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.

April Klein

I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people. Whether it be weddings, families, welcoming a newborn into the family, or doing headshots or branding photo shoots I have had the best time meeting some of the best people. Read more>>

Sam Purpose

The most meaningful project I have worked on is my most recent album PITMOA which stands for “Persist In The Midst Of Adversity”. Since I was a child it seems like I have always had some type of obstacle trying to discourage me from pursuing my God-given purpose. From having epilepsy to cellulitis in my leg, it can be frustrating trying to pursue goals with health problems. On top of that financial hardship caused by unexpected circumstances and loss of a baby due to miscarriage can leave on feeling like it is no hope. But for me personally, Read more>>

Sumner Brock

In 2017, I worked with 40 artists from around the world on an artwork called The Streetcar Project. For this project, each artist created a piece of street art that represented something they were passionate about. I compiled all of the pieces together and created a cohesive design that was then wrapped around a 1995 Volvo car. The inside of the car was also covered in art with knitted seat covers and a painted ceiling. Read more>>

Bailey Reber

While I love designing costumes and custom clothing for my clients, I started creating t-shirt blankets in 2022 due to a friend asking if it was something that I was capable of. These types of projects are a massive hit with my clients and everything kind of exploded from there. Not long after completing my very first t-shirt blanket, an old friend from high school reached out and asked if I would be able to create two t-shirt blankets for her using her everyday clothing that her grandma, who had recently passed, wore. Read more>>

David Jarvis

In 2015, I started conceptualizing my first big production solo album after being in full bands for so long. The execution took three years, from birth to release, working diligently with Chuck at Boltneck Studio in Ft. Worth. In that time I discovered how to use the studio to unlock the crazy things inside my head. There were creatures living within that needed to breathe. And so, beginning in 2020, I began producing. I began experimenting with every style of music I hadn’t been able to explore with previous outfits. Read more>>

Shondra Marie

I don’t believe that I have a “most meaningful” project. I have several in different stages of my life. There are actually 2 that I will share: Performing as Laura in The Glass Menagerie with Jeannette Clift George as Amanda is one of the seminal moments in my life. I had moved from Tennessee to Texas in 1993 to work with the A.D. Players. This show was the spring of 1998, about 6 months after I was married. Read more>>

Michael Daughtry

The most meaningful project that I have worked on just so happens to be my current project! The EP collection of four songs, titled Other Side, deals with the concepts of grief, loss, hope, and reinvention (each song focuses on each concept respectively). And a little over six years ago, my wife and I lost our son during childbirth. Not even a year later, we were blessed with a beautiful daughter. She was born prematurely (28 and 1/2 weeks), and only weighed a little over 2 pounds. Read more>>

Suzanne Aberg

On a random summer day in 2021 I received an email that I initially shrugged off as fake. “Would you be interested in a collaboration with Whole Foods Market”. My reaction was that this couldn’t be for real – I am a tiny pottery – had to be a mistake. I studied the email, researched the sender and wanted to believe it was actually legit, and it was! A new store was opening in my area and they wanted to offer beautiful gifts from a local artist. This was so thrilling for me – it felt like my tiny operation was being showcased on the world stage. Read more>>

Homayra Adiba

This year, 2022, I have finished an outdoor sculpture named “A Letter To My Father”(বাবার জন্য চিঠি) which was a tribute as well as a letter written to my father after his passing. I lost him this year in April and I was the only one in the room when he left. My father was very close to me and I knew that morning something was wrong. I had plans to go to Chicago which I canceled and went to see him in the old home three minutes away from my house. Read more>>

Indigo Phoenix

This year was a year of abundance. I started this year in the pursuit of my creative team and called it HUNTING season. While in search for a consistent manager, producer, and engineer I was able to create 3 singles in 3 eras. The singles reflect what I’ve gone through this year in my professional and platonic relationships. The very first single is entitled Breakthrough. Inspired by the great Mariah Carey’s Breakdown, Breakthrough is an inspiring R&B hit that motivates listeners to push past external and internal obstacles and pursue their endeavors relentlessly. Read more>>

Ross Christopher

Oh gosh, I’ve actually been fortunate to work on a bunch of meaningful projects throughout the years, but I’ll focus on the most recent one, which released on September 30th. Months ago, during the build-up to the senseless Russian invasion of Ukraine, I had this idea to write and record a collaborative album with ambient artist and Texas native, City of Dawn. We would compose an instrumental album that teetered between the complexities of war, loss, peace, and hope. Read more>>

Shandell Crutchfield

One of the most meaningful projects I worked on was a song called ” T.O.E.” Trauma over everything. I hadn’t written in about 5-6 months due to my father’s death. I remember sitting in the car which I often do for a piece of mind, I was listening to Shade45 on XM radio and a song came on called “Wakanda Man”. I had never heard the song before, but I was drawn to it, the lyrics, the beat, just everything about the song was dope! Read more>>

Andrae Green

I think that as an artist most of the time, especially for me the most meaningful things are what you are presently engaged in. So for me that would be my present body of work, “The DIVERS series”. The reasons and motivations for starting this series are many but the most important one for me was to help me resolve and heal from the passing of my Father. Read more>>

