Meet Cherlnell Lane, a roaring fire, under a cool demeanor, with a kind soul, that she shares authentically in hopes of healing the world. As a speaker, advocate, facilitator, and poetic-storyteller Cherlnell birthed Cherlnell Lane, LLC where she helps to relate, advocate, and uplift Black women.Cherlnell is the creator of Writing Through It Workshops and Healing Through It Summits where she facilitates women to reveal, deal, and heal from trauma while recognizing strengths and positive experiences. Her company is also home of Cookie Jar Open Mic online, a bi-weekly event that showcases writers and performing artists.In this episode learn how Cherlnell uses her life experiences to reach and inspire people with her artistry, curriculum, projects, and words.Links in this episode:Cherlnell Lane LLCCherlell Lane on Facebook Cherlnell Lane on InstagramCookie Jar Open Mic Dating Poetry, Repeat Dating EventKindred Creatives Collective

Meet Lauren Jackson, an illustrator, mentor, and creative entrepreneur based in Chicago.  She’s the founder of Lo Creates, a space for healing, creativity, and growth. Her love for lush colors, representation, and happiness can be seen in her children books, commissions, and illustrative prints. Lauren’s mission is to help women creatives of color develop a strategy for working towards their purpose.  In this episode we discuss Lauren’s journey building a business, and how she’s creating a sustainable life as a creative centered around joy. In this episode Lauren shares:The moment that she realized the power of her art.What her life as an entrepreneur looks like, and how she balances building a business and maintaining her practice as an artist.What drives her work and keeps her going, even in challenging moments.The big challenge she faces as a creative entrepreneur, and how she works to overcome it every day. Links in this episode:Lo Creates Lo Creates on Facebook Lo Creates on InstagramKindred Creatives Collective

There’s this amazing strategy I  learned that every creative entrepreneur needs to do. It's called the Buffett Method, and it gave me so much clarity in my business.The strategy, coined by Warren Buffett, is used to help you to prioritize and focus. If you're feeling overwhelmed and disorganized right now this is perfect for you.In order to get organized you need to be very clear on the projects you're working on right now that drives you. This might sound basic, but let's pull back the layers.You’re probably doing way too much right now. #teamtoomuch You get super inspired to start a new idea, and before you know it you’re juggling a million projects. Then you start feeling overwhelmed, not sure where to focus, or worse you never get anything done. Sounds familiar?In this episode you’ll learn a simple 3-step process you can do to better focus and prioritize your time on what really matters to you. You got this, Sis. Links in this episodeKindred Creatives CollectiveVictoria Timpo InstagramEmpowered Creatives RetreatWarren Buffett Method

Meet Ama Asantewa, a Ghanaian storyteller, performer, writer, and the founder and creative director of Yobbings, a greeting card online store. Her creative practice is rooted in a desire to tell her own story, in her own language, mannerisms, and culture. For two years Ama sat with an idea to start a greeting card company, but fear of failure stopped her from moving forward. She thought “how can I possibly compete with Hallmark?” One day she had enough, pushed down her excuses and fears, and took a leap of faith to start Yobbings with just 4 cards.Today Yobbings creates over 80 cards internationally to show love, solidarity, and to acknowledge black greatness. It's synonymous with thoughtfulness and lightheartedness. Check out this episode to find out about Ama’s experience adjusting to life as a creative in Chicago, how her life as an artist in Ghana was different, and get inspired by her journey starting her business Yobbings.In this episode, Ama shares:Her first memory of being an artist, and what life was like growing up in Ghana as an artist.The common thread in her work that ties her poetry, singing, and design together and is the driving force behind her work.An intimate look at her experience living in Chicago during graduate school and how that experience impacted her creative practice.What she believes is the key factor for her success in her business YobbingsThe best advice she was ever given when first starting out as an entrepreneur, and how it helped her to create a sustainable practice. Links in this episode:Ama Asantewa InstagramYobbingsPoetra AsantewaBlack Girls Glow ResidencyKindred Creatives Collective

This episode is for you if you’re feeling stuck, unworthy, or judging yourself for being lazy.You’re not alone if fear, doubt, and procrastination has stopped you from achieving your dreams. Fear, in its many forms, can stop us from achieving our highest potential. It most commonly shows up as a fear of failure, fear of success, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, or fear of disappointment. We all have fears. How can you use fear to your advantage? Take a moment to think about how fear plays out in your life. Then ask yourself, are you willing to let another year pass by living outside your purpose?Embracing fear is a tool to help achieve your goals and dreams. Use fear as the key that frees you. In this episode you’ll learn:The 3 things you need to have in order to work your fears to launch your dream to the next level.I break down 7 mindset practices you can do right now to embrace your fears so that they no longer sabotage you.A big failure that I had, and how I flipped my fear to give me clarity and insight to move my business forward.My lessons learned, and a daily mantra you can use to kick fear in the ass and keep it moving to thrive.Follow your fear and I promise it will lead you directly to your freedom, joy and purpose.Links in this episode:From Fear to Freedom Virtual Artist RetreatKindred Creatives Collective7 Exercises to Embrace Your Fears & ThriveVictoria Timpo Instagram

