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.

Annika Wong

I have been really fortunate in that I have been involved in a number of projects that have been important to me over the years. One of the most meaningful projects I have been involved in was my personal dance narrative that was devised and created over the course of a year. It was a project that I had been envisioning for a long time, and since its inception we have had the opportunity to perform it at two different venues, with hopefully more to come! This project was especially meaningful because I was able to collaborate with some of my closest friends on it – not only choreographically, but also on overall design and costuming. The show, in its essence, is about love, and to create a show about love and transience with my closest friends was truly special, and I hope to continue to work on projects like this. Read more>>

Sophia Mayer Pliner

The most meaningful project I just worked on which was Periodical. It is an eye-opening documentary that examines science, politics, and mystery of the menstrual cycle, through the experiences of doctors, athletes, movie stars, journalists, activists, and everyday people. It was a MSNBC project directed by Lina Plioplyte. This movie really helps answer all those questions and helps men know more about what ladies go through. Super informative and educational, that is why I am proud and means a lot to have been cast a role in this documentary. Read more>>

Vandreena Cotton-Meeks

There have been two meaningful projects that I’ve worked on over the years that have connected me to the community while giving back. The first was the East Atlanta Santafest which took place for over a decade in the East Atlanta Village. For 2 days every December, I would photograph families (and their rambunctious pets) in a holiday setting as they told Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Not only was it a joy to see the families grow over the years (I saw some kids go from scared 3-year-olds to confident teenagers), but it also gave back to the community. Read more>>

Sandra Wong Orloff

I have always been a creative person. I did not spend much on the idea of being a professional creative person – the two could feel at odds at times. I love being an artist/maker, it is really a challenge to make a living being an artist. So while I have endeavored to pursue artistic practice, I have had to find other ways to make a living (graphic and web design, book keeping, and other things). I have been making art for a long time. there was a period, after my receiving my MFA, that I worked and showed pretty consistently. Then I took a break from pursuing being a professional artist, raised a son and worked on a long project, a graphic novel that is mostly done but now on hold. Read more>>

Shengluo Zhang

Many of the film projects I’ve been working on have their stories roots in personal narratives, drawing inspiration from the tumultuous world I live in and the experiences that have shaped my life. These profound thoughts and complex emotions have consistently found their way into my artistic creations, making them deeply meaningful to me. One of the most significant projects I’ve had the privilege to work on is “Restless is the Night,” a short animated film directed by the talented duo of Xiaoxue Meng and Yuehan Tan, with me collaborating as the producer. This 2D narrative animation explores the journeys of two women from different generations as they strive to seize control of their lives. The film’s narrative and artistic excellence led to its selection and prestigious New York premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023, where our team, remarkably, stood as the youngest entrants in the Short Animation Program. Read more>>

Michelle Talibah

There have been several meaningful projects. One that immediately comes to mind is the opportunity to curate a sequence of shows at at national airport. The site allowed for the presentation of large-scale works that are often excluded due to scale. In addition, the exhibitions were seen by international viewers as they traveled through the airport. It was an important venue for artists to show their work. Read more>>

Utako Toyama

Since I have worked with musicians from more than 100 different countries to promote diversity, equity, and world peace, your readers may be interested in what I learned from working with musicians around the world even though it’s not a prior job and I still do the same thing. I recently became the first Hiroshima award recipient in music in the international category and collaborated with Hiroshima City, Mayors for Peace, and Berklee Global Jazz, so we can talk about that as well if you are interested. Read more>>

Catherine Kirkland

About the Freedom Collection Collaboration It is my firm belief that things happen for a reason. That opportunities are presented to us in ways that guide us, and that we make connections that help us achieve our goals. I believe that meeting Felipe Roberson-Torrech was one such occasion. Read more>>

Sara Barone

I’ve just finished up writing the original score for Planet Earth III alongside Hans Zimmer and Jacob Shea. It’s been a massive privilege to be a part of this landmark series narrated by David Attenborough, which has been 5 years in the making. It was an immensely fulfilling experience to create the music for this 8-part series which uses cutting-edge filmmaking technology to tell the stories of many of the world’s most remarkable species and demonstrate the new challenges they face in our modern world. We had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of musicians and orchestras from various parts of the world to help bring the score to life. Read more>>

Kelly Palencia

I started my business specifically to do something meaningful. As a creative person living in a foreign country, I felt the need to connect with other creatives, and that is how it all started. Handmade in Norway is a business that has been built around my wish to support creatives. This is a business with humble origins. grown from a seed planted in 2016 when I started a Facebook group. I wanted to find creative people in Norway. I knew that I needed a network, and hoped that others also wanted the same. They did. The network grew faster than I could possibly have imagined, and now after 6 years, we have over 4200 members. We all live in Norway, we are all creative, and we all love handmade products. Read more>>