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.

Chris Ringler

Over the years I have been involved in a lot of different projects, both personally, and with groups, but the most meaningful one I was ever involved in was the creation of the Flint Horror Convention.Back in the early 1990s I was able to attend the two Fangoria Weekend of Horrors conventions that came to Michigan and immediately fell in love with conventions. After those shows I was able to attend a comic con as a guest for a ‘zine a friend and I put together that went national for an issue and then as an author later on. Read more>>

Qihang Zhang

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is Memory Land, a platform I co-founded to help people process grief through personalized digital memorials. The idea for Memory Land is deeply rooted in personal loss. In 2022, I lost my grandmother, a constant source of love and wisdom in my life. Just a year later, the passing of my idol, CoCo Lee, in 2023 deeply affected me. These experiences underscored the universal yet profoundly personal nature of grief and the challenges of finding meaningful ways to honor loved ones. Read more>>

P.j. Starks

Up to this point I’ve always put quite a bit of me or something personal from my life into whatever I’ve written. New Fears Eve is the film that is the most personal. Towards the end of 2020 I lost my grandmother, who was the very person who got me into horror in the first place. She helped nurture my love for the genre as well as pursuing a career in a visual storytelling. At the beginning of 2021 I went through a messy divorce. Of course this was compounded by having kids and seeing the pain they were suffering through the ordeal. Then my mom was diagnosed with double lung cancer. She was my next big support factor, therefore, I was very involved in helping my dad Randy take care of her. This included doing research on treatment centers and going to some doctor’s appointments. Read more>>

Emmanuel Beatty

So far, “Broad Street Line,” a short film I wrote and directed, has been the most meaningful project I’ve worked on. Set in the bustling streets of downtown Philadelphia, the film follows James and Erin, a young couple who miss their last train home, plunging them into a high-stakes journey through the city’s maze, where every wrong turn could mean losing their way—and each other. At its core, the film is about owning up to your mistakes and being there for people when they need it most. Read more>>

James Payne

In 1977 I began photographing my friends, family, and neighbors in their homes creating 3D Stereoscopic photos. in 1978 I decided that I would continue the project for 40 years. Seeing no reason to stop, I am now in the 48th year of continuing the project which documents many of the people that I have been lucky enough to know during my adult life. That timespan shows the trends and historical evolution of my peer group and family. It is my personal slice of Americana… Read more>>

Stephanie Cherng

My most meaningful project that I’ve worked on is my recent short film that I wrote and directed titled, “Kingdom of Demons.” It was my first time directing a film on 16mm and it taught me a lot about how to be better director in terms of staying organized, knowing exactly what I wanted, and how to execute my thoughts well. I remember I would sneak into the offices of Rockefeller Center with my best friend/producer Aidana Razhap to write my script. She loved my script so much and encouraged me to make a film out of it. I was crippled in self doubt and fear that I shelved my script for a while but until May 2024 I decided to take the plunge and to finally shoot it. Read more>>

Chloey Cho

I was stunned when the Alzheimer’s patient spat out a string of profanity, forgetting who I was entirely. Just weeks earlier, he’d called me “딸”—daughter in Korean—and praised me to everyone around. It was heartbreaking and a reminder of the cold truth: memory is fragile. For weeks before this, I visited the Alzheimer’s ward every week to perform music for these patients. Just when I thought it was effective, one of the patients began to curse at me. It left me with an endless amount of questions. Read more>>

Shalev Alon

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was for Disneyland Park’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, specifically the Cantina experience. As a lifelong fan of the franchise, I was thrilled to contribute to a world I’d admired for so long. From the outset, I was deeply familiar with the iconic soundscapes that define Star Wars, which helped me connect personally to the project’s goals. Read more>>

