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.

Radikal Creasy-Rose

The most meaningful project in the short history of Queering S*x by far was my interview with Ali Hendry from Diva Magazine. We had both been watching a livestream by a colleague, and Ali reached out to me asking to book a live feed of our own to discuss my work. What caught my attention was that she wasn’t interested in selling me anything, nor was she asking about the marketing side of my job, which is what most folks find interesting because it can be lucrative. Ali was curious about why I do what I do, and how I got here. Read more>>

Alison Meaney

My Tamarindo Mixed media project means a lot to me because it’s something I thought about tackling for years. I miraculously found myself with the time, the inclination and the funds to execute the project at the high level I envisioned; seamlessly combining painting and mosaic together for one continuous, highly textured image. Read more>>

Toni Gallo

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was a show I received a grant for called I Can Feel the Truth Somewhere Over There / Here Beyond Further. It was less of a moment and more of a movement.

I had introduced and been meditating and practicing mindfulness and yoga for a while and like many substantial things in life change isn’t instantaneous, there are deep subtleties that build over time. I was applying for a grant. I realized that many of the obstacles that I had in life were due to a lack of presence and this was no different with my art practice. I had always made art and I knew I always would but it didn’t always feel really great. I had anxiety around making work a lot of the time. Read more>>

Kat Harrison

It’s always been my dream to publish a book. When you write and edit professionally, it’s so very different than pursuing creative projects outside of a paycheck — sometimes you luck out and collaborate on something meaningful, but most of the time there is a level of detachment that comes with the work. But a book? That’s all mine. I always thought I’d write my memoir first, but children’s picture books was the first genre I tackled. Read more>>

Genevieve Shi

Starring alongside Emmy Award winning actor Armand Assante in my feature film debut DON Q – inspired by the spanish novel Don Quixote and directed by Claudio Bellante. It tells a story of longtime Little Italy resident DON Q, feeding off decades of delusion and sets out to reclaim the neighborhood and its fleeting values. My character Li Ming is a Chinese restaurant waitress who has a naive overview of life and is romantically entangled with a vicious Chinese mafia boss. Through a small encounter with Don Q (Armand’s character), she sees the kindness in him and gives him a glimpse of light and purity in this world to pursue. Read more>>

Gordon Holliday

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on started in 2019, when I was watching the Hidden Colors documentary series. That series expanded my entire worldview — it was the first time I deeply understood the presence and legacy of the Black diaspora in Asia. That knowledge lit a fire in me. It made me look at history differently and sparked a curiosity that’s been fueling my creative direction ever since.  Read more>>

Brandy Menefee

I was sitting in a mud hut in a remote African village using a Swahili translator to interview strangers about struggle and suicide – and I was loving it. That’s when I realized: This is my lane.

In that moment, my mind flashed back to my most soul-fulfilling jobs sprinkled throughout my documentary TV career: working undercover on a true crime series helping trauma survivors share their harrowing lived experiences. Interviewing dozens of military veterans about their most traumatic days in combat and struggles with re-entry. Helping women share their personal experiences with miscarriage and baby loss. Profiling a college community in mourning. Read more>>

Eric Satterfield

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is “Heavy;” a play that I had the privilege of writing with my friend and collaborator, Hazel McIntire. This play resonates with me because it explores themes I relate to—body image, self-worth, trauma, and the struggle to find love and acceptance in a world that often refuses to see you fully. The process of writing “Heavy” pushed me to be more vulnerable than ever before, confronting my own experiences while crafting characters who reflect the complexities of self-acceptance. Read more>>

Susan Miyagi McCormac

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my website, JapanCulture-NYC.com. I launched the website in 2011, so it’s an ongoing meaningful project. JapanCultureNYC is an English-language resource for All Things Japanese in New York City, from promoting Japanese-related to events such as restaurant openings, sake tastings, film festivals, book signings to highlighting the people and organizations that make the Japanese community active and vibrant. Back when blogging first became a thing, I started to write about my life in New York City. It wasn’t specifically about Japanese things or about being half-Japanese (which I am), but occasionally I would mention that I went to a lecture or a film screening at Japan Society. Read more>>

