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.

Maxine Rödiger

Since I came to Los Angeles my number one passion has been to bring people together and to create in a team. I’ve always had lots of ideas and got so excited about them that I immediately started planning and dreaming about what they could eventually turn into. I absolutely love discussing goals and dreams with the people around me who inspire me. Read more>>

Yancy Perez

A meaningful project I’ve worked on recently was a TV pilot I co created with Jazzy Hawley. The TV show is called ‘Edge of the Lot’ and it is such a special show. We shot in Jazzy Hawley’s hometown Mariposa, California. The show follows the town of ‘Mayfield’ inspired by Mariposa and all of the high schoolers in it. Inspired by the comedy styles of Seth Rogen and Tina Fey it is a comedic series with real moments of life lessons through your teenage years. Read more>>

Matt Barri

The most meaningful project to date is my debut EP called The Only Way Out Is Up dropping October 6th! It’s the first project where I feel like I’ve found the basis of the “Matt Barri” sound. It’s also the first project that I wrote, produced, and sang all by myself. I’m really proud of the work, but I also can’t wait for my next 2 EPs that follows. Those projects. I just as meaningful and I can’t wait for people to hear them. Read more>>

Tyler Halkett

With our team whatwedoin? our first objective is to make art that’s true to our heart. We often feel we sacrifice the amount of “likes & plays” going against what’s popular to make what we feels significant to us. I think it’s so easy to get caught up in measuring your success based on the approval of what other humans think of your work but at the end of the day, we are the ones who have to perform these songs and live with them as your legacy to the world. Read more>>

Sierra Mercer

Close to 12 years ago, I joined a poetry site dedicated to a collective of creative writers and artists. With so many genres to choose from to share stories, I chose the erotic style of poems to explore. I garnered a ton of supporters, and learned so much as a poet from that community – which served as a catalyst for my latest venture. Read more>>

Galina Semenova

The most meaningful project I’ve ever embarked upon is deeply personal and resonates with a cause close to my heart. It’s a photo project dedicated to domestic violence, titled “There is a crack … in everything, that’s how the light gets in,” inspired by Leonard Cohen’s poignant song, “Anthem.” The backstory of this project is intertwined with my own healing journey and a profound desire to transform personal pain into a beacon of hope for others. Read more>>

Bruce Poinsette

The Blacktastic Adventure interview series is the most meaningful project I’ve worked on because Oregon is full of systemic forces that leave Black Oregonians’ sense of identity and peace of mind constantly under attack. Oregon is the only state to pass Black exclusion laws (three in fact, in the mid 1800s). Read more>>

STU Kemper

I once got inspired to challenge myself and create something with alot more meaning . I had a friend who was doing a installation on mental health and i felt like this was the perfect opportunity for my art . So i sat down for for days clicking links , watching videos, talking to people and just simply learning all that i could before i put brush to canvas. I gotta say it was worth it because the new perspective i was able to gain from this was world changing . Read more>>

LA PLAYGROUND

At LA Playground, our mission is to shine a vibrant spotlight on Latino music and culture in Los Angeles. We’re a collective of Latin artists, passionate about showcasing emerging talent and fostering their artistic development. Through a series of dynamic and diverse music events, we provide a stage for these artists to share their stories, connect with audiences, and celebrate the rich tapestry of Latin music. We’re all about creating unforgettable experiences that unite our community and celebrate the Latin music scene here in LA. Read more>>

Wildy Martinez

Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to participate as one of the Speakers at the United Nations 78th Summit, representing Web3 Technology alongside 17 remarkable women. Specifically, I was part of a panel that delved into ‘The Evolution of Art and Fashion,’ where my focus was on highlighting the significance of diversity within crypto art and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Fashion. Read more>>

Sarah Barnard

After many years of creating custom works for my Interior Design clients, I founded Kale Tree, a creative studio specializing in nature-inspired home goods. Through Kale Tree, I can share my passion for nature through design. Beyond turning to nature as a source of inspiration for our prints, Kale Tree aims to use environmentally conscious production practices in manufacturing our products. Spending time in nature is a great way to support ourselves emotionally, and biophilic home decor can help create those connections to nature indoors. Read more>>

