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.

Emily Robyn Clark

After spending a couple of years on the road performing poetry and exploring the U.S. with my then-partner, I was ready to create something truly my own. I had always envisioned making a film, and when my partner suggested I check out Utah as a filming location, I decided to take the leap. Read more>>

Jason & Blue

For the past 7 years we’ve been working on a feature length documentary called Dawn Dusk. The film follows Chelli Look, an artist specializing in leather handbags, who experiences overwhelming grief after the murder of her sister by her brother-in-law. In the years that follow, Chelli’s journey towards healing forces her to rediscover who she is as an artist, leading to an unexpected revelation that takes her in a new direction. Read more>>

Leah Love

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far is my book titled Chocolate Affirmations. The reason why this is so meaningful to me is because I allowed myself to be completely vulnerable and share my emotions experiences in my personal journey of self-love with the world. I never really saw myself sharing that out loud. A book started out as journal entries that were made from powerful feelings and emotions I was having inside. My mother encouraged me to write a book to help inspire other women to speak their truth and fully appreciate themselves and what they have to offer to the world as well. It’s meaningful because I’m proud of the fact that through my story I can hopefully help other women grow and learn one of the hardest lessons in life and that is self-love and self-acceptance. Read more>>

Eleonora Balducchi

Every project I work on carries deep meaning, and I always share in the sentimental value my clients bring to their tattoos. This is why I love creating custom designs—because even the smallest detail can hold immense significance. Some projects, however, come with a heavier emotional weight and a deeper message. Read more>>

Bill Kaigle

There have been so many meaningful projects, that it is hard to pin down just one as most meaningful! I will say that I’m most happy when I’m able to blend history along with creativity, and learn something along the way. Designing printed materials such as history calendars, newsletters, and museum exhibit materials for my local historical society here in Milton, Vermont over the past 25 years has been very gratifying. Read more>>

Robert Strand

In 2022, when I founded the World Water Film Festival I could not have imagined where this journey would take me, the people we would bring together, and the actual impact we could have. We make our events both informative and fun; our New York City Host, Columbia Climate School, said our event “could be considered an antidote to the climate fatigue and apathy many sustainability advocates are feeling at this moment.” Read more>>

Anna Victoria Dembowski Riva

I am currently working on the biggest project I’ve ever done, my thesis film “Chiquito”! I am co-directing and producing this short film with my teammate, Lesley Marroquin. When we started talking about story ideas we realized both of us would like to showcase our cultures through a unique lens in a lighthearted and fun film. Our story follows an ambitious Salvadorean inventor who has to get her teleportation device back from her pet armadillo after they are teleported to the biggest city in Latin America — São Paulo, in Brazi! Read more>>

Grace O’brien

My biggest and most meaningful project I’ve been working on is my tree series. This endeavor has enabled me to combine my passion for painting with my curiosity for plant taxonomy. In my tree series, I create scientifically accurate botanical studies depicting the features, including leaves, fruits, flowers, seeds, and overall structure, of a tree that I’m fond of. I’ve only just begun this project, and my hope is to continue connecting biology and art through this work for the rest of my career. So far, I’ve painted Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant sequoia; Quercus rubra, the red oak; and Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood. Read more>>

Zixuan Zhou

As an animator and an MFA student at CalArts, I am working on a mixed-media project that explores emotions and death. For me, delving into the expression of emotions and the reasons behind our fear of death is a deeper reflection on the concept of the ‘self.’ This is also the first time I am giving form to the ‘self’ directly, rather than conveying it through a medium or a narrative. In order to give form to my fear of death, I reflected deeply on my past, my dreams, and my relationships with my family—especially those moments that inspired me to contemplate death. I also read extensively about death imagery and ways to alleviate death anxiety. I discovered that this is, in fact, a common emotion. Read more>>

Lisa Crawford

My “Let’s Learn Bisaya” flash card deck is the most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far. It all started during the pandemic—our family had planned a trip to visit relatives in the Philippines in 2020, but when travel was no longer an option, I was motivated to find other ways to connect with my heritage. I began taking Zoom lessons with my cousin Rina to improve my toddler-level Bisaya skills. From there, I started a daily drawing practice to help me remember new words. Read more>>

Thia The Bard

The most meaningful project I have worked on was Real Women of Gaming’s To Hell and Back…For Charity event last year.
To Hell and Back…For Charity is our biggest event of the year. Last year it was 12 days long and we chose to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association. This was important to me becuase of my grandmother. She moved in with my family when I was in middle school. I became one of her main caregivers as my mom had epilepsy (limiting what she could do, particularly with sundowning and nighttime difficulties,) my dad worked full time, and my younger brother was even younger than myself. So I tried my best to step up. It was awful to watch the disease killing her. It was also very difficult to understand as a kid. Read more>>

