As an artist, finding a space is difficult. To be open with vulnerable attributes in a crowd full of “normal” individuals is nearly impossible but what we desire is a space to feel accepted, understood & inexplicably ourselves. I have spent the last 14 years digging so deep to find who I am and it has almost always lead me towards service to others. The ability to bring hope through my own struggles and moments of fear and anguish is the most powerful use of pain I’ve ever encountered. Respectively, how can I spread that peace and love I’ve been graciously given, to others? First and foremost, I can’t do this alone. I recognize that I have been extremely lucky to have built a powerful network of smart, innovative and creative individuals that have taught me the ins and the outs of the business I love. Foundations that are built on support and genuine love are so hard to come by but EVERYONE deserves a chance to learn.
The inception of this collaborative effort has been an idea I’ve had for some time and where is the best place to start this than the neighborhood I grew up in. The Southeast Side had once been a thriving and vibrant community that had a bustling economy that offered our residents with a great salary and security that any individual would rightly believe in. Yet once the mills started closing tens of thousands of people were left without a job, without dignity and with no faith in the system. As the product of a family that had been torn by the mill, I seen the detriment firsthand how generational trauma can effect a person without even being alive when tragedy strikes. Fact is, I am not alone.
On February 11, 2023 I got together a number of different artists, small business owners and entrepreneurs to start a conversation. Every successful project starts with an idea and combining intelligent minds to create a coalition that encourages strength by knowledge is important. Promoting financial wellness, emotional literacy and creative control while providing an open forum for honest discussion is the least that I can give back to the community that molded me. Stay tuned for the next generation of love, inspiring minds and spreading awareness.
God loves you and so do I,
-XO