Every once in a while we have the good fortune of working on a project that we feel truly matters, a project that we’ll still be thinking about years from now. Maybe even something we can imagine telling our grandkids about – surely you’ve had moments like that where something you did in your professional life really mattered?

Cynthia Perez

From navigating the intricacies of cultural expectations to confronting the realities of borders that separate us, our journey is filled with both obstacles and triumphs. This article delves into the various forms of challenges we face as Adelitas,
particularly when our team finds itself on the “wrong” side of the border, and how these experiences shape our
identity and strengthen our resolve.
We work diligently to preserve our traditions; however, it is disheartening that some view them as mere trends, Read more>>

Malik Myers

For Lila is by far the most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on. The story follows a Mexican-American immigration officer who is relieved of duty and goes on a vigilante mission to save a migrant girl from her captors. The script was written by my business partner and close friend, Kaitron Bryant, under the pen name ‘Tron’s Madness.’ He’s the founder of Croatan Productions and we’ve been working together since we met at New York Film Academy in 2023. Kaitron produced my first film which was The Guild and he was an associate producer on my second, Don’t Read My Diary. The Guild was a very ambitious John Wick-inspired action thriller. Don’t Read My Diary was a much more intimate psychological thriller. After building a strong working relationship with Kaitron, he presented me with the script for For Lila. Read more>>

Jacob James

As of writing this, the most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my last full length record, “I Hope You’re Happy”. It’s a stranger entry to my catalogue, introducing harsher tones and more atmospheric elements than my usual approach to writing and recording. More so though, I feel the album has somewhat of a prophetic nature to it. Rather it’s a coincidence or something I wished into the universe by my own actions and revelations is still unclear to me, but it’s a record about the futility of revenge and cutting ties with the people that don’t serve you and your happiness. I’ve had a lot of people dragging me down in my personal life and I think that particular body of work was a premonition when I revisit a lot of the lyrical content in performing the songs and otherwise. Read more>>

Bedon Lancaster

Definitely my new album “i love you i’ll die” which releases March 21, 2025. This is my debut project as a producer and mixer, and it marks the first time I ever truly pushed myself to record and produce my own music and make it my own way. I had a lot of help though from my dear and friend and collaborator Ryan Savage. Ryan helped me finish writing a lot of the lyrics, and helped me produce about half the record. He also helped me finish mixing at the very end. Read more>>

Yujie “logan” Luo

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my short film, “Contact.” Initially, I was always an observer in the world of screenwriting, but this project pushed me to step out of the sidelines and fully embrace my own voice.

“Contact” was inspired by a close friend and tells the story of a cross-dresser on a journey of self-discovery after meeting an online friend. As I developed the script, I found myself confronting my own fears and judgments—realizing that the protagonist’s struggles mirrored my personal battles with self-acceptance and the pressure of societal norms. I even recognized that I was often harshly judging myself, afraid of being labeled as “strange.” Read more>>

Brian Woods

I released my debut album “Wanderings” last year on the GRAMMY-winning Navona label, and I can safely say this project was the most meaningful of my career thus far. I was particularly inspired by the struggles of the outsider, motivated by the war in Ukraine but also the history of artists without a home in classical music. Frédéric Chopin is an easy example of a “homeless” composer, having fled his native Poland as a child and frequently writing that his greatest regret in life was his inability to return home. The bulk of the album was made up of Chopin’s Ballades, alongside works by women composers. Read more>>

Felipe Luz

“Men are Trash and I’m a Raccoon” is a solo show I wrote, produced, and performed. I created this semiautobiographical exploration of love, sex, and self-discovery in 2023, at Ohio University, where I earned my Acting MFA. As a Queer Brazilian artist, I’ve always felt misplaced in casting processes – whether they were in an educational or professional setting. There is a lot of great work out there – but not everything fully resonates with my subjectivity. Looking for material that represented me, especially, I’ve found stories that were either too heteronormative, eurocentric, or simply didn’t speak to my artistic sensibilities. So I decided it was up to me to create something that showcased and challenged my artistry. Read more>>

Ashley Gianni

Here’s a little about my mission as a filmmaker and why my most recent directorial debut short film and social impact campaign “Sorority” has been the most meaningful project I’ve worked on….

