Working on something meaningful is a common desire – but how? We started asking folks to share the story of how they ended up working on a project they felt was meaningful because we wanted inspiration but also because we wondered if hearing from people from across a range of industries would help us identify patterns making it more likely for anyone to be able to find and work on projects that they would find meaningful.

David & Kylie Knight | Magician/Illusionist Duo

Honestly, the most meaningful project we have worked on is the honor and privilege of being the Global Ambassadors for an organization called ‘Uganda Shoe Trees’ (UST). Uganda Shoe Trees (501c3) is one of the four prime initiatives of Shoe Tree Educational Support, an international, non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) registered in Uganda which exists to support eco-friendly, self-sustaining, educational opportunities to fight poverty in rural Uganda. Read more>>

Kelli Pease | Blogger

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on has been giving away fresh flower bouquets. It first started with a fold-up table in Cardiff-by-the-Sea with one of my best friends. We gave out free flower bouquets for people walking by and I’ve never seen people light up like I did that day! Over the years, I’ve given away all kinds of gifts to people for my happiness blog “The Happsters.” I’ve given happy notes, food, gift cards, art, and more, but the one thing that brought the biggest smile to peoples’ faces has been flowers. Once I had this realization, friends and family helped me create flower giveaways around San Diego. Read more>>

June Hucko | Filmmaker, Photographer, Illustrator

I’ve been really blessed to work on so many meaningful projects over the years. I think what makes projects so meaningful to me is the time spent with other creatives and the process we each go through to add more and more to a concept. One project that stands out in particular was my music video “Playing with Fire” for Breakup Shoes. A lot of people came together to help see the vision that Josh Belveal and I created. We had a crew of about 15 people that were all ready to help out and that believed in me as the director. People let us use their houses, cars, dogs, and most importantly, time. Read more>>

Jeffrey McWhorter | Photographer

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is a long-term documentary photography project called The Time We Have Here. It follows the story of two Central American immigrants and their experience as high school soccer players at Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas. The church my family and I are a part of, Northway Church, sits adjacent to Thomas Jefferson (or TJ, as it is locally known), and our church small group started supporting the varsity boys soccer team in spring 2017. That fall, I met Bryan Gamez, who immigrated from El Salvador in 2014 and Cesar Escobar, who came from Honduras in 2015. Read more>>

Viviane Neves | Artistic Non Profit Organization

Our performances in hospitals continue to give us powerful and meaningful experiences and lessons. This seems to be magnified when sharing moments with people who are facing serious illnesses. Our Arts & Healing team is composed of sensitive singers who delicately express their empathy with these patients and their families. We must, however, conduct our performances with excellence, while managing our personal emotions. We have to be selfless – it’s not about us… it’s about them! In some institutions that we visited regularly, we interacted with some patients repeatedly over a period of time, allowing for the creation of affective bonds and even relationships, especially with the elderly and children. Read more>>

Jaime Hinrichs | Art Classes and Parties

Every project that I work on is meaningful to me in one way or another, but I think the paintings that I do for birthday parties are dearest to my heart. Growing up we didn’t have a lot of money, so most of our gifts were always handmade and meant the most to me. I remember my dad making me my very own dollhouse and it was the most amazing gift I’d ever received. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t bought in the store, I loved that it was made special for me. So, I started giving a handpainted canvas to each birthday child that I host a party for, because I want them to feel as special as I did the day that I opened my dollhouse. Read more>>

Jett Platt | Events Musician

I make my living as a solo musician/entertainer. I have had bookings at festivals, many beautiful weddings, kid’s birthday parties, corporate parties, wineries, luxury hotels, etc. The most meaningful project has been playing for my friends at the Overture in Fairview Texas. The residents range from 55 and up, most of them retired and maintain these amazing friendships with the people they now call neighbors. The first time I played for them I was nervous my age difference would hinder their excitement. What could a 23 year old know about music?. I decided I would surprise them with some classics including Frank Sinatra, John Denver, Willie Nelson, Elvis, Ernie Ford, etc. Read more>>

Shirley Wagner | Sculptor

I have been a working artist in Tucson, Arizona for over 25 years. I am a sculptor or should I say sculptress. I bring parts and pieces together to build wall sculptures. Because I assemble or build my sculptures from various elements including wood and metal, my style is referred to as assemblage. There is one meaningful sculpture that stands out amongst all the rest. It was created as a response to the loss of my husband nearly five years ago. Shortly before my husband died in 2017, I made a promise to him that I would continue my art making practice. Read more>>

