Meraki Mentors

S1E8: Beautiful Things Take Time feat. Michelene Wilkerson

Episode eight is full of wisdom and thoughts from freelance photographer and New York-based artist Michelene Wilkerson, who is the founder the Black media arts hub, Soul Elevated.Michelene is an entrepreneur at heart with experience in the publishing industry and photography. Her experimentation with social media curating (long before Instagram had a “save” button) and mood boards lead to the founding of Soul Elevated, where she flexes her intuitive eye for catching emerging artists before they make it big.This episode, our conversation includes thoughts on freelancing, what makes a good curator, building network, and some soul-stirring thoughts on patience that might even change your life.As always, this episode features the following music: Aspire by Scott Holmes, and Purple Light by Blue Dot Sessions.Enjoy the episode and remember to Create & Connect!

S1E7: Reimagine Your Story feat. Ashley Harris

Episode seven features poet and spoken word artist Ashley Harris, who recently published the chapbook If the Hero of Time Was Black, based on the Zelda video game series. Ashley is a Virginia native, and a CUPSI and Brave New Voices alum based in Durham, NC.Ashley Harris is a longtime spoken word artist and poet. Her powerful performances have led her to feature and perform her original poems across the country, most recently during her book tour in support of If The Hero of Time Was Black. Ashley meshes her love for poetry, Black culture and science into a collection that is truly unique and thought-provoking.During our conversation, Ashley discusses the origins of her Zelda appreciation, how she leaned on the support of her mentors to make this book a reality and how she fights against complacency for evolve as an artist.As always, this episode features the following music: Aspire by Scott Holmes, and Purple Light by Blue Dot Sessions.Enjoy the episode and remember to Create & Connect!

S1E6: Self-Taught Mastery feat. Damola Akintunde

Episode six features photographer Damola Akintunde, a freelance photographer based in North Carolina. Damola has created several photographic projects and collaborated with Addidas and Elle South Africa during a recent trip to Cape Town.Damola was first introduced to the field of photography in a 7th grade yearbook class, and since then she has cultivated her talent independently to create a body of work that is breathtaking and moving. Her portraits of women and herself draw the viewer to see beauty in a new light, and it’s part of the mission of her platform the Authentic We.We talk with Damola about her inspirations, how she learned to shoot so well, how “art can be incorporated into so many different fields,” sharing your voice with the world, and why YouTube is so important.As always, this episode features the following music: Aspire by Scott Holmes, and Purple Light by Blue Dot Sessions.Enjoy the episode and remember to Create & Connect!

S1E5: Understanding Creative Consent feat. Jaki Shelton Green

Episode 5 features newly inducted NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, a true writer, artist and daughter of North Carolina. A self-proclaimed “cultural activist,” Jaki currently teaches documentary poetry at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.With a career that spans several decades, Jaki shares her compelling story of growing up as a young African-American girl in the rural South and how writing found her against the backdrop of a tumultuous American era. After a long career in community and service work, Jaki shares that it “took a long time to step inside and say ‘I am a writer,’ even as a published writer.”We tap into Jaki’s well of wisdom as she discusses giving herself the permission to walk away from work that consumes too much energy. She also explains what documentary poetry is, her women’s writing retreat program, SistaWrite, and of course, Beyonce’s Lemonade.As always, this episode features the following music: Aspire by Scott Holmes, and Purple Light by Blue Dot Sessions. Enjoy the episode and remember to Create & Connect!