Alli Villines

A dear to my heart project I’ve been working on is the work I do at a children’s hospital. I’m going on three years as a teaching artist through Theatre Under the Stars’s Arts in Medicine program with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. I had been a teaching artist, both freelance since 2007 and with TUTS since 2017, working with elementary schools, various community organizations, theatres, and my private voice and ukulele studio, but in September 2019, I began my journey with Arts in Medicine. Read more>>

Harris Holland

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is my upcoming album, Love and Transactions. This project has been in the works for over two years. I have been collecting records and creating the concept for a while and finally have a chance to put it all into motion. Love and Transactions is the third full length project I have worked on and my second producer album. Read more>>

Lola Londonk

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is FAM Affair. FAM Affair is my fashion, art and music showcase i curate and host every year, this year will be my 4th year and I’m so excited to be able to bring together so many creatives and supporters of the arts under one roof for a night of experiences. Read more>>

Tre Floyd

The most meaningful project I’m currently working on is my upcoming production of “Atlanta Child Murders.” It means so much because basically these victims were “to poor to be victims.” Their story deserves to be heard. They were people and justice has never been served. Read more>>

Dazia Hall

Ever since God gave me The Untouched Movement, I truly thought that this was the only project that he was going to give to me. I thought God was going to give me a bunch of segments to talk to the people about and let that be it. Come to find out, I was truly wrong. Starting just this year, God allowed me to branch out and start my own MUA business called Belle’s and Blush Beauty Cosmetics. Read more>>

Sage Suede

I recently performed at Sahara Lounge and the live shows are in 4K on YouTube.com/c/sagesuede. My friend Devin Alfather performed with me; we have also done a lot of music videos together. Read more>>

Breezy Ritter

While I have had so many fun projects in the past, I recently had the opportunity to work on a paid campaign with one of my favorite brands, Topo Chico. I have been working with them off and on for the last five years or so and shooting festivals and events in trade for the access to attend them. I used that time to cultivate a relationship that I believed could be fruitful in the future, and it eventually paid off! Read more>>

Tyrell Rolle

My most meaningful moment have been my R.A.G.E. (Reaching -Above -Greater Expectations) Summer Camp for low income families and Shelter families. This summer camp is the home of the dancer’s without judgment indifferent to size, race, or gender. We believe dance develops many skills and is a way out for many youths. Our Motto is “Dance as an Exit”. Read more>>

MizzMegan and Ross Kelly

Megan: The most meaningful project of my journey has been the work I’ve done with Justin Jay and the record label Fantastic Voyage. I began my DJ career hosting our first label residency at The Dive in Houston, then grew to become an artist on the label and released my first EP. I assisted Justin in creating an online music production program which has seen multiple classes of emerging artists release records on the label over the past 2 years. Read more>>

Annick Duvivier

Definity my current collection “Summer Blooms” : Last year in July (2021), I was in the NICU with my baby girl. She stayed for a total of 110 days. There, I was continually told by the physicians and nurses that I needed to create a CONNECTION in order to have LOVE, ENERGY, and HAPPINESS. Difficult challenges provide the foundation for COURAGE and GROWTH, to have HOPE and POSITIVITY. Read more>>

Rezurrection Jones

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my upcoming final album, ‘George Jones’! It goes against the norms of musical albums by standard! Most albums today, at most, have roughly 10-12 songs on them, where this final album will have more than 30 tracks. This album is me! It highlights all the musicality that I’ve experienced in my walk of life with music. Read more>>

Jasmine Crawford

Creating The People of Interest Written by Jasmine is a passion project that I’ve been working on for about 5 years now. Initially, I would write my thoughts and things I thought were interesting and important to me, but I wanted to do more with my work. Matt Barrett linked me with a writing team at the University of Houston and I got published there first. Read more>>

Jay Lyric

That would be my most recent project called Side A. It came from a place of me becoming a father for the first time. Fatherhood will change you without you even realizing it. My son has made me take a look at who I was and who I’ve become since he was first announced to my wife and I. Read more>>

Thea Jhem Dakila

I wouldn’t call it the most meaningful, but more sentiment than my usual cathartic approach was put into a nostalgic, but deceiving, video piece called ‘Je Te Lasserai’ (‘I’ll Leave You). Read more>>

Cindy Bickman

I have been involved in Special Olympics for over 30 years – most importantly coaching, but also nationally & internationally running events and developing rules for competition. Over the years, we have created a family of coaches, judges, and gymnasts from all over the world. We meet at Special Olympics World Games every 4 years, attend competitions in between, and correspond regularly. Read more>>

Roi Bars

Our song “Fake Doors”. Leaving aside that is our most streamed song, it caused a big impact on me due to the nature of its composition. I could say that it’s a check point of how I feel with what I’ve learned on my music career so far, my achievements and the reasons I’m still here. The main topic of this song is about making decisions and that even though the road may be tough and confusing, taking risks is inevitable. Read more>>

John Cecil

We’ve been touring with our historical musical comedies to towns all over the state of Texas. It’s meaningful because we’re helping to stimulate local tourism in smaller downtown areas, meeting people from all walks of life, and connecting in a different, more personal way than we do when we perform in Austin. Read more>>