Arash Motian | Iranian/American Hip Hop Artist & Entrepreneur

The most important project I’ve worked on so far is my latest release entitled “Never Fold”. At the dawn of the Pandemic, I was in a dark place in my life and felt a tremendous amount of pressure as my family was growing and I wasn’t doing what I love to do most, which is making music. Working a full time job required my undivided attention and the rest of the time was going to taking care of the family. I felt uninspired and personally was facing my biggest Demons, not to mention, my relationship was on thin ice. Then I received a call from my cousin Navid in city of Tehran, saying he had something important to discuss with me. Read more>>

Cash Scott | Tattoo Artist & Business Owner

It’s hard to pick just one, but the style of tattooing I do (photo realism, black & grey, and portraits) lends itself to a lot of very meaningful tattoos. I’ve done many memorial pieces and sentimental tattoos, and I am always honored when someone chooses me to turn one of their loved ones or an important memory into a permanent part of their body in the form of a portrait tattoo or other realism tattoo. I personally think black and grey tattoos give the most emotion as they are evocative of older black and white movies as well as the fact that black and grey tattoos seem to stand the test of time better, often looking even better over the years as the tones soften up. Read more>>

Joseph Rivers | Photographer

One of my favorite projects was a friend of mine’s wedding I photographed. This one held more weight because of the circumstances. She and her fiancee were excited because the wedding was a few weeks around the corner. She was very artistic and was buttoning up the last touches on all the decorations she created. Then there was an apartment fire. All within a few hours, they lost everything: the wedding decor, the dress, the memories were all gone. Read more>>

Ruth Lloyd | Seamstress

I make memory quilts, bears and pillows out of clothing of a loved one who has passed away. Many people keep clothing from a loved one in bag or box, and stash it in the closet or attic. It is sometimes very painful to think of discarding them. I take those items and make something beautiful and useful. My customers are always overwhelmed with their new memory from their loved one. I feel honored to have made something that helps in the healing process. This is my calling. Read more>>

LANEshia | Recording Artist | Voice-Over Artist & Songwriter

LANEshia of The Fentress Music Group in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Our music leg of the company started in June of 2020 while being at home during the pandemic. I have always wanted to start my own music production company because I love recording and my husband is a musician and recording engineer. We have a lot to share. Some of greatest challenges in launching during this time was the finances. We have spent a lot of money, our personal money building our recording studio and we are not done. We have invested several thousands of dollars into our studio. Read more>>

Sande Lollis | Singer-songwriter

Two things have been especially meaningful to me in the last two years and both have come from circumstances of the pandemic. I lead an all-original Americana trio called Enter the Blue Sky. My violist Karen Childress-Evans has been with me for seven years and we’ve been through a lot: the loss of a band member to leukemia, and inevitable other changes in personnel. The addition of our backing vocalist Tina Dee two years ago really put the icing on the whole thing. Now we’ve got lovely three-part harmony on most of the songs and it sounds so full and rich. Read more>>

W. Scott Koenig | Food Writer/Personality & Graphic Designer

As a creative, I’ve worked on so many meaningful projects, it’s difficult to choose. The most recent project in which I’ve been invited to participate is to co-host and co-produce a new weekly TV show called “Baja Window to the South”. I fell in love with Baja when I first moved to San Diego in the nineties, and have been actively reporting on its culture and gastronomy for a decade now. So it’s a project that’s very close to my heart. Read more>>

jessamine starr | Chef

I have two very meaningful projects that are related to my career path but are not really ‘part’ of it. The first one is ett. Ett is the one seat restaurant in the woods I opened for one year during the heart of the pandemic. In the beginning the pandemic greatly effected my business as it did many catering companies. I was able to pivot my focus and create enough work to pay the bills but I still had more time on my hands than usual. I spent a lot of this time outdoors, as I along with the rest of the world was anxious and worried, I have always found solace and peace outside. Read more>>

Jessica Wells | Photographer

As a photographer, each and every photo I capture feels meaningful. It’s a moment in time that can be looked back on forever… handed down from generation to generation. A memorialized gift. I once held an event for women who were currently battling cancer or had faced it and won. I called up salons around San Diego and found a lovely group of ladies who gifted their talents and time. We sat together in the salon and I witnessed that brave group of women open up and and share their stories with eachother. Read more>>