Ashley Gianni is an award-winning actor, writer, producer, and founder of Pizza Bagel Pictures LLC, a female LGBTQ+ production company focused on telling impactful stories that celebrate the LGBTQ+ and female experience. As an independent filmmaker, Ashley’s mission is to hire, inspire, and empower fellow queer & female filmmakers. She believes deeply in the transformative power of storytelling and aims to utilize her films to create social change, provide healing, and offer community to anyone in need. Read more>>

Kevin Figueroa

Currently, the most meaningful project I am working on is my feature-length documentary, Beyond Darkness: The Journey of a Goalball Champion. This film follows Manuel Puma as he prepares for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, California, and it shines a light on Goalball—a Paralympic sport that is well-known within the disabled community yet remains largely unknown to the wider public. I am incredibly grateful to have an amazing team by my side, including my Line Producer, Grace Pomilla, and my Producer and Composer, Aidan Fuller. Their dedication, creativity, and hard work have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. Read more>>

Caleb Hansford

Music has always been my anchor—through every high and low, it has been my constant. Over the years, I’ve not only found success in it but have also been recognized for my contributions, being nominated as a voting member of the Recording Academy in 2023. I’ve had the privilege of working with major brands like Splice and Adidas, collaborating with Time Magazine honorees, industry-leading artists, and the founders of major TV networks—relationships that have grown beyond business into genuine friendships. Read more>>

Flash Reneau

One of my most meaningful events to date was when I was able to DJ 2 days at the Special Olympics.in Los Angeles, CA. It was a cool experience and a tremendous honor to be able to what I do and bring joy to the athletes and onlookers. After my sets, it was flattering to be asked if they can take take photos with me. Read more>>

Rob Janos

Over my 20 years performing and working in the music industry, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some of the most talented men and women who have constantly inspired me, both on-stage and in the studio. I’ve seen success with various bands and released half a dozen records along the way, but in 2018 I was on my own for the first time. I dealt with a great deal of depression and self doubt as I was faced with the decision to continue on my journey alone or to give up on music all together. Because of the support of my wife and friends, I worked up the courage to enter the studio and begin work on my first solo album, “Expatriate”. Read more>>

Josie Lechtenberg

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is in the works right now. I am starting a podcast called, “The Witness Podcast.” It is a conversationalist style podcast chatting with people all around the world about their story and how God has shown up throughout their life. I never would have imagined I’d be one to start a podcast, but I know it’s what God has put on my heart to do. I have always been driven to overcome obstacles life has thrown my way. It started financially. I went to university and obtained my bachelors in Mechanical Engineering as a first generation college graduate. It wasn’t easy but I was determined to carve a path for my life to elevate my lifestyle from how I grew up. Read more>>

Jason Reed

All of the most meaningful work in my career has been centered around the stories and voices of young people. After completing my MFA degree I worked for a year in Albuquerque, New Mexico as part of Americorps (think Peace Corps but in the U.S.). My job was to work in community arts, so that meant one day I was at a low-income senior center and the next I was facilitating after school arts projects with youth at a Native American charter academy. It was during Americorps, particularly in projects working with youth, that I learned how to listen. This experience informed my collaboration with a long time friend and public school teacher Ryan Sprott in our founding of Borderland Collective, an arts and education project that utilizes collaboration between artists, educators, youth, and community members to build space for exchange and dialogue. Read more>>

Leslie Ihde

My primary project has been the the inquiry into the parallels between creative inspiration and spiritual inspiration. As I have pursued this decades long exploration, the relationship between the two has become clearer and clearer. In fact, I no longer consider them separate, but many new lines of inquiry have manifested, like the paths of mountain streams descending from some skyline pool. I have worked to describe the steps of the creative process as I have experienced them. I then inquire into each of these steps as they have unfolded for me. Read more>>

Tyshawn Jones

I would say the most meaningful project I have worked on is the one I am working on currently because it is so creative. I feel at peace and I feel like I’m able to just be myself I didn’t really feel that way with most of my previous music. Ever since working on this project I worked with countless of people that see my vision and it makes me happy. Read more>>

Laurel Izard

I feel the the art quilts I have made over the past five years carry meaning, and making work that speaks to others about topics important to me is a reason I went from making small quirky embroidered pieces to much larger works in the form of quilts. Read more>>

Mxxnsamurai

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is “CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT A VIBE.” Since 2024, I’ve been pouring my heart and soul into this project, recording all the tracks in an empty parking lot. I poured my heart and energy into every note, striving to capture my emotions in the music. Each song is intentionally short because I love the art of crafting concise, impactful tunes. Read more>>

Adam Forman

About a year ago I started a non-profit organization with my friend Alex Chang called Improv Spaces. It’s been a major focus for me, and not something I ever saw myself doing.