Vitalina Ghinzelli

In the course of my career as a designer, I’ve worked on many special projects. But so far, the most meaningful project I worked on started with a personal connection, and it unfolded in a way I never expected. My niece had recently started taking violin lessons. I’ve always been passionate about creating dramatic hats and wearable sculptures, so one afternoon while visiting her I gazed at the violin, my mind began to wander. I started thinking, “What if this violin could be transformed into something wearable? What if I could turn it into a dramatic, sculptural hat?” The process wasn’t easy. It took a lot of experimentation, adjusting the shape, and finding ways to balance the violin’s delicate form with the structural requirements of a wearable piece. But it was an incredibly fulfilling challenge. This project felt deeply meaningful to me because it was a fusion of my two passions: crafting bold artistry and honoring the creativity and spirit of my niece’s musical talent. And it is my hope that the women who buy my hats form their own connections with their style and the occasions that make life memorable Read more>>

Iman Kamel

“Quantum Leaps and Lost Socks: Your Playful Guide to Transformation” emerged from one of the darkest periods of my life – a debilitating illness that left me unable to swallow, speak, or move without experiencing electroshock-like pains. For almost a year, my world contracted to the confines of this profound physical challenge. The breakthrough came after receiving the necessary surgery when I began actively applying the Lotus-Born Heart process to my own deep healing journey. Read more>>

Amanda Hornberger

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far is the album Something Ventured, which I created with my friend and writing partner, Matt Juliano. At the time, it was the middle of the pandemic and I had lost all my work and my home since I couldn’t pay rent. It was over a year of me not singing because it broke my heart to do it after everything I had lost. Here I was, a person who had been singing her whole life and performing on stage since she was 3 years old, and I couldn’t find my voice anymore. I couldn’t write music and I used to be a prolific songwriter. Then, my friend Matt reminded me that we had written a number of songs which were in various stages of finished and most of them hadn’t really been heard by people. He paid for us to record the album and did most of the work to make it happen. All I had to do was show up on the day we were recording vocals and sing. To this day, that album is one of the most meaningful things anyone has ever given me because it was given by a friend who wanted to remind me of my spark and let me know he believes in me. Read more>>

Madeline Fiore

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on is my poetry book, My Pocketbook of I Love You’s, which I self-published in 2019. It was an incredibly personal endeavor, allowing me to express myself and reflect on the struggles I’ve faced with women loving women love. After publishing the book, I hosted a launch as part of the City of Vaughan Culture Days event at the historic Thoreau MacDonald House. For the event, I created an immersive experience by transforming each room of the house into a chapter of the book. Guests were invited to step into the chapters and read a page in each room, bringing the book to life in an interactive way. Read more>>

Maxwell Senter

Trans War Criminal, our latest EP was a really special project to us because it signified our shift from cleaner indie rock to a dirtier sound that was more fed-up and in line with the Queer Punk and Riot Grrrl movements. Music has always been a tool of expression for us, and right now we’re feeling angry. Read more>>

Sylvester Long

I would say the most meaningful project I have worked on was my very first book titled “Out of Pain, Into Purpose”. It is something that I will forever be proud of. I’ve always wanted to write a book, but I never knew what to write or how to start. All I knew was that I wanted to share my testimony to people. For a long time, the word “purpose” was engrained in my head, and I never knew why. It was just one word that stuck with me. My mom always told me that God will allow certain experiences to occur for a reason. It was to shape and mold us, and not to tear us down. There was a purpose behind it. Read more>>

Grimey L

My beat tape “northside.” is the most meaningful project I’ve created thus far. It was inspired by the Northside of Youngstown, Ohio. I was born there, lived there as a kid and then again for a while after graduating high school. I currently live in Tucson, Arizona. I try to visit home once a year in the summer or fall. On one trip home, I decided to make some music inspired by the place I was born and spent a lot of my time. I revisited some of these local landmarks and addresses I lived at to get into a groove. I created all the artwork and layout for the physical releases. Read more>>

Caitlin Sellman

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was Natural Despite Intrusion. “Natural Despite Intrusion” narrates a story of resilience and newfound strength, weaving together the stark realities of spinal fusion surgery with the grounding elements of nature. The collection features my experiences with scoliosis and the aftermath of spinal realignment. I always knew I would create the project, and so, in a way, I had always been working on it. I would save everything from my experience, from back braces to hospital gowns, from pill bottles to get-well-soon bouquets. While some of the photos portray the vulnerability of healing, others are a powerful and unapologetic tribute to the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of the surgery. Read more>>