Meet Wisdom Baty, an artist, parent, curator, and educator based in Chicago. She’s interested in exploring events about how black artists think about the world we want to construct. She’s also on the Arts Advisory Board at Experimental Station and the COLAB 7100 Director of Development and Community Relations where she curates a community based co-working space and small business incubator. When Wisdom discovered that there were limited resources for mothers who wanted to explore artist residencies, she did what any visionary would do. She created a manifestor and started doing programming with parents and other institutions. The Ways We Make series was born.The Ways We Make: Nurturing Creative Communities as Mothers of Color, is a gathering and celebration of black and brown women to share art and strategy to thrive as moms. Wisdom has always felt a warmth and energy around creative people. She follows that instinct to continue to build with other creatives. In this episode we discuss how artists can affirm the things they want in their lives, how to create only what matters to you, and reimaging physical space and historical accuracy for black people.Check out this episode:Find out why Wisdom is interested in embodying intersectionality in her roles as educator, artist, and curator.Learn how Wisdom reclaims her time as a mother and artist. Wisdom’s experience in Grad school and how it impacted her art practice.What Wisdom believes goes against our DNA and ancestry that’s rooted in white supremacy culture.What brings Wisdom joy these days? Links in this episode:Wisdom BatyWisdom Baty InstagramWays We MakeNap MinistryThree WallsColab 7100

Self growth is a journey. Meet Brette Sims and Stephanie Sparks, two creative entrepreneurs based in Los Angeles. They run Stuk Designs, a 501C3 nonprofit art organization and collective for creative career women that provides art and self love education to girls in underserved communities globally. Brette is the President and Creative Director, and Steph is the Vice President and Program Director of Stuk Designs.Once they became conscious of what a powerful antidote art and self-love were to anxiety and depression, they made it their mission to teach this truth to girls. Their philosophy is simple: do what you love! Stuk stands for; Strong. Talented. United. and Knowledgeable. It’s mission embodies each of these words as a source of inspiration for young girls and women. It’s core belief is that how you take care of yourself and talk to yourself each plays a role in your success in life. In this episode, we dive deep into the power of trusting your inner guidance. Whether you use crystals or prayer, it's important to trust in your special gifts and abilities. Check out this episode to learn:The story behind how Brette manifested teaching art to underserved kids in Africa, and why a trip to Ghana renewed her faith in human kindness.How Brette and Steph are fighting the stigma to being artists in the black community. Their outlook on achieving balance, and why they believe it's important to not do all the things at once in order to focus on your real purpose.How Stuk Designs stays true to its mission while striving for growth.The reason Steph and Brette think it's so important to build a tribe who’s going to support you and your beliefs, and give you strength to hold your dreams.Links in this episode:Shop Stuk DesignsStuk DesignsStuk Designs InstagramStuk Designs TwitterStuk Designs FacebookKindred Creatives Collective

Finding balance is her art. Meet Melani Douglas an artist, educator, and curator who focuses on socially engaged art and bringing artists together. She founded the Family Art Museum, a nomadic non-collecting institution focusing on family as fine art, home as curated space and community as gallery, and is the Director of Public Programs at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She sees everything in her life as part of her art practice, including being a mother and friend.  In this episode learn how Melani is cultivating peace during the pandemic, her experience as a black woman in a white institution, and exciting new projects she’s working on, including one with artist Halim Flowers called Art as the Answer. Melani talks about:How she’s been doing during this pandemic and what motherhood means to her.How she holds space for her life as a curator and artists, and how she sees them as interconnected.The story behind how she met Halim Flower’s and why they started working together in an instagram mini series.She tells us about her role at the National Museum of Women in the Arts as the Director of Public Programs and how she is navigating that space. Links in this episode:Melani Douglas InstagramMelani DouglasFamily Art MuseumHalim FlowersNational Museum of Women in the ArtsKindred Creatives Collective

This week on the podcast, I go rogue to share the story of how I overcame my fears to start and launch the Creatives Making Moves podcast. This episode is raw and vulnerable, and just me.Until recently, I was the queen of doing extensive planning for months in a google doc before making a single move towards my dreams. One day I realized I had to stop thinking, and start doing.In this episode, I unpack why we ghost on our genius because of fears. You'll also learn why you don't need to know every step of your dream right now, and why leaning into discomfort is actually a really good thing.By the end of the episode you'll realize that while starting before you're ready isn't easy, it's necessary.Because everything you dream of becoming exists in your fears. Links mentioned in this episode:From Fear to Freedom: Artist CollectiveKindred Creatives CollectiveInstagramFacebookRachel Rogers

A.J. McClenon is a badass originally from D.C. “proper,” and currently based in Chicago. They’ve been making moves as Newcity’s 2020 Breakout Artist, a 2020 Spark Grant Recipient, and a 3ARTS Make A Wave recipient. A.J. is also co-founder of F4F, and co-organizer of Beauty Breaks, an intergenerational beauty and wellness series for black people along the spectrum of femininity.  work is grounded in storytelling weaving writing, performance, sound, and video arts to share experiences living in a black body. They believe telling the stories and histories of black people should be told and retold again so that they aren’t forgotten. In this episode we talk about the importance of artists telling their stories, and why A.J. wants to combat political and cultural amnesia of black people, bringing to the surface our experiences and histories through their art. Find out how stories their ancestors told them drives their work and more!In this episode A.J. shares:The story of a high school yearbook project that started their journey to knowing that they wanted to be an artist.Why water has been an important theme in A.J. work, and the personal impact it had on their life.What A.J. has gravitated towards lately in their art practice during quarantine and the uprisings.Their self care routine and how they inspired me to step up my game!The key factor that has allowed A.J. to thrive in their art practice. Links mentioned in this episode:AJ McClennonBeauty BreaksVEGA3ArtsSpark GrantKindred Creatives