S1E4: Be Brave; Be Well feat. Shanina Dionna

In this episode, you’ll meet visual artist Shanina Dionna, a Pennsylvania-based painter who is also an arts education and mental health advocate. Through her Embryo series, Shanina spreads a message of hope and empowerment and recently received a TDC grant.“If you’re passionate about it, and you’re consistent, good things will manifest for you.” It’s a belief that Shanina is living fully. We talk about her life as a full-time freelance artist, and her role in the Philadelphia arts community. Shanina also sheds life on the business of being an artist and the importance of a business plan.Shanina’s story is inspiring both personally and artistically, as you’ll hear in this episode, and her profound message to artists about purpose, acknowledgment and wellbeing is absolutely priceless.As always, this episode features the following music: Aspire by Scott Holmes, and Purple Light by Blue Dot Sessions.To learn more about Shanina visit: https://www.instagram.com/shaninadionna/?hl=enFox News interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoyerQh6hTo&feature=youtu.beEnjoy the episode and remember to Create & Connect!

S1E3: You Can Be a Non-Suffering Artist feat. Anna Cantwell

In this episode, we speak with Anna Cantwell, a Los Angeles-based yoga instructor. Anna is an RYT-200 certified yoga instructor and affiliate of Mind Tribes. She offers group and individual sessions along with yoga teacher training.Anna discusses her experience working as a full-time teacher and full-time grad school student struggling to keep her mental and physical health afloat under the demands. Yoga introduced her to a new level of health and mindfulness that she took with her to the sunny beaches of California.We ask Anna about her transition to consistent yoga practice, her thoughts on creating art and healing from trauma, and she offers tips on “shattering the mental limits you put on yourself.”As always, this episode features the following music: Aspire by Scott Holmes, and Purple Light by Blue Dot Sessions.To learn more about Anna visit: www.yogannala.com or follow her on IG: @yog_anna.Enjoy the episode and remember to Create & Connect!

S1E2: Art Is a Function of Your Evolution feat. Rachel Eliza Griffiths

In this episode we speak with decorated poet and visual artist, Rachel Eliza Griffiths. She is the author of four poetry collections, the creator of Poets on Poetry, and a Cave Canem fellow, among other honors. She also teaches creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College.Rachel Eliza talks about the critical role that reading has played in her development as a writer and speaks about creating in various disciplines; notably literature, photography and video. Her enlightening take on evolving as an artist and prioritizing time to read will have you racing to your journal!We also ask Rachel Eliza about her experience with artist residencies and she details the inspiration behind her video work. Whether we’re discussing poetry or hit music videos, there is so much to unpack in this episode. Most importantly, we walk away with a priceless piece of advice that she shares from her journey of working on a novel: The Work of being an artist “is beautiful and necessary.”As always, this episode features the following music: Aspire by Scott Holmes, and Purple Light by Blue Dot Sessions.To learn more about Rachel Eliza visit: www.rachelelizagriffiths.com or follow her on IG: @rachelelizagriffiths.To read “What Has Changed,” visit: https://thegeorgiareview.com/fall-2017/what-has-changed-essay-and-photographs/To view P.O.P. (Poets on Poetry) visit: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/pop-poets-poetryEnjoy the episode and remember to Create & Connect!

S1E1: The Biggest Influence on Your Success feat. Sade Sellers

In this episode we speak with Sade Sellers, an LA-based actress and filmmaker who was named an ABFF TV One Screenplay Competition Finalist, Outfest Fusion Winner, and ATT Create-a-Thon winner. Her first feature, The Root of Things, is currently in production.Sade talks about her decision to leave college and move to Los Angeles in pursuit of becoming a filmmaker. With just a few suitcases and a fervent dream, Sade set out to make a life for herself in Hollywood.We ask Sade about her finding the courage to make her own path, the role that competitions have played in her success, and how to make noise in your field of art, something she’s passionate about because “no one is going to hand you your dream.”As always, this episode features the following music: Aspire by Scott Holmes, and Purple Light by Blue Dot Sessions.To learn more about Sade visit: www.sadesellers.com or follow her on IG: @sadesellers and Twitter: @IAMSadeSellersEnjoy the episode and remember to Create & Connect!

Introducing Meraki Mentors!

We are only one week away from the official launch of Meraki Mentors! As a gift to you, we are releasing a very special surprise. 1. Our official trailer!Give us a listen below and mark your calendars for our launch date, Sunday September 30th!