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.

Our stories are often hard to understand until folks understand our true motivations, our true drivers and the stories behind why our mission or purpose truly matters to us. We’ve asked some inspiring folks from the community to talk to us about why they do what they do and have shared some of our favorite responses below.

Angel-Lee Morgan

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far is one of my own titled “Resurgence; A Journey to Self”. This photo-series explored the experience of starting over, venturing into new territory and welcoming the unknown. I’ve always been a risk-taker, someone who believes in following their heart, but as rewarding as this can be, it isn’t an easy road. In this project I examined the feelings that accompany me on this journey of career change, Anxiety and Self-Doubt and how they can serve as catalysts for growth. Read more>>

Isaiah Collier

I’m working on few new records in the upcoming year. With various releases happening and collaborations. Read more>>

Jasiah Powers

One meaningful project I did was one on the importance/the meaning of black hair in our community,and through that I was able to bring out 200 people just to show off their hair in the comfort of other people of color and sharing that experience. Seeing everyone else’s joy and satisfaction with the project and the fact that they enjoyed being at the shoot meant everything to me,it was definitely a moment that told me to keep going.  Read more>>

Michael Chan

Meaningful Projects. I was introduced to Star Trek when I was a baby. My Mom was a fan of the show because she liked William Shatner, so we watched together. Me, I was drawn to Sulu because he looked like me. Hilariously, I was also drawn to Spock because he was intelligent and I somehow thought he was Asian, too! Trek continued to be a large part of my life growing up, and as each new series came along, I had more and more characters to look up to, like Harry Kim and Hoshi Sato. Read more>>

Kiki Rozema

What: Improve Mental Health strategies and create Empowerment through the RELATIONSHIP with self How: Our team of 7 professional women will take attendees through hands-on activities for the day. The event is like no other event in that we will separate the groups (girls 8-11, 12-15 and then women) for developmental stages and focus on het relationship with self, etc. so all our guests have the strategies and tools they will need for the rest of their lives. Support will also be offered afterwards.  Read more>>

Lee Kolarik

Meaningful projects: That’s an interesting topic or idea for me to speak on. The reason I say that is because as time passes, the meaning and motivations I’ve had with various musical endeavors of mine have changed quite a lot. I originally was just a drummer. I went to school for music and have a bachelor’s degree in music performance and jazz studies. Read more>>

Jessica Maison

The Plastic Girl series was one my greatest adventures and challenges. The sisters’ thrilling adventure about the end of our world also had to be a hopeful one about the beginning of a new world. Some people call this genre ecopunk. Some people call it a hopeful apocalypse. Whatever it is called, I do feel like that is where I am right now with climate change and the state of the world. Read more>>

Rick Suvalle

I’ve been a professional television writer for over 20 years, always with the ultimate goal of one day creating my own series. And while I’ve been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to develop series, based on other people’s I.P., like “Thomas & Friends,” I still wanted to create something wholly original. I had pitched and sold several original ideas over the years, but most of them stalled out at some stage in the development process. Read more>>

Ada Shen

For the past half year I all of a sudden found myself deep into silkscreen printing through my undergrad course at art school. For my own reasons and schedule, I had to twist and turn and switch a course form silkscreen book-making class to another more open-ended one. The bookmaking choice was made earlier, when I thought I could continue my book/zine making path as I did it before. Read more>>

Hannah Bielecki

The most meaningful art project I ever took part was during my Master of Fine Arts program. It was my final project with the name “Weltenbummler&Globetrotter” where I created over 100 little abstract artworks on canvas, painted with egg based tempera. What made this project particularly special was not just the act of painting, but the journey each piece took afterward. I decided to send these artworks with a handwritten letter (which explained the project: Read more>>

Marchelle Thurman

The most meaningful project I’ve been a part of in my career so far is the feature film ‘Black White and the Greys’, which I co-wrote, co-directed, acted in, and executive produced. It was a monumental endeavor that marked my directorial and lead acting debut in a feature film, resulting in a creation of which I am profoundly proud. Read more>>

JK WONG

I came to the USA and started a new life 8 years ago. I was having a international student visa. I had lived in SF, shot a lot with the models in the Bay Area and then I moved to Las Vegas to seek out more opportunities. After shooting for 3 years in both places I eventually moved to LA and hoping to really start my career. When I first came to LA I have no idea how to market myself. One hilarious thing was, I even print out some paper about myself and started going on street and hand those paper to people and trying to get myself some clients, that project failed of course. Read more>>

Jennylyn Caterina

As an actor, I often find myself going out for parts with a lot of fluff. Those can be fun; however, I also want to go deeper and bring characters to life that fully represent different struggles of people and society as a whole. This is why I began writing in addition to acting. My first film that I made helped me understand my adopted sister by telling our story from her perspective (with some fictional twists of course).  Read more>>

Darya Ramashka

2023 was the year of leaving the comfort zone and a year of meaningful events and collaborations. One such project is the editorial “Polina” for MALVIE magazine. This work is significant for me since it was my first collaboration, independent of anyone, and therefore named after the model, the first photo shoot created after six months of downtime. Read more>>