Connor Williams

In my off time, when not pursuing portraiture for my professional work, I shift focus towards exploring the United States and the greater Americas, photographing the ever changing landscape, both naturally and culturally. This project originally started in college nearly a decade ago. At some point I’d developed the brilliant idea to skip a couple of classes and instead drive, with bald tires and no disposable income, nearly 2000 miles round trip from New Jersey to Nova Scotia and back. This spanned the greater part of five days where I lived out of a Ford Fiesta. Regardless of the fact that I had little to no experience, which is proven by the simple fact that not a single photo from the trip will ever have a spot in my portfolio, the adventure allowed me a new perspective. Read more>>

Casper Frink

I feel like each tattoo I create with my clients is meaningful in it’s own way. Being a tattoo artist takes so much trust. I create permanent art on my clients skin, something they’ll carry with them everywhere. Every day. That means the world to me. Read more>>

Cyin Kaywise

My live-action animation pilot episode, “INBETWEEN”, is easily the most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on and completed. I consider it the culmination of all of my filmmaking and animating ability (circa 2020) in a concise, 15-minute package. My budget was certainly low, and I had to make up for a lot of shortcomings as a result of the limited resources available, so the trade-off I made was time. The whole production spanned from 2018 – 2020, with post-production taking the most time (animation was especially laborious!). However, the dedication of my crew, the talent on display from my actors, and the sheer feat of what we were accomplishing together despite our setbacks was more than enough motivation for me to get it done. Read more>>

Oakland Rain (maren & Charlotte)

The most meaningful project we have worked on, is our full length English debut album “Twin Flames”. Part 1 (“Twin Flames Part I: The Evergreen”) is out this January. Especially one of the leading music videos “Sister Hymn” means a lot to us, and is a pillar of Part 1 of the double album. The backstory of this album is 10 years of being a music duo, working really hard to find our most authentic and honest sound. We really want to convey the human’s inner turmoil and conflict. We find that we all carry fear and freedom inside, and those feelings are both linked and in conflict – like twin flames. We also like the double meaning of the title as we are actually twin sisters :) Read more>>

Starrene Foster

The most meaningful project I have choreographed was a dance titled “In Rest and Sleep”. This work premiered in February 2020 and embraced the ideas of love, loss, reflection, and the wonder of unlimited chances. This evening-length work is unique because it was performed in the round, with the audience encompassing the performance space. The dance begins with the audience entering the space and “preparing” the stage with calla lilies while the dancers lay prone on their backs. It’s a rather somber introduction. However, this beginning sets the tone for a fully immersive experience, allowing the audience to immediately engage deeply with the environment. Read more>>

Sarah Kales

I’m really excited about a new project called DTLA 28. I was recently elected secretary of the board. This is not only my first board role, but also a passion project. DTLA 28 is a non profit with the goal of bringing downtown Los Angeles to life. Our goal is to help local businesses and create a sense of community and engagement in DTLA. This is a new role for me, but I’m learning from some amazing and very experienced people and I’m so excited to help revamp Downtown Los Angeles. Read more>>

Gabriel Preisser

When I was a resident artist at Minnesota Opera, I was truly fortunate to be cast as the role of Lt. Gordon in a brand-new opera entitled Silent Night with music by Kevin Puts and a libretto by Mark Campbell which retold the unbelievable true story of the WWI Christmas Truce in 1914. To say it was an honor to be a part of this production and to be a part of retelling this singular and tremendously powerful moment of humanity in history is an extreme understatement. The whole experience was beyond words really and I’ll never forget the goosebumps and excitement of opening night as we stepped into the trenches on the stage. Read more>>