Maricia Johns | Lifestyle Blogger

When I interview anyone whether it is lighthearted or serious I think it is meaningful. The interviews are a look into the person’s “why/how”. I interviewed an entrepreneur that won a 7-11 franchise, and I wanted to know why she entered the contest, what was her motivation to become a franchise owner. Why 7-11? This young lady was in her 20’s, and she entered at the last minute. I wanted to know what advice she would offer to the next generation. Another interview was with a young lady that started a nonprofit. The why was so personal for her. It was in the memory of her daughter. Read more>>

Jennifer Bleakley | Owner, Huntress Florals | Floral Design Studio

My most meaningful projects have all been simple, and involved connection or serving others. On the event side of our business, it’s always special to be part of a love story or a celebration through florals. From birth to death, it’s a humbling honor to hold space for others through our flowers. To be trusted during the most impactful days is a genuine gift. With our event floral leftovers, we leave tiny bouquets around the city for others to find, enjoy and share. It’s a beautiful energy exchange – in adding an unexpected glimmer of joy to someone’s day, my heart fills in return. Read more>>

Ben Workman | Artists

Art brings beauty and spurs the imagination. It expands our thinking. As an artist, I’m most proud to have my work hanging in new spaces and introduce more people to my message. I want my abstract way of seeing love, acceptance and freedom resonates with individuals, whether you have walked a similar life path to me or not. I recently completed one of the largest commercial installations of my career at the famed Evening Star Building in Washington DC. To have my art located in a historic building on the most historic avenue in The United States is a dream come true. What better place for my mission than Washington, DC. Just the presence of the art makes it a beacon for my message. Read more>>

Filmer Kewanyama | Yoimasa: The Art Of Fil Kewanyama

As my artist statement says, with my art it helps me to teach non-Hopi or non-native people on who we are as Hopi People. In the past few months I have painted two large murals (1) at a museum stressing the importance, the sacredness of water and the other (2) at an archaeology center about our emergence story, of how we came to be. These again help me to teach non-Hopi to have a better understanding of our way of life and how our ceremonies are still sacred and important to us. Read more>>

Yale Gurney | Architectural + Lifestyle + NFT Photographer

It started with being commissioned to shoot Coney Island for Nathan’s. Now, all of those photos grace the walls of Nathan’s corporate HQ’s in New York. Then, as an architectural and lifestyle photographer, my career took a tremendous boost as a National photographer for some incredible companies. I was traveling just about every week for 6 plus years and to new locations in and out of the US. From super large companies like ADP to niche coworking ones like Expansive. In fact, it was the coworking and workspace world (Expansive and several others) that took full advantage of working with me to streamline their photos to ensure their marketing campaigns had success. Boy did they. Read more>>

Rick Hohn | Author/motivational speaker

I have written my autobiography, More Than a Watchmaker. It is entitled this because a pediatrician who diagnosed me at two years of age with Cerebral Palsy told my parents that I would do everything besides making a watch. How true that has been with everything I do including being a consultant for Tobii DynaVox, an associate pastor for my church and an artist. This is despite uncontrollable limbs and hard to understand speech. You can order the book on my website at www.spiritwheelsministry.com. I established my own ministry called Spirit Wheels Ministry. It’s a Ministry Partner of Joni and Friends. Read more>>

Karelle Levy | Fashion Designer and Fiber Artist

The Interknit, the literal world-wide-web is by far my project. It was originally conceived for the World Happiness Summit in 2017 as an installation built to connect people through yarn arts like knitting, crochet, and pom-pom making. I made the original structure and with each gathering, the piece has grown and morphed through the years. Since then, hundreds of people have added their stitches and connected by yarn. It’s a simple concept that today is even more prevalent than ever before. Read more>>

D’Landria Fowls | Professional Photographer

The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on was an exhibition entitled Project Restoration. It was my very first endeavor of this kind as a photographer. Project Restoration explored the relationship between fathers and their children to resolve societal misunderstandings and help cultivate lasting bonds. I began the project in hopes that those that participated as well as the audience would be inspired to heal and restore broken relationships. Read more>>

Ricky Dean Wyrick | Author & Artist

My most meaningful project is something I’m still working on. A couple of years ago I reached that point as an artist where I stopped asking myself if I could reach a certain level of success, and started asking what I truly wanted to accomplish as a successful artist. What was the story I wanted to tell with my work? I needed to discover what I was really passionate about. Although I loved painting portraits, peaceful landscapes and colorful abstracts, my real passion was storytelling. Read more>>