Teejay Drye

The most meaningful project I worked on was “With Love, Teejay” or my newest album “Man On Fire” both were written and made around a very dark time in my life. Those was the ones that not only kinda proved to myself I’m good at making music but that I should never second guess what I put my heart into. Read more>>

Valerie Rich

One of my most meaningful projects was my first solo art show. the show was curated by me and also included family members who are creative as well, they showcased there talents as vendors for the event. It was so amazing to see people viewing and purchasing the art work that spoke to them. All the stress that went with putting it together was worth it in the end. My soul was satisfied. Read more>>

China Jones

The most meaningful projects I’ve worked on are the ones I’m working on now… Bad Apple (feature film)
Red Sand (feature film) What Criminals Do (feature film) Coco & Chai (Television Series) King Henry (Television Series) . The epidemics of missing children, African American, Indigenous and other women of color around the world as well as the continued problem of police brutality and the murder of black people at the hands of police every single day in this country cannot become normalized. These are more than a subject, issue or sound bite, these are major problems that need to be addressed in every medium worldwide.  Read more>>

Mark Little

The most meaningful project I had the opportunity to be apart was working with the Generate camps by YM360 production team. Throughout the summer, we traveled across the country performing in front of over 20,000 people and serving over 600 churches across the United States, located within the states of Alabama, Georgia, New Mexico, Texas, and more. Read more>>

Omar Lopez

One meaningful project that I adventured on was my first ever YouTube video. Ever since I was young I would fantasize on being able to make my own vlogs and videos about me. I’d see people like Max Taylor who not only had a great presence but an incredible editing presence aswell and desire to be them one day. Well not too long after I decided to try it out. I wasn’t sure what I was going to film who would do it but I was dedicated to achieve this dream after letting it be a dream for so long. Read more>>

Harper Mundy

My latest release, “Kitchen Floor” is so meaningful to me. Not only is it a song I’m very proud of, it was a dream made into reality by a team of close friends and people who believe in me. The song itself was written by myself and Hannah Cole, produced by my great friend Tanner Ledford, and visually realized by Evan Carr and Preston Eggert (THIS2). Read more>>

Miku Hirayama

I am so lucky and grateful because I have worked with companies, groups, and people who are wonderful and so meaningful to me. But if I will choose one I would like to say an All-Asian female cabaret group called “The Dynasties “. First of all, I am Asian I am Japanese.
Meaningful meaning is I can be myself to exist and dance.  Read more>>

Genie Benson

I have several meaningful projects that I have worked on. 1. I am the Executive Director of a non-profit called Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble which is an local Israeli dance company that celebrates the spirit of Jewish/Israeli culture www.kcdancers.org Read more>>

Daniel M. Dyer

It’s honestly tricky to nail down one specific project. Our team at Visual Candy is motivated to tell stories that magnetize, motivate, and above all, move others into action. We love the proverbial underdog story, especially when at the epicenter of that tale is somebody trying to accomplish a feat or vocalize a message that is for the sake of others. Read more>>

Marguerite Elliot

In the last five years, homelessness has emerged as a prominent concern in most American cities. However, back in the 80s, when I lived in downtown Los Angeles, the issue was significant and largely overlooked. Amongst the many, two men regularly traversed the streets near my studio with their shopping carts, scavenging through dumpsters for recyclables or discarded food from local cafes. They frequently slept in the entrance to my industrial studio building. Read more>>

My Linh Mac

One of the most significant projects I’ve ever been a part of is the creation of a children’s book series called “Co Tich Viet”. This project became a beacon of balance and purpose in my life, especially at a time when the challenges of the pandemic were threatening to induce burnout. Read more>>

Brian Fitzpatrick

I’m proud of the Universe I’m creating. I began with my nanotechnology science fiction action story, MECHCRAFT. This IP now has a novel trilogy, a screenplay of the first tale, a short story, and in 2024 will get its own tabletop role-playing game! I also plan for a comic book release and another trilogy of books in the series. Existing within this Universe is my science fiction horror screenplay, THE DARK BELOW. While not directly connected, the two stories share a common origin that I plan to explore deeper in other tales. Read more>>

Ryn Grogan

The most meaningful project the neon fox collective has done so far, is our Rocky horror picture show shadowcast at the historic elitch theatre. As a Denver local, it means alot to be able to perform in historic Denver venues while helping them grow like we did that night. We raised so much money for the theatre to continue thriving and the entire cast had a core memory built that night, performing for 500 people on Halloween weekend in a haunted theatre. Putting together a cast and entire production from nothing, was an amazing feeling because all the pieces just feel into place so perfectly by the end. Read more>>

Daniel Durston

I put so much effort, thought and love into every project I create or am a part of, but the project with the most weight and reward is my musical “1996: A Blink-182 Musical”. It’s an original story based on my upbringing and the tragic loss I’ve experienced, all backed by the music of the band who has been a very substantial part of my life and career. Read more>>

Jacob Wiant

Currently, I am producing an interdisciplinary narrative, Beasts From Before, spanning written narrative, photography, and experimental film under my design label Wiant Works. This is an opportunity for numerous creatives to grow their skills and portfolios under an unconventional method of creative output. Collaboration is centered on creating engaging design solutions with entertainment not just for an audience, but also for all the creatives involved. Read more>>