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.

Zain Shamoon

The Narratives of Pain storytelling project began in 2015, with Hammad Ali. This was a labor of love to bring therapeutic elements of mental health services out from private offices, and into community engagement through community gathering. Read more>>

Daniel

The power of art has always been tied to expressing feelings and opinions. My current collection, which opens at the Baldwin Avenue Gallery on June 13th, 2025- 7PM, titled ‘Shift+Ctrl’ is a call to action. Baldwin Avenue Gallery : 12 North Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024
It’s about shifting our mindset and taking control, not through outrage, but through engagement.
This collection is about moving from resistance to responsibility. From venting to volunteering. From despair to doing something. Read more>>

Gjermund Gjesme

Oh, boy. There are so many I could choose from — touring the U.S. for a year, learning how to play ice hockey for my first feature film, performing Macbeth in New York, or filming Troll 2 last year. Each of those marked a milestone, a highlight, or a fresh challenge. But the project I’m most excited about right now is a little short film called Manhattanite — a goofy, surprisingly layered mockumentary premiering at the Norwegian Short Film Festival in June. Read more>>

Suzy Hendrix

One of my most meaningful projects is South City. Located in Memphis TN, this area was ground zero for the civil rights movement in Memphis. I began the project with deep research into the history of the area. Many musicians, artists, and civil rights leaders hail from this neighborhood. Learning this gave me even more of a connection to the neighborhood and the folks that this art honors. My sculptures honor their past in symbolism. I grew up in a church in the area, so it was already special to me! Read more>>

Fallon MK

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is a personal memoir that recounts my journey of self-discovery and healing from a tumultuous upbringing marked by familial struggles and emotional upheaval. The backstory of this project is rooted in my realization that much of my life had been shaped by lies, manipulation, and the complexities of my family dynamics. Read more>>

Marcos Mazzola

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is Sport Fishing Championship—the largest offshore fishing tournament trail in the world. I’ve been involved with the series across multiple seasons, and each one has pushed me creatively, logistically, and personally. Read more>>

Zoe Hennessey

Some of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on have been the RuPaul’s Drag Race promotional shoots, which I’ve had the privilege of doing for several years now. Unlike standard commercial work, these shoots tap into a completely different creative space – I’m sourcing sequins, feathers, and rhinestones, and helping to bring larger-than-life fantasy concepts to life. But beyond the glitter, it’s meaningful because drag is an art form that’s currently under threat. Being able to support these queens and contribute to something that challenges norms, celebrates individuality, and pushes culture forward feels both important and personal. I’m proud to play a part in that. Read more>>

Suzette Brown

The Jamaica International Beauty Expo, which based on participation at all levels, is the premier tradeshow for beauty and wellness in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean, is without question, the most meaningful project I’ve undertaken to date. Its origins are deeply personal and rooted in both observation and conviction. As a communication specialist and event planner producing large-scale expos in Jamaica, I began to notice a recurring pattern. Creators and professionals from the beauty and wellness industry – skincare specialists, natural product makers, and wellness advocated were showing up with passion and professionalism, eager to present their craft, but time and again, their booths were overshadowed by industries traditionally seen as more dominant, technology, finance, and real estate. Read more>>

Brooke Shilling

I have been very lucky to be a One Year Lease Theater Company member for the past five years. As a part of their extended family, I have traveled the world with wonderful theatre artists, co-wrote a play with a mentor and friend of mine, and have performed side-by-side with artists who were many years ago my teachers. Every summer, One Year Lease (OYL) embarks on their annual residency and educational program abroad. We live and work together for the summer working to create, rehearse and perform a Greek play for Greek audiences. The work then continues into the fall and the rest of the year as the company returns home to New York City, producing work Off-Broadway. Working with OYL has been the most meaningful collection of projects I have ever been a part of. Read more>>

Joonhee Park

One of my most meaningful projects is the brand identity project for Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) where I personally love to visit in Seoul. It was meaningful to me because I chose the subject based on my own connection to the space. The project gave me the chance to explore DDP more deeply, reflect on my real experiences there, and identify what was missing or could be improved from a visitor’s perspective. Read more>>

Mary Young

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was my First Nations Choral Festival in March 2024. It was a cross-disciplinary event that elevated the music, art, poetry, and legends of Native Americans. The evening specifically highlighted choral music, featuring seven different choirs, and culminated in the world premiere of a brand new Native American commission. Read more>>

Del Blackwater

As a young person, I spent far too many years riddled with social anxiety. It never stopped me from spending time with my friends, but there can be no doubt that it was a huge weight on my shoulder well into my thirties. Somehow, I spent enough time on the periphery that I eventually attracted the attentions of my polar opposite – a gregarious and fashionable person who was a bit of a local legend both for his excellent taste in music and for his lifestyle choices. Read more>>

