genres and reach as many different types of people as possible. Read more>>

Juan Diego Perez La Cruz

The documentary project I’ve been working on, **Let me know when you get home. (Avísame cuando llegues a casa)**, has undoubtedly been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It all began when I won the New Angle Fellowship through SPNN, which gave me the opportunity to develop an idea that was still taking shape in my mind at the time. I wanted to explore the migrant journey—not just through my own personal lens, but by focusing on the stories of those who, like me, have had to leave their homeland in search of new opportunities, leaving behind not just a place, but an entire life and history. Read more>>

Jingyi Zheng

In 2022, I was invited (and recommended) to participate in a community artist residency project in Chengdu. The residency offered multiple locations where artists could conduct their research and creative practices. Without hesitation, I chose an abandoned real estate sales center, a decision that not only continued my previous creative trajectory but also led to new reflections throughout the residency. Read more>>

Guy McCutcheon

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was photographing the Ring of Fire Annular Solar Eclipse in October 2023. It wasn’t just a case of showing up, pointing a camera at the sky, and calling it a day. This took months of planning, calculating, and, of course, a ridiculous amount of driving. Read more>>

Tasja Fleury

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is definitely my short film, Ozan. It’s a project that feels deeply personal, not just because I wrote the screenplay and will be acting in it, but I’m also producing it—something I’ve never done before. Right now, we’re in the middle of a crowdfunding campaign for the film, which has been its own wild learning curve. We have 34 days left now, so it’s an exciting but nerve-wracking time! Read more>>

Kristy Boike

I lost my mother to cancer a few years ago and that loss completely devastated my family. She had just turned 60 and my parents were just starting to talk retirement and plans. I had also just had my fourth child and it was one of the hardest experiences to juggle both the joy surrounding his birth and the sorrow surrounding her death. Read more>>

Robert Walker

Truant So Fluent is my most important project. I’ve been a bassist for 22 years and a lyricist for over 15, it’s quite literally how I make sense of existence. In 2020 I was gifted a laptop, I acquired an interface, a good guitar, a midi controller, a decent microphone and I’ve been composing music ever since at a pretty crazy pace. To date I’ve released 9 albums but have over 34 albums (and counting) written and recorded for future release. Truant So Fluent will be my story once I’m gone. Read more>>

Antoinette Robinson

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was the Fourth Generation Showcase produced by The GENESIS Models at Howard University, entitled ALMEDA. This showcase was particularly significant to me because it explored the theme of mass incarceration, an issue that deeply resonates with my passion for criminal justice reform. The production sought to creatively illuminate the societal impacts of over-policing, surveillance, and the dehumanizing effects of incarceration—issues that are central to my academic and advocacy work. Read more>>