I moved to Upstate New York from California a few years ago and didn’t really know anyone in the area (Saratoga/Capital Region). So, I started meeting up with musicians in hopes of forming a band/getting gigs etc. I was mainly meeting people who wanted to form cover bands, which is not something I had too much interest in. Eventually, I met Alex who was using studio space in the basement of Saratoga Arts (local arts center) to practice her electric harp and also meet musicians.  Read more>>

Sarah Harrington

The most rewarding project I’ve ever undertaken was creating my own microschool. With over a decade of teaching experience, I often felt a deep desire to do more but couldn’t break free from my current setting. There were times I felt overlooked and unfulfilled, and then a transformative experience made me realize the true potential of education. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were sent home, and I found myself homeschooling my 8-month-old son along with my 4- and 5-year-old niece and nephew. Our mornings were spent working through their school packets, and the afternoons were filled with field trips. I remember thinking, “This is how education should be!” Read more>>

Violet Bea

In 2021 I worked with my mentor Nimish Vohra on a project that illustrated the Gita Govinda, a 12th century poem by Jayadeva that depicts the erotic love of Radha and Krishna. This involved understanding the poetry in various language translations and learning the symbolism in the Pattachitra art style. I created 13 folios depicting the song and story. We collaborated with artisans at Collective Craft in Orissa and they developed painted folios based off of our layouts. It was really meaningful to develop my connection to the character of Krishna. Krishna who is loved by all, the protector, but who has endless mischief and playfulness. Read more>>

Nirvanda Simm-smith

In 2020, I decided to write a Mother’s Day song and dedicate it to my mother.

I discussed this idea with my then boyfriend at the time, who is well versed in archaic African languages… After discussing the idea with him, he made a suggestion: to use a refrain from an old traditional song that’s actually a prayer, for my chorus….

“Wara mi, mama yoko da, wara mi Iya yoko da….”
This translates to “feed me mama, sit me on your lap…” Read more>>

Vale Grille

One of the most meaningful and fulfilling projects of my career has been founding my own dance and training company, Núcleo. From the very beginning, my greatest passions in dance have been street styles and the stage—the lights, the energy, the performance. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to train in both areas simultaneously, studying foundational street styles while also taking choreography-focused performance classes. This dual approach shaped my artistic essence and movement language. Read more>>

Madelyn Houser

In 2015, I founded my Instagram platform, The Blonde & The Bay, out of sheer desire to create a separate space online where I could freely share photographs of my horse without bombarding my non-equestrian friends. My online journey steadily began to blossom as I candidly shared my adventures as a dressage rider. From writing about the achievements earned between my partnership with my heart-horse, Leah, to documenting the heartbreaking lows we encounter in this specific world, to highlighting my daily life with the horses, The Blonde & The Bay completely transformed into a vibrant community of equestrians from around the world. Read more>>

Steven Foster

In the timeline of the bands history, our album “Aphrodesia” was the most impactful record we released due to the production quality and songwriting. Of course, the most meaningful project is always the last one, and that feeling carries over to the next one! Currently we are practicing for live performances in 2025. Read more>>

Emily Alice Wilson

I’m producing two documentaries right now. One, Transcendence, is currently in distribution and premiered at the Out On Film 2024 Festival. Transcendence is the story of seven atlanta based transgender individuals and their journey to self discovery. This project is really important to me because the interviewees are my close friends who deserve to have their voices heard and validated. One of my best friends, Alice, transitioned while I was living abroad, so this project has been a really big part of us reconnecting and getting to know her better as her true self. Read more>>

Samantha Hahn

In addition to the commercial work I love, I felt compelled to explore my own interests and ideas. Most recently, I started Art Basil: Memories and Meals, Illustrated
A palette- and palate-expanding exploration of recipes and the people behind them

In each edition, a notable person in media, food, or the arts shares a favorite recipe (illustrated by me), its significance, and related treasured memories. I have featured a variety of amazing people from makeup mogul Bobbi Brown to award winning cookbook author Kat Liu. Read more>>