Claire Gallagher

In 2022, I had the opportunity to create a documentary following the life of Karen Sparks. Sparks was the mother of Reagan and Grant Small, two students in the Van Alstyne school district. In response to a harsh divorce between Karen and her former husband, David Small, Small burned the family’s home down with the children still asleep inside, before taking his own life. This was truly a devastating story to tell, particularly because I knew the family affected. With so many moving pieces and sensitive topics, I had to make a very intentional effort in how I chose to tell this story without excluding crucial information. I believe that this story was impactful because it told a side of the story that is often missed. It shed a light on a very real circumstance and could bring awareness and understanding to other individuals who may be stuck in similar situations. Read more>>

Camila Guzman-lozano

My most memorable project so far has been documenting my golf journey with my family on social media. I have shared many memorable moments with my parents, posting lessons learned, funny stories and celebrating our family time on the course together. Read more>>

Glaucia Stanganelli

When I was working as a fashion designer and creative director for my clothing line Philosofée I worked on this collection I named Shakespearean Love & Tragedy. For many reasons it was a very meaningful project I created, for one, it was the last collection I created in Brazil, where I founded the brand, before I moved to New York City and moved the brand with me, starting all over with a new team and everything. Read more>>

Emily Imbrogna

I have been privileged to get to contribute to a number of projects that have been incredibly meaningful to me. The most recent project that I am most proud of is a painting series inspired by my hero – My hero is undoubtedly my grandmother, who I lost this summer. Like me, she was a creative in her own right – a passionate poet who wrote political writings for local papers, expressing her values that centered on her belief in community and that everyone is deserving of kindness and a fair chance. She also wrote poetry for us, her family, expressing her devotion to us in many different iterations over the years through her creativity with words. Read more>>

Rashmi Singh

As the recipient of the Queens Council on the Arts New Works and Puffin Foundation Grant, I had the opportunity to interview, write, and perform songs about three local heroines and their unique journeys to call Woodside, New York City, their home. The Queens of Queens, Women of Woodside project was a huge success, bringing the community together to celebrate the diverse backgrounds of these incredible women. We created a performance space in collaboration with the Director of the local, nationally landmarked Moore-Jackson Community Garden, which now hosts regular performances in music, theater, dance, and poetry. This increased visibility and community involvement in the garden was an unexpected yet rewarding result of the project. Read more>>

Qwesha Coutou

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was a county-wide campaign for high school seniors in the United States sixth largest school district to increase Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submissions. As a college aid consultant, I’ve visited countless high schools, faith based organizations, community organizations and detention centers to recognize money is the leading barrier to college access. While college application days were the norm, FAFSA remained the elephant in the room. Read more>>

Chino Pabón

At the end of 2012, I had a dream where I was standing on one side of a road and saw myself on the other side. It wasn’t a mirror; it was another version of me, and we were both holding the ends of a yellow rope. I felt an overwhelming emotion seeing myself and wanted to run over and embrace me, but I didn’t. I simply raised my hand in a “hello” gesture, and the other me did the same. I started to feel the emotion of that other version of me at the same time, and the sensation of fear became so intense that I woke up. Read more>>

Wych Hazle

There is not just one project that I have done as a Hip Hop Artist I can put high at the top of others. I have went through many different phases as an MC/Lyricist. With very different influences at different stages of evolution in my development I have been writing, memorizing, and freestyling since I was 12 years old. Projects I have done probably have a different type of significance to me than most Artists I know, in the culture of Hip Hop. Read more>>

Annie Fleisch

It’s so great to have this opportunity to chat with you! Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my body of work as a filmmaker, which primarily consists of narrative short films and commercials. It’s so much fun to create a story purely from imagination. But back in April (2024), I was given the opportunity to pitch a short documentary to Red Bull Media House. As many would, I felt a combination of excitement and fear. I was grateful for the chance, yet terrified to stand before a room of Red Bull employees, directors, and managers. But I knew that with great risk comes great reward. To my relief, and excitement, I was fortunate enough to get my pitch green-lit, which set in motion a six-month journey of preparation, production, and post-production. Read more>>