Melissa Barnes

I think my Love In Ordinary Places photo series has been one of the most meaningful photo projects of mine. Read more>>

Cortez Daniel

Some of the most meaningful projects that I have had the pleasure to be a part of have been at the Evergreen Children’s Chorale throughout the years. I started off with this company serving as the assistant director to their younger kids group called Prelude. Being a part of this group really cemented the fact that I loved working with young kids. Read more>>

Simone Cilio

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is undoubtedly “Badsville”. It was 2016. Read more>>

Athreya Ram

As an Indian immigrant living in America, I faced alienation and prejudice based on stereotypes of my culture and my skin color. Although that brought me into depression, filmmaking was my outlet to heal. I created stories displaying the consequences of hate and ignorance, and how that changes every person involved. Read more>>

Kirill Polyanskiy

Currently, Outlaw Space is the most meaningful project with which I have had the pleasure to work. Outlaw Space is a trio-quartet-quintet which blurs the line between jazz, raga, and mathematics. We consist of myself on violin, Stephen Fandrich on piano, Bill Montoleone on saxophone, Noah Colbeck on percussion and Greg Campbell on percussion. Read more>>

Elizabeth Raybee

I’ve worked on may projects that include community involvement in the construction, and sometimes in part of the design. I always enjoy including community members, or students at schools, in making murals, because it leaves a great sense of ownership and belonging once it’s finished and I’ve moved on. Read more>>

Steven Barber

My most meaningful project was the building of the Apollo 11 monument the greatest story in the history of mankind sending man to the moon. Read more>>

Eliza Day-Green

Well, there have been a couple of meaningful projects this year. The first one I have already shared–creating an Art and Cultural Retreat in Menorca. The second one was figuring out a way to make my “Hand/Mind Creative Connection” course more accessible to people who weren’t in my time zone to take the online course. Read more>>

Yi Long

One of the most significant projects I’ve undertaken was organizing and hosting my first independent solo concert in Shenzhen, China, immediately after completing my bachelor’s degree in contemporary vocal performance. This project holds a special place in my heart because it marked a significant milestone in my career and allowed me to make a positive impact on both the artistic and philanthropic fronts. Read more>>

Iyun Ashani Harrison

During the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter social unrest of 2020, I experienced an artistic crisis where I had difficulty reconciling my desire to activate through my art: ballet choreography. My challenge was making socially relevant art in a medium celebrated for upholding Europeanist traditions and providing spectacle and escapism from everyday life. I wondered about the stories we tell in ballet – fairytales and narratives that honor European monarchs. Read more>>

Sydne Horton

I am deeply grateful for the narratives I have directed so far, and while each offers something special, the two most meaningful to me presently are META and SATURDAY RITUAL. Read more>>

Hadassah Patterson

The way I’ve endeavored to live, is without wasting energy and opportunities. Read more>>

Byron Coolie

I’ve written and directed a short film called TOBI. The film is about a traumatized black man that receives a strange doll from his estranged father. Shortly, Uncanny and terrifying events occur around him and he must find a way to stop it. Read more>>

Sophie Ruiz

“Extensions of My Heart” is how I often refer to my work. Working with my hands has been a primal need ever since I was young. My mother loves gardening; and as a young child, I would spend hours playing in the soil while she tended to the plants. These hours of silence and communion with nature evolved into a strong relationship as I grew older. I channel nature when I’m creating, and for me, this is the most meaningful expression of love. Read more>>

Iris Dukatt

When choosing where to spend my time and energy as a busy creative freelancer, I’ve been given the advice: if the job can offer 2 of these 3 categories, you should take it. The categories are: creative fulfillment, money, and/or networking. In practice and in my early career, I’ve been offered a lot of jobs that give money and networking. After awhile taking these gigs I started to feel empty. Read more>>

Phillip Enkey

I’ve recently released “Comeback song” which I wrote for anyone who has experienced trauma, tragedy or heartbreak. This song hits home for me in a real personal way. When I was a young child I was in a car accident. My brother and I watched as our mom took her last breaths in the front seat. That experience has affected me my whole life. I wrote this song as an acknowledgement that the hard parts of life cannot be inevitably avoided. Read more>>