Luciane Marcus

I have been a photographer for quite a while and have conducted many headshots and high school senior photoshoots. Seniors are easy – they know what to do, how to pose, and how to use the right angles to flatter themselves… especially the girls! In 2019 I was contacted by a Lake Brantley mom inquiring about a Senior Session for her daughter, Abigail. As always, I was excited but at the same time a little anxious anticipating my session with Abigail since she was not the average senior. Abigail was born with Down Syndrome, and I did not know what to expect; however, aside for her unbelievable candor and special warmth, she was no different from any other senior I photographed. She immediately put me at ease when she declared, “I am a typical teenage girl except I have an extra chromosome”. Read more>>

Bryan Hadley

The Academy of Independent Motion Pictures (6 Governors on its Board) is so vested in and deeply value EACH film work that is submitted for a chance to win a Percy, annually. Each project or effort is just as meaningful as the other because we know the incredible effort, thought and, most likely, lack of funding it took to make a particular independent film. We also highly value film works with a large budget and/or “name” actors/actresses, for example; however, we deeply believe and follow The Percy’s Golden Rule: All projects are as meaningful as the other in some capacity and quite simply .. THE BEST performance wins a PERCY. Read more>>

Kendall Green

Since starting my business, I have been on a mission to capture all things that inspire me to share with the world. My artwork became less about painting for a past-time hobby, and more about what to provide to others. A “service”, if you will. To which I genuinely believe that bright colors, light, and nature bring so much abundance to our lives therefore when I paint with those elements in mind I aim to bring that inspiration and abundance to another. Read more>>

Gerry Monteux

After a 40-year career as a TV network sports host/announcer, it occurred to me that it would be a very good thing if I (finally) did something to contribute to a better world. So, I fell back on my skills as a nature photographer, which became my full-time gig. I’m now dedicating my creative life to making this a better place for the world’s animals to flourish. Read more>>

Edon Terez

I would probably say my most meaningful project by far are my comics that I’m creating right now. I only have a rough draft out right now, and they’re nowhere near done or ready to show, but they all are so incredibly important to me. I love to tell creative stories that center marginalized people. Read more>>

Colorado Bhangra Team

One of the most meaningful projects we’ve worked on as a team was setting up a fundraising workshop for the International Rescue Committee to donate funds for those in Gaza suffering from the Israel-Palestine war. We wanted to try a find a way to use our platform to do more than just perform and compete, and we thought organizing a workshop that not only allows people to learn more about bhangra, but be able to use their ticket sale to donate to a cause we believed in might be a good way to do so. We decided to give this a shot in February of last year, and we were able to host a great workshop with around 20 attendees. With a combination of their ticket sales and a company contribution, we were able to successfully donate $900 for the International Rescue Committee! Read more>>

Amelia Franz Mills

Embroidery has always been an escape into a whimsical world for me. Inspiring me to stitch flora and fauna that tells a story. A dear friend of mine, Virgo Moon, who is a creative in drag came to me with an exciting idea. To transform a vintage dress into a metaphor. I created an anatomical heart, antlers with vines to communicate growth, wearing your heart on your sleeve, and strength. These themes were strong in Virgo Moon’s story in drag and becoming her character on stage, finding her originality and a voice in drag. Embroidering this story on a stage piece was not only meaningful to Virgo, but to me as well. I felt so honored to create this piece and pour my love and creative twist onto it. Being able to transfer a story with string is something that gives me great joy. Read more>>

Minji Seo

One of my most meaningful projects was “My Right Hand & Your Left Hand.” I collaborated with fellow artist Kun, who had injured her left arm then, and we organized an exhibition about trust and resilience. We painted on a single canvas together, passing it back and forth like a shared cooking process, gradually layering paint to build the final image. Read more>>

Tye Huntley

There really have been 3 projects that have embodied all that I strive to stand for as a entrepreneur, creative and servant to the creative community. The 1st of those was being the featured songwriter for the Multi-Platinum selling and Grammy Award Winning R&B Group 112 on their EP (112Forever) Released in 2021. What made that project special was the fact that i was a credited writer on 8 of the 9 songs, and the project featured the song “For Us” written by me and submitted for The Grammy’s Best Song for Social Change in 2022. Another meaningful project that I am currently involved in is the Artist Development and Career cultivating of the Independent R&B Artist Ashley King along with my Production Partner Franklin T. Smith. In the process of collaborating and contributing to Ashley’s growth as an artist we have created songs that meet our listeners where they are in life’s journey. Read more>>

David Waage

I spent ten years visiting Lebanon during the Syrian war. The war drove over 1 million refugees to safety in Lebanon. I met and began photographing these Syrian refugees, hearing their stories and gaining some understanding of what these people had been through.