Elena Páez Puente

I’ve had the privilege of working on several projects that mean a great deal to me. Karen Cassal’s “Hear Me Out” provided my first opportunity to lead a project outside of film school. I couldn’t imagine a better introduction to the process, due in large part to her graceful and poised approach to direction. She had a clear vision for the film, which was demonstrated daily in both the time leading up to the shoot and during the shoot itself. Her preparation was superb, and she provided those involved with ample resources as she expertly engaged with the heavy subject matter of the film. Her heart and dedication were on full display throughout. Read more>>

Lydia Dye

The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on, was when I hosted my very first Jam session in Manhattan. I believe it was 2023, and I took a leap of faith to create an event that was bigger than I thought it would be. I knew that I wanted to create a safe space for musicians, singers, and rappers to exchange musical ideas; I knew that would result in us creating masterpieces together and that it would leave room for future collaborations. Read more>>

Diletta Guglielmi

This past year, I had the incredible opportunity to work on several truly special projects. One of my absolute favorites was the short film “Salvation is Within You!”, directed by the talented duo of Luke Simboli and Dylan Springer, and produced by Jake Metzger, Ohia Morrison, and once again, Luke Simboli. Luke truly poured his heart and soul into this film. Read more>>

Cat Ridgeway

The album I’m about to release, ‘Sprinter,’ is by far the most meaningful work I’ve ever created. I wrote the title track for a friend of mine who lost her battle with mental health. Before that song came out earlier this year, I’d never released anything that explored topics of that depth before… but doing so has completely changed my relationship to my art. The connection I’ve experienced talking to folks after shows has been the most incredible thing I think I’ve ever experienced as a songwriter. I’ve even had the honor of partnering up with a suicide prevention organization called Find Your Anchor because of this song as well, and I’ve already been able to tangibly see how it’s helping people. All of this has brought a whole new level of purpose to songwriting and storytelling for me. Read more>>

Austin Reynolds

Upon entering my first semester as a graduate student, my artwork often fell into the lines of reappropriating traditional art styles such as the old masters. Themes included the renaissance, baroque, and neoclassical movements, however, I realized I wanted my work to become more personal and reintegrate itself into historical context related to my African-American identity. Before this educational journey, I only worked in oil paint on two-dimensional surfaces, but I thankfully have stepped into sculpture through welding. My series of ARKS features four boats, with two completed. Read more>>

George Gant

The most meaningful project for me has to be by comic strip Beware of Toddler. Not only is it my most popular project to date, it is the most personal.

The comic began as a loose re-telling of my own experiences as a stay-at-home dad. In fact, it was directly inspired from a real life activity. A few days before I drew the first comic, I found myself playing a game of hide-and-seek with my then two-year-old daughter. I thought I’d be clever by hiding in a closet that I was sure she wouldn’t find me in. I was wrong–she made a beeline directly for me. I thought it was hilarious and drew it into a comic strip and posted it to social media. Read more>>

Kristina Haddad

I’ve had a few! But there are three that are very meaningful to me and keep me tethered to my art. One is my original play called Miss Ethnic Non Specific. The show explored my own journey to find identity and self-acceptance, and deals with topics like race, heritage, misogyny, trying to fit into the molds of others…and then shattering them into a million pieces. I am finally comfortable with who I am and want to share my journey of pain, pursuit of the Hollywood dream, growth, humor and ultimately, love. Miss Ethnic Non-Specific was first created as a stage play and was performed to sold out audiences in Portland, Oregon. Read more>>

Emily Slaubuagh

I recently started a program I call “Music Together” where I take my microphone, amp, guitar, and some simple percussion instruments to assisted living facilities and play an interactive show for some of the residents. I play a few songs to get them warmed up, and then play a couple from my phone we can all dance to together. After that I hand out wood blocks and egg shakers to everyone so they can play along with the next few songs. The participation of each resident differs a lot. Some are really interested in playing an egg shaker and some just flat out tell me no thank you. I’ve had residents be excited about playing an instrument at the beginning, but then forget it’s in their hand just a couple minutes later. Read more>>

Kimberley Parrales

One of the most meaningful projects I have worked on is my podcast “Chisme that Matters”.
Like a lot of people, I had a lot of free time during the pandemic in 2020 so I decided to start a podcast. I have always loved to meet people and hear their stories so I thought it would be fun to create a space where I can have these chats and share it with the world. Read more>>