Louise Ponla

Ooh that is a tough one to answer but I have to say starting @together.on.the.go is probably one of the most meaningful projects. This became a platform for Gabe (my significant other) and I to honor my late father who unexpectedly passed away while we were on vacation about a year and a half ago. I am indebted to my late father for showing me the beauty in the world. For the past 24 years, I was truly grateful to have helped my late father in planning our family vacations yearly. Here I learned what it meant to plan trips efficiently. I understood how to find decent flight prices/accomodations, what are best places to sightsee, etc. I owe it all to my late father and his love for the world. To be able to continue and honor the legacy for traveling is what makes this project meaningful. Read more>>

Mychole Starr

I would say the most meaningful project I’ve worked on thus far has been my own, which is still a work in progress. I’ve worked on projects for myself and others before, I’ve written songs for other people and gotten placements for other artists, but this current project is different. This is the first project that I’ve completely submerged myself in and done everything on my own; from production to recording, mixing and mastering, I’ve literally done everything single process by myself and it’s very rewarding to be able to do that. Read more>>

Jingkun Huang

A particularly significant project for me was the feature-length documentary Heaven Can Wait, which I directed between 2018 and 2019. The film tells the story of a mother’s journey seeking justice and coming to terms with herself after her daughter was tragically raped and murdered. At the time, I was just a sophomore in college. The process of completing this documentary allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of societal realities and how film, as a medium, can play a powerful role in raising awareness about social issues. It profoundly influenced how I approach visual storytelling, encouraging me to incorporate social relevance into my work. Even today, the experience of creating this film continues to inspire me to explore more layered and meaningful forms of creative expression. Read more>>

Lily Xie

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is undoubtedly Surfacescape, a nonprofit organization I co-founded to support and spotlight emerging undergraduate artists. Surfacescape holds a deeply personal significance for me, and I’m proud to be part of it every day. Our mission to create platforms for underrepresented talents has allowed us to connect with countless incredible artists, hear their stories, and learn from their unique perspectives. Read more>>

Kaan Tulgar

Every project is meaningful to me. Being selected to capture one’s most important day is as meaningful as it gets. To me, it is an exclusive and personal invitation. An honor of being chosen, of all the professionals, to document an event that will be cherished for years to come, perhaps long after I am gone. It was once said “today is tomorrow’s history”, so document it while you can. One of my favorite quotes of all time is by Jarod Kintz “Let me just pause a minute and drink in this moment. And if you film it, we’ll get refills for life.” Read more>>

Jollof Films Inc

Jollof Films Inc is the meaningful project that we have started since August of 2022. The reason we have started this project is to lift the veil on the misconception that African stories were not told/documented during the post-colonial era or prior. In lifting this veil, we hold space to screen an African film every last Sunday of the month – for free. Because the question of accessibility in relation to African cinema must be addressed proactively and consistently. In passing, we would love to give thanks for spaces that aligned with us on our mission, Joloff Restaurant. Brooklyn Tea, The Africa Center, Cinewax, The People’s Forum, Cloud Haus BK, Savant Studios, Make Manifest, & Ko Café. Read more>>

Cynthia Hernandez

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on recently was the Arte para el Alma women’s retreat, which I organized earlier this month. This event was born out of my deep belief in the healing power of art and the need for spaces where women can come together, connect, and heal through creative expression. The retreat brought together 11 participants in an intimate setting, creating a safe and nurturing space for exploration and growth. It featured three healing art sessions, each led by incredible facilitators: Cynthia Hernandez from Bio Projects, Tricia Loya from Our Write Life, and Dr. Maria Gabriela Martinez from Galeria Metafora. Dr. Martinez’s session was especially powerful, as she not only guided attendees through interpreting their artwork and journal entries but also gave an insightful talk on art therapy and its role in mental and emotional healing. Read more>>

Jaila Moore

In 2023, I was chosen as a fellow for the Texas Lyceum, representing Texas Southern University. As a student in my Masters of Public Administration program and a poet, I conducted research on the impact and importance of arts, specifically poetry, in developing and preserving humanity. Throughout the research I noticed how poetry was used to express feelings of love, hardship or even just spread joy. I saw how throughout history it was a tool to educate, empower and unite people. I spoke to people about their relationship with poetry, traveled to a school in Ghana and watched children perform their own poems in multiple languages, and read poems from all eras. Read more>>