Wolfie Garcia | Songwriter and Entertainer

My most meaningful project will always be the one I am currently working on in the present time. At this time I am working on my first NFT album drop called WOLFIE. With this NFT drop will come access to an entire Virtual Reality world/game where you can join me (WOLFIE) on a journey to find the lost songs and add them to the songs you already have from the NFT Album. There is so much more to this release and information will be made available on www.iQmuzic.com as we roll out the album! Read more>>

Erin Olson | Podcaster & Writer

I write and podcast from the heart and feel like every book and podcast episode are Holy Spirit led. Each one is meaningful in its own way because my intent in every project is to draw people closer to Jesus because He is the only one who has all of the answers. I see myself as a vessel, and my podcasting and writing are a means to equip and encourage people to do what God calls each one of them to do. Read more>>

Cassandra Estifanos | Professional photographer & studio owner

I had a client book me for her maternity and newborn session. I have actually known this client since high school so I was super excited to see her again after so many years. We had a great time at our session together and I was so happy to finally meet her husband as I had seen so many wonderful things about him on social media. During our maternity session together, they lovingly referred to their daughter as “Peanut” because the father to be loved elephants. Read more>>

Kathleen Culebro | Artistic Director and Playwright

It’s hard to choose one project that is “most” meaningful. There are so many collaborations I’ve had that are truly life-changing. I really treasure projects that take me out of my comfort zone and scare me a bit, so I’m going to say that the project I’m working on now is taking me in new directions I’ve never tried out before. My theatre company, Amphibian Stage, has received funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts to produce an augmented reality art walk through the Near Southside area of Fort Worth. Read more>>

Foster D. Coburn III | WordPress Web Design

My most meaningful project has earned that title for a number of reasons. It was a complete makeover of the Cave Creek Olive Oil Company’s Web site (https://cavecreekoliveoil.com). Their previous design had e-commerce functionality, but it was very hidden and produced few online sales. The first year after the makeover got sales started. In the second year, sales increased more than 116% over the first year. There was an additional 80% increase in the third year driven largely by COVID since fewer customers could shop in-store. Read more>>

Anne Shackelford | Artist

The most meaningful project/s are the ones I am doing now. I crave it. I love love love creating. The pieces I am making now are full of so much love and created in harmony with high vibrations & healing intentions. I have been on my own healing journey for over ten years now. Working with crystals, sacred geometry, mandalas, palo santo, sage, incense, sound and prayer I infuse my art with positive vibes. The same vibes that have brought me to this very place of inspiration, balance and joy! Read more>>

Michael Dergar | Artist and Founder of The Academy of Special Dreams Foundation

This past year 2021 and early 2022 is was a year of very successful events local and internationally. Our goals to support our special needs communities in Mexico, Colombia and the US was achieved thanks to the generosity of many. I was very fortunate to be the sponsor for many artists in the special needs community by providing financial support in collaboration with Helen Woo. Most of 30 vulnerable families received a wheelchair and more than 20 emerging artists received scholarships to continue their education in the arts. Read more>>

Sam Matthews | School Director

Growing up a Suzuki violin kid, every Saturday morning my parents would take me to an old two-story yellow house near the university campus, where I would have group classes, private lessons, etc. It was a weekend ritual, which like so many things we do regularly, begins to define who we are. Every semester we would have marathon recitals and many of us would attend music summer camps, expanding our network of Suzuki friends. Read more>>

Liz Lydic | Theatre ‘Person’ and Writer

Continuing to connect theatres together and share common issues through my website, California Community Theatre, has been meaningful to me because one of the hardest things about doing something like leading a small arts organization is feeling alone or isolated. By bringing people together to bounce ideas off one another (either via surveys, article responses, or in-person conferences), inspiration can grow or re-grow, and a community can be created. Read more>>

Jody L. Miller | Equine Photographer

I find that my philanthropy work are the most meaningful projects- it’s my opportunity to give back to the Horse Community and to those that work so hard to save neglected and abandoned horses. I donate a portion of the proceeds from these various organizations and try and tell the story of the animal through my images. Each horse has a story of how it ended up at an animal rescue: each horse reflects that story in it’s eyes and through my soulful photography and can relay that feeling to the viewer. In turn, I get to offer these emotional images and give back again financially to those facilities. To date, my most emotional photos of rescues have been from the Circle L Animal Sanctuary. Read more>>

Corta Ishman | Creator

One of my most meaningful projects would be the short film titles Ghost Pains: The Monster Within. This film is powerful because it gives a snippet into my life growing up. It’s like a introduction to who I Am. The film was created to also help the viewers who may have went through the same situations I have been through from bullying, thoughts of suicide, molestation, and being mistreated. Read more>>