The place I met them became a key element of the story. Along the Mediterranean waterfront in Beirut, the refugees would gather to relax, to swim, to play soccer, and to spend time with their families and friends. They were enjoying what I termed moments of refuge. While they were happy in the moment, behind the happy smiles were stories of incredible heartbreak and loss. Read more>>

Jennifer Caress

I wrote a play called The Pool. it debuts in Denver in April, 2025.

Tagline: Love will always end in grief.

Synopsis: Jessica knows that if she leaves her husband, he will end his life. She also knows that if she stays, she won’t survive. The Pool is a ghost story about life after suicide, and having to make a horrific choice.

Backstory: A few years ago, I wrote a fictional monologue to explain what it is like loving an addict, and destroying oneself to save someone who doesn’t want to be saved. I knew that this piece was part of something bigger, but all attempts at writing around the monologue failed, so I set it aside. In early 2024, I found the monologue again and the story of Jessica and Phillip flowed from me, and The Pool was born. Read more>>

Overstreet Ducasse

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was my recent mural in Jacksonville Florida. I was selected by a committee to create a 1500 feet mural on Jacksonville newly constructed Emerald trail. The trail is a viaduct that caries a road over a creek and connects 2 neighborhoods, LaVilla and Brooklyn. LaVilla and Brooklyn were two historical black communities dating back to the 1800s. These communities went through many changes from its inception to what is is currently. There are major constructions going on and organizations such as Groundwork Jax wanted the people who grew up there and currently live there to be a part of the changes. Read more>>

Patricia Bebia

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is The Life Coach film. This project is deeply personal to me, as it explores themes of mental health, resilience, and authenticity—topics that are often overlooked. In the film, amidst fame, Gary’s hidden struggles rooted in childhood trauma is exposed by an online connection that forces him to confront his demons and start a journey of healing and authenticity. Read more>>

Patricia Moss-vreeland

Midway through my career in 1993, I won a national competition to design the Memorial Room of the Holocaust Museum Houston, that became a unique and meaningful experience as a permanent installation. The Memorial Room welcomes a large group of international visitors, where three walls of art convey the specifics of the Holocaust and the universality of loss, while making room for contemplation and solace. Read more>>

Erika Garcia

One of the most meaningful projects we’ve worked on is our ongoing outreach to people in recovery and those facing the destructive effects of addiction. The opioid crisis in North America, particularly the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, has caused devastation in communities, contributing to thousands of overdose deaths each year. Many men and women affected by addiction are also dealing with deep trauma, hopelessness, and a cycle of poor decisions. Our heart has always been to meet these individuals where they are, sharing the hope of the Gospel and offering a path to healing. Read more>>

Gulsina Kalimullina

My most meaningful projects were
“Ronaldo Faster” Commercial – AT&T for USA Soccer Championship
This project was a perfect blend of sports, technology, and global influence. The “Ronaldo Faster” commercial wasn’t just about showcasing the skills of a soccer legend; it was about pushing boundaries, speed, and breaking through limits, which resonated deeply with audiences across the world.
Also, projects with Braun, Guess, Elizabeth Arden and Berta campaigns were significant for me. Read more>>

Keana Dollar-dickerson

The most meaningful project to date has to be the one I’m currently a part of—being one of six artists selected to showcase African/Black art in El Cerrito City Hall for Black History Month. This has never happened before, and knowing that we’re making history in California is a surreal feeling. As a visual artist from West Oakland, representation has always been important to me, and to see our culture, our stories, and our creativity displayed in a space that has never prioritized Black art before. That’s powerful! We’re breaking barriers, setting a precedent, and making sure our voices are seen and felt in places where they’ve been absent for too long. Read more>>

Mitch Hoffman

At Model Metal, myself & my shop partner Katy McClure love to do public art project & work with children. We firmly believe that art is for the people, and not to be hoarded in the houses of the well-off. Katy has a background in public education, and we have worked with a few different groups of students around Colorado to explain our artistic methods and processes, and work with the students (usually middle schoolers) to create upcycled scrap metal art and kinetic sculptures. We have also created a group of kinetic installation sculptures for a pre-school in Denver. To inspire children to create, especially in sustainable ways, is a driving passion of ours. We volunteer our time and efforts for these initiatives, and often take a pay cut in order to create public art, vs a private sector contract. Read more>>

Amanda Friedman

I am fortunate enough to have been part of many meaningful projects throughout my career, but the one I am currently most excited about is my upcoming first comedy special “DEMANDA”.