Natalie Kılıç

I’m not a stranger to grief and loss, but that year it kept sucker punching me in the gut to the point I wasn’t sure I would ever get up. Whenever I thought I saw the light, something would be there to knock me back down again, as though to tell me I should stay at rock bottom. It didn’t stop at death– everything in my life turned upside down in a way I never imagined. All I could do was sit in the pain, and write. Read more>>

Shellie Lonchiek Rabon

The most meaningful project I have worked on is the non-profit I started back in 2008. I have always been a creative type and wanted to adopt at some point in my life. After my first son was born, I started volunteering my time at a group home that housed youth that were abused, abandoned or neglected. From there Calebs Dragonfly Dreams was started. Read more>>

Arthur Haywood

My paintings for public schools show students immersed in the magical world of stories. My life-size paintings make these stories appear real. There are several articles that show a connection between students reading for pleasure and their success in their other studies. Showing the world of stories visually encourages students, who may not even already be reading a lot, to want to pick up a book and dive into a fantasy story. Furthermore, creating paintings that celebrate the wonder of learning among multicultural students, embraces the pursuit of education as a unifying link among students from very diverse cultural backgrounds. Read more>>

Riley Collins

My second novel is a middle-grades adventure in a radioactive swamp filled with slimy yet lovable characters. The main character (Blip, a girl with a permanent case of bad luck) originated from a writing exercise in my writing group. Ever since, Blip’s character has maintained a foothold in my imagination!

Fast forward a few years later, I had just finished my debut novel, but Blip’s story stayed on my radar, waiting for the right time. Disconnected was my first novel, a YA SciFi story dealing with bleak issues (black market organ trading, banned books, choices and consequences, and the dark side of the internet). Subsequently, once that novel was released, I found myself in the mood for a lighter variation of the dystopian genre. Read more>>

Maya Kay

My most meaning full project that I’ve worked on is my latest and first ever solo rnb album “Heart of the Bay” that just released this year on February 14th for Valentine’s Day! This album means a lot to me because it’s been something I been wanting to do for a few years now. I have sang in the past for others but never really had a lot of my own solo tracks. A lot of my fans and supporters have been asking when I will drop solo music so I decided to this year and it has been such a success! I worked side by side with Joseph Kay on this album and I am so thankful for his help and guidance. Read more>>

Slime Ring

I’m in the midst of releasing a new EP! It’s called Slime Ring EP2 and I’m very happy with how it’s turned out. I felt like this is my most meaningful so far because I took on the responsibility of engineering and mixing my own music instead of working in a traditional studio environment. While there’s no shortage of bedroom producers in the world I feel like what sets this apart is my, admittedly, idiosyncratic style of songwriting. Most of the songs on this record came from samples I took of myself playing guitar or synth by myself and crafting a world around them. I take a lot of inspiration from video game soundtracks like Evergrace and Ico alongside artists like Palm and Cornelius. Yune Pinku is a dance/drum n bass/garage-y artist I’ve been super into as well. The drums on her Bluff EP. Read more>>

Tina Deng

Food has always been a powerful medium for storytelling, evoking emotions, nostalgia, and personal identity. Five years ago, I embarked on a journey to transform food into wearable art. Among all my creations, my Cantonese Traditional Food Series holds the deepest meaning for me.

I was born and raised in Guangdong, China, where food is not just a necessity—it is a source of pride, a cultural symbol, and a way of life. Whenever I think of my hometown, the first thing that comes to mind is its rich culinary heritage. Unlike Western pastries like macarons and cupcakes, which are frequently romanticized in fashion and accessories, traditional Cantonese dim sum has rarely been represented in wearable art. Read more>>

Sean Carney

A few months ago my family and I had the chance to visit the Saratoga Automobile Museum. I found the cars to be inspiring and the artworks that accompanied them as well. It was then that I decided to depart from my cityscapes for a while and create a series of paintings focusing on Iconic Automobiles. I will be exhibiting my Automobile paintings this July at the Barsky Gallery in Hoboken New Jersey. Read more>>