Michael Stern

The most meaningful project to date is the one just completed, a fine art coffee table book of my specialized macro plant photographs. My mother passed in February of 2022 and I was grieving. In June of 2022 I stepped back from my 43-year career as a commercial photographer and film maker. In November of 2022 I began the process of becoming a fine art photographer inspired by my heroes; Karl Blossfeldt, Irving Penn, Ansel Adams, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Victor Keppler. I’m grateful to have found out about these photographers many years ago and I’m still inspired by them today. Read more>>

Jeehye Shin

Coverup tattoos hold a special place in my heart as a tattoo artist. They’re like second chances in ink, a chance to transform something that may have once held negative memories into a beautiful and meaningful piece of art. These tattoos often symbolize personal growth, resilience, and the power of transformation. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the relief and joy in my clients’ eyes when they realize they can carry a more positive story with them, literally and figuratively, through the art I create. Read more>>

Nicole Johnson

The researchers at Harriet Tubman Effect and I have been working together for three years now. Harriet Tubman Effect is a research institute that seeks to dismantle systemic oppression through storytelling, participatory action research and social justice initiatives, Last year we began to deeply engage in our participatory action research projects through a year long learning program for sustainable social change. Throughout the year we developed a variety of meaningful projects that we are getting ready to celebrate at our end of year launch at Lincoln Center on October 24th. Read more>>

Sunyin Zhang

The most meaningful project is my thesis short film, Wild Seed. It constantly encourages me to keep working on my next milestone of independent piece. Read more>>

Matthew Gallagher

Honey and Clover: A Recipe for Disaster is a short film that I co-wrote with my wife Theresa Burkhart Gallagher and Jackie Monahan. It was directed by Andrea Maxwell and was the first-time people were filmed doing material I wrote that wasn’t stand-up comedy or storytelling. Theresa and Jackie starred in the film, and it was a difficult and wonderful experience. Read more>>

Taylor Gallegos

Meaningful projects is an interesting topic in terms of being a “Working Creative.” Meaning is something that we assign to a situation. Meaning can come in different forms for the professional creative – there’s the personal connection with a project, the weight of the concept, the creative freedom, the financial component, the opportunity prospect.. Ideal projects check all the boxes, but those aren’t the norm, especially in the beginning of one’s professional journey. As I’ve gotten farther into my career though, those projects have been happening more and more. Read more>>

Saxon Kincy

I’ve been working with kids recently and its been a really interesting time. I started developing this project because I was creating early childhood entertainment character based in an Afrofuturistic world named BooBoo Owie. Afrofuturism is a big piece in this because I believe it is important for BIPOC children to see themselves in the future. To show that they not only exist in the future but to also show that it is a joy filled place for them. Read more>>

Lillian Frances

When I think of a project that changed it all I think of a music video I created for my song Bathtub Madonna. The idea for this music video came to me one evening when I was hanging out with friends and listening to music at a party. I was a bit stoned and I suddenly had this idea: what if I did a stop motion video that made it look like I was riding around town in a claw-foot bathtub? Read more>>

Rebecca Trujillo Vest

I would say my meaningful projects are my body of work as Osmunda Music and my role as co-founder of Pandion Music Foundation. The former is my artistic output as an artist, which spans many years and has seen releases including my most recent album, “Take My Hand.” Several of my albums have been submitted for GRAMMY nominations, and this year I am under consideration for Best Alternative Music Album and the GRAMMY Best Song For Social Change Special Merit Award. Read more>>

TERESA HERBIC

When you are trying to decide which way to go in your career at an early stage—and even for those in mid-career, you may be thinking about transitioning and wondering—what’s next? Read more>>

Ros Gentle

While traveling to India many times it was hard not to become aware of the tragic child bride issue and the child ‘brothels’ in India where children as young as 5-6 years old are sold for sex. Around 2015 I became aware of a group here in the US that was helping these children recover by taking them out of these unbearable circumstances, by building orphanages, and assisting in their healing and recovery from the trauma. Read more>>

Christina Elizabeth Smith

The project that I have found the most meaningful has been the one I’ve been working on for a couple years, which is my gold series. This series feels like it chose me and is something I am meant to be putting in the world right now. Read more>>