DEMANDA was the result of the desire to explore my comedy in a deeper way. Although I love performing 10-minute spots on shows, I wanted to create something longer-form that introduces who I am as a comedian and as a writer. Read more>>

Barbara “barby” Beauvais

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is a newspaper I created that highlights the voices and experiences of women from different backgrounds. The idea stemmed from my interest in storytelling through visual art and my desire to create a space where important issues affecting women could be explored. The first issue featured photography, artwork, interviews, and stories from everyday heroes, covering topics such as Roe v. Wade, art representation for immigrant artists, and the ongoing struggles in Haiti. Beyond the content, the newspaper felt significant because it was the first time I fully merged my art, research, and personal perspectives into a cohesive project. It reinforced my belief in the power of art as a tool for education and advocacy. Read more>>

Benjamin Martin

The most meaningful project I have worked on was “The Dizzy Dangerfield Experience” which was the largest project I have ever put together. I wrote, produced, directed, built and even starred in it along with 11 other people. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. Read more>>

Sandra Woods

My most meaningful project is definitely my ongoing #ArtDesitePain initiative. Why “Art Despite Pain”? Once upon a time… Okay, seriously, let’s start again! In 2016 I had a healthcare career that I adored, working in bioethics – also called healthcare ethics or biomedical ethics – and was learning nature photography as a hobby. My work, including research ethics and protecting patient privacy, centered on ensuring that the rights of patients were being respected. That’s central to my identity, being someone who helps others. Read more>>

Abrraham Rockferry

Throughout my 20 years in the film industry, I’ve been fortunate to have worked on a number of exciting and rewarding projects. Of those, a film project that is one of the most meaningful is the one that I am currently working on, called “The Lost Identity.” Read more>>

H. Gorlitz Scott

Ultimately, I’d have to say that my novel series, Sivoa, is the most meaningful of all of my projects. I mean, I’ve been doing artwork, worldbuilding, and comics for it ever since I was in middle school, when my friends and I decided to make Mortal Kombat 3. That obviously didn’t work out, so I shelved it for most of high school. In my senior year I decided to take the characters that we made and drew a comic for my friends to read. In college, thanks to the never ending stream of questions from my friend Sarah, about the characters in my sketchbooks, I decided to take the comic thing more seriously and began self-publishing comics issues. I did this for twelve years before realizing that I’d never complete telling the story in that format, in my lifetime. Read more>>

Lorenzo Minoli

My Bible series earned me few awards such as Prime Time Emmy, Christopher’s Award and few more. But what I learned, and this is the most important thing, was how to transform a very Italian/European project into an American reality. It has been a process of “education” and of patient negotiations. At the end I have been successful in transforming into an American reality a Italian/European idea preserving the Italian/European authenticity and at same time adding the American take. I believe that this is a very unusual ability that can applied to almost every business. Read more>>

Ilana Katz

I can’t exactly pick a single meaningful project because my experiences as an Artist span so many creative arenas, but I will share about a musical experience that is vital to me. While I am extremely fortunate to perform/record my original songs as a solo artist, and with musicians from around the world (often in the Blues genre) – I am a busker underneath everything. To me, bringing joy via music to people who weren’t expecting to hear it when they woke up in the morning, is a privilege. I get to surprise people and connect with them and brighten people’s days. They tell me their stories and why the music I share is meaningful to them. Music is such an amazing connector and – especially now – we need that. I especially love to play on the subway in Boston, where I’ve been regularly since 2008. Read more>>

Joseph Michael Bassey

The Most Meaningful Project: Children’s Art Therapy Sessions in Land of Hope . The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is the children’s art therapy sessions in Land of Hope, which culminated in the “Past Trauma Art Exhibition” at the Hex Museum in Denmark, “Think Ocean; London Fashion Week” in collaboration with Land Of Hope Fashion Week, and other impactful art exhibitions. Read more>>

Alton Willoughby

I wrote and produced a short film, Heart of a Woman, based on memoir I Rise-The Transformation of Toni Newman by Transgender Author Toni Newman. When a minority community so stricken by drug abuse, sexual exploitation, and explosive murder rates, has a voice rise out of it as courageous and profound as Toni Newman’s, you do everything you can to make sure it’s a home run heard the world over. British Director/Producer Keith Holland and I worked together to give this memoir a voice. Read more>>

Robyn Mallery

The most meaningful project I have undertaken is founding a start-up museum dedicated to Transgender, Genderqueer, Intersex, and Nonbinary (TGIN+) individuals. This initiative represents the first museum in North America to focus exclusively on issues of gender and sex, rather than positioning them under the broader umbrella of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Read more>>