Sandra Martins

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on so far is the book series I both wrote and illustrated, The Adventures of Sasha & Flint. As a mother and children’s book illustrator, I have the unique privilege of bringing to life scenes that inspire me. My daughter is the heart of my creative inspiration, and as a passionate storyteller, I wanted to craft little tales based on her adventures and personal anecdotes. While these stories are rooted in her experiences, I also aimed to make them relatable for all children. The underlying theme I wanted to convey was one of friendship, so I introduced Flint, a fox (my favorite animal!), who accompanies Sasha on each of her journeys. Read more>>

Joslyn Rose Lyons

Success is light, seeking it, shaping it, and letting it spill into the world in a way that moves people. It’s not about chasing something outside yourself but refining what’s already within, making space for it to glow in its own time. The most powerful kind of success lingers. It’s the afterimage of something honest, something beautiful, something true. Read more>>

Christopher Spinney

Not long after I graduated from college, I rigorously practiced Buddhism at a Rinzai Zen monastery in Japan. We spent much of our time there meditating, both sitting and otherwise. Many of the people living at the temple had been practicing with the teacher there for many years and even decades. My experiences during that time continue to exert a profound influence on my daily life and, furthermore, are foundational to understanding the story of my life on this planet. At the same time, I find it important to note that my younger brother died in a tragic accident less than a year after I had departed the temple. Read more>>

Harley Langberg

One of the more meaningful projects I worked on is when I was invited by my daughter’s teachers to teach food art at her school to her and her classmates. The kids all were so eager to learn how to create food art and did so well and expressed so much creativity. It means a lot to me to see young kids be interested in art and be able to express their creativity. Read more>>

Mykyta Ovsiannikov

Recently, I finished working on a project I had been involved with for 2 years. It consists of 4 series of posters about cities in Ukraine. The idea was to capture the identity of these cities through fragments I found: whether it be facade decorations, fortifications, mosaics, stained glass, architecture, or graffiti. The work was done using screen printing technique. As a visual solution, I chose graphic collage, thus intersecting with the perception of the city as layers of frozen time with their artifacts. The motive behind the creation of this project was the Russian aggression against my country and the destruction of my hometown, as well as the gradual destruction of other cities in Ukraine. Read more>>

Sitong Ca0

Two projects come to mind that hold deep meaning for me in very different ways—Blooming and Anshan Diaries.

Blooming is a tiny, one-minute short, but it’s a pure passion project. My friend and I shot it in just two days, and it was an experiment in storytelling, kind of like stop-motion but with a quirky, playful energy. It was the first time I did everything myself—writing, directing, producing, editing, and even composing the score. It’s deeply personal, capturing my own emotions in a raw and unfiltered way. There was something incredibly liberating about working on a small-scale project with no external expectations—just creativity for the sake of creativity. Read more>>

Rice Omary

I had a brief period where I was intensely into jazz, blues, bluegrass, and country. I even had a tiny stint at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where I met luminaries like Wynton Marsalis and Phil Schaap. I loved jazz, especially, because it was so dynamic, and yet within its myriad intricacies and its nuance and depth, it remained incredibly digestible. I as a creative endeavor to such aims. Read more>>

Chris Farah

The magic of being a creative artist is the process of evolving and opening up to new experiences, people, mediums and stories. It’s challenging to let go of the control you’d like to have, desperately wanting one project to go smoothly, or wanting one person or one avenue to work out exactly how you envisioned. It sometimes will but mostly it won’t, and holding space for the discomfort that comes is the meditative part of this work. It’s impossible to know how anything will go, and so to trust the process, to trust your work ethic and soul, and move through the world in a state of openness is at it’s core, all you can do. Read more>>

Becky Gardner

I’m in the midst of an extremely meaningful project right now, called The Wellspring. The Wellspring was born out of seasons of stillness—some chosen, some forced. In 2020, the world shrank. Isolation became the norm, and connection felt like something distant, almost forgotten. But for me, that solitude wasn’t new. Years earlier, a lymphoma diagnosis had already pressed pause on my life, forcing me to slow down, to sit with my own story in ways I never had before. There’s something about facing mortality that makes you pay closer attention—to the quiet moments, to the stories we carry, to the ones we have yet to tell. Read more>>