Cory Favre

I believe the body of work that I have been creating over the last year and a half has been possibly my most meaningful to date. I am an artist and a mother. I have three children, two sons (2 and 8) and a daughter (5). A majority of my work over the last five or so years has been about motherhood, pregnancy, postpartum and all the ups and downs of it all. Things shifted for me in November 2023 when my daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. It turned our family upside down and has sent us on a years long journey to try and heal her. Read more>>

Nayara Pasti

I try to always work with purpose, but if I had to choose, there are three projects that hold especially deep meaning for me. The first is my series of embroidered portraits. This body of work merges photography and thread to honor the legacy of women in my family—especially my grandmother—and to celebrate the strength, stories, and individuality of the women I photograph. Each stitch feels sacred: a way of reclaiming time, tradition, and memory. It’s deeply personal and one of the most artistic and emotionally rich directions my work has taken. Read more>>

DEAD YOU

As struggling independent musicians, there are many projects we’ve released that we are all very fond of and attached too. Previous to DEAD YOU, Marko and I have worked together in some capacity on roughly 6 other projects in our respective musical careers. Jorge has been a member of a very impactful Indie/Queer outfit from Los Angeles for going on 11 years. As we all get older naturally, a process of assessment occurs. As your taste refines so does your tolerance. Music has always been an outlet and filter of expression for the three of us in each of our own journeys for truth. Read more>>

Julie Guy

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on is co-founding Banding Together, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing unique music opportunities to individuals with special needs. As music therapists, we were witnessing something powerful—our students were growing, connecting, and thriving through music. But there was a heartbreaking pattern we couldn’t ignore: families were overwhelmed with the financial strain of raising and caring for a loved one with disabilities, and music therapy often became one more thing they had to say “no” to—not because they didn’t see its value, but because they simply couldn’t afford it. Read more>>

Amarachi Huelsenbeck

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is actually my travel blog. As a young Nigerian who had never left the country, international travel felt completely out of reach – it wasn’t even something I dared to dream about. Then I got an opportunity through work to travel to France, which was my very first international trip. Getting that Schengen visa was eye-opening because I realised it opened doors to visit other European countries. Read more>>

DeAndré Holmes

My most meaningful project was a full circle moment. Before I became a camera operator, I was an Inbound Sales Rep for Spectrum. For three years I sold cable tv, internet, landlines and cell phones. In February of 2025, I had the opportunity to operate on a Spectrum, Black History Month commercial, titled: We Built This. This was confirmation from God. He let me know that I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Read more>>

Quentin Parker

Several years ago I was confounded by the reality of lack of low cost, efficient housing here in CA. I decided to extend our design capability for an innovative solution which not only works under our current economic constraints, but one that will enhance the habitat living today. What we require immediately, is a smart angel investor partner and a qualified general contractor partner. (local to our area versed in component build CA housing construction). I arrived at the HomeModule unit as an immediate buildable, low cost, quick build, sustainable housing solution. Read more>>

Erin Collins

One of the most meaningful (and challenging) projects I’ve worked on as an actor is The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. I played Nina, a young actress who falls for the famous writer Trigorin and must deal with the aftermath of her decision. We performed in a theater-in-the-round style inside an old warehouse at Pullman Yards. Between scenes, we’d join the audience and watch until it was our turn again. It was thrilling. We enacted the Tom Stoppard adaptation (the original is in Russian), and I remember being near tears the first time I read it, struck by the sheer beauty and relatability of Chekhov’s writing. Read more>>

Michel’le Burns

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was a video tribute to Rosa Lee Gerald—an incredible woman whose legacy has had a lasting impact on healthcare in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The project, titled Discover the Powerful Legacy of Rosa Lee Gerald, was created to honor her advocacy, her leadership, and her role in shaping CareSouth Carolina. Read more>>

Yuwen Yang

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is the one I’m currently creating: a one-hour play titled Her Rage, which will premiere at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The story centers on a woman from Taiwan who is accused of mariticide after enduring years of abuse from her husband. Through this narrative, the play explores themes of immigration, domestic violence, and feminism. What makes this project especially powerful is that many members of our company are immigrant women themselves, and their lived experiences have deeply shape the storytelling of the play. This is the story that I feel urgent to tell especially in current times, when immigrants are under fear in this country. Read more>>

Asami Green

Every piece of art I create comes from a place of deep intention and heart. It’s not just about colors and shapes—it’s about energy, healing, and connection. As a Reiki Master and Intuitive Artist, I infuse each piece with peaceful, uplifting energy designed to support your personal journey. My art acts like a gentle bridge between your outer world and your inner self, encouraging you to slow down, breathe, and tune in. It’s meant to help open your heart, expand your awareness, and guide you back to the quiet wisdom already inside you. Read more>>

Samuel Lewis

One of the most meaningful projects I have been involved with is the Hyde Park Jazz Festival’s Back Alley Jazz Program. Back Alley Jazz is inspired by the original jazz alley jams that took place in various locations on the South Side in the 1960s and 1970s and continue today in different forms. The project creates a contemporary neighborhood “happening” that animates, builds on, and celebrates Chicago’s history and the continuum of culture and art within communities.  Read more>>

Starla Yilmaz

The most meaningful project I have worked on is ‘The Butterfly Wisdom Tarot’. Cross-stitch has always been something that has been there during intense healing phases of my life, and shortly before I started that project, I learned a significant health issue of mine had been misdiagnosed for almost twenty years. One reason I felt drawn to butterflies, then, is that I was going through an extreme healing and transformative period myself. Read more>>

Grant Eubanks

I’ve been building a program called Redstring for 3 years now that I’ve been very secretive about for most people. In private, it’s definitely consumed a lot of my life and means an incredible amount to me. I’d like to share a little bit about it publicly for the first time. Read more>>

Elaf Hussein

The most meaningful project I have worked on has to be my silkscreen series. This series reflects on my identity as a Iraqi American. I share Iraq through my lense and how it has changed due to terrorism. Last year I was able to visit Iraq after 14 years due to saftey concerns. I felt a sense of loss visiting; Walking through the destructed streets and passing by the rubble of what once was considered a home. Unalived families still buried under a lot of destructed homes; they are being found in the process of restoring the affected areas to this day. I decided to document the destruction using my camera and compiled a total of 600 photographs. Read more>>

Preetika Gulati

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is called ARGUS—a smart, AI-powered solution designed to tackle a critical issue in the construction industry: communication breakdowns on job sites due to language barriers.

The idea emerged after I spent time on a construction site during our initial discovery phase. I saw workers struggling to communicate—some relying on hand gestures, others walking long distances just to confirm simple instructions. Many didn’t speak the same language as their supervisors, yet they were expected to perform high-risk tasks with precision. I quickly realized this wasn’t just a communication issue—it was a matter of safety, efficiency, and respect. Read more>>

Kathrine Yets

The most meaningful projects have been my various workshops over the years through LakeSide Poets & Writers, especially Writing Your Way to Work (& Purpose) held through America Works and UW-Milwaukee as well as Better Together through Food for Thought Society held at Kuumba. Read more>>

Emily Gularte

There are two main reasons why the last project I directed was meaningful to me. First, as my thesis short film at the American Film Institute, it was the culmination of the most intense and demanding educational journey I’ve ever experienced. Second, and most importantly, while it was a story that was originally pitched by someone else, it resonated with me because it beautifully reflected the life and spirit of the mother who shaped who I am today — and gave me the chance to honor her through the craft that she encouraged me to pursue. Read more>>

Simone’ LaRay

This vulnerable poetic memoir marks the beginning of my healing journey—from surviving childhood trauma to becoming a mother. I began writing this book to process the pain I experienced growing up in physically and emotionally abusive environments, starting at just four years old. These weren’t just difficult experiences—they were traumas caused by people who were supposed to love and protect me. Read more>>

Caroline Lizarraga

At the age of 18, I embarked on my first journey to Italy, a decision that would forever change my perspective on craft. During my time there, I dove deep into the world of restoration, slowly uncovering the essence of true craftsmanship. I launched my decorative painting business 25 years ago, incorporating techniques I learned in Italy while adding my unique touches. Using methods like gold leafing, plastering, murals, and marbling, I have worked on some of the most stunning hotels, restaurants, and homes across the United States. Yet, the charm of Italy never faded from my thoughts. Read more>>

Nay Tabbara

It’s a deeply personal exploration of growing up in Lebanon, not based on a true story, but rooted in the shared experiences of balancing political turmoil and catastrophes with the joys of adolescence.
The film was incredibly difficult to make for many reasons. On a personal level, writing, directing, producing and editing it forced me to confront happy and traumatic memories. Especially when I had to edit a scene with an explosion and listen to it over and over again. On a practical level, we filmed in Beirut in summer 2022, amidst the financial crisis’s peak, the aftermath of the 2020 explosion, and severe electricity shortages. Read more>>

Jessica Burns

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on happened just a couple of weeks ago, right after the tornado hit St. Louis. It really hit home. My best friend, my son, and I went out to help clean up the neighborhood, but the more we saw, the more I felt this community needed more than just cleanup. They needed comfort, nourishment, and a reminder that they weren’t alone. Read more>>