CONVERSATIONS
I Create Birmingham: Andrea L. Taylor
“All of us were on this pilgrimage to advocate for positive social change… and in a way it became a touchstone for making future commitments geared toward finding ways that I could make a difference in my community.”
I Create Birmingham: John Scalici
“Everyone wants a purpose. Sometimes, it takes a while to find it and sometimes you haven’t had the opportunity to develop it, but it’s there. I like to call it ‘finding your personal rhythm.'”
We Create Birmingham: Thank You Books
“Birmingham is full of writers, readers, literary people, people with amazing taste, and people who want to have hard conversations. A bookstore can hold all of that in a really special way.”
I Create Birmingham: Carlton Bell
“We crave connection, and I think that is what theatre is all about — connecting stories to audiences and, more importantly, finding the common experiences and emotions that connect us all.”
I Create Birmingham: Randi Pink
“There’s nothing wrong with having a career in a non-creative field, but if you are unhappy and pining for something else, that’s what you should be pursuing…. [my mom] said I was brilliant and didn’t need to fit the same mold in order to be brilliant and engaging and successful.”
I Create Birmingham: Shelly Ann Edge
“Inclusivity is important. I’m really proud of how diverse our group is and that our girls get to experience diversity on all kinds of levels: gender identity, socioeconomic status, religion, and race. They are building relationships with others they may not have connected with under ordinary circumstances, and we volunteers get to watch those relationships grow.”
I Create Birmingham: Michele Forman
“We have such a deep, deep storytelling tradition here in the south. That’s part of what we are known for nationally and internationally in terms of literature. But we haven’t had a major presence in the film industry and are so often poorly illustrated in mainstream media. I really saw this as a powerful way to add this region’s voices to the chorus to help understand what life is like in America.”
I Create Birmingham: Marceon Walker
“I am a product of my community, my parents, and my upbringing. That is where my inspiration and drive come from. I know what my life might look like if I stay on a traditional path. I could go to college and pursue a more traditional career. I could go to work after graduating and work my way up in someone else’s company. But I want more than that. I want to create something for myself, and I know that I can.”
I Create Birmingham: Doug Baulos
“I want young artists to know that there is absolutely a place for them, and that it is entirely possible to have a rewarding art career here in Alabama.”
I Create Birmingham: Greg Entrekin
“I hope that Rakkos feels like the antithesis of a music festival. We’re calling it a “gathering” — a chance to enjoy the combination of sonic and visual arts in partnership with each other and the natural landscape in a way that feels more restorative.”
Virtual Conversations with Creatives: Salaam Green
Virtual Conversations with Creatives: Hannelore Melville
I Create Birmingham: Kate Orsini and David McMahon
I Create Birmingham: Mayumi and Tariq Masri
I Create Birmingham: Sam Cohen and Jesse Daniel
I Create Birmingham: Brandon Bruce
I Create Birmingham: Sarah Mason
I Create Birmingham: Les Nuby
I Create Birmingham: Avani Patel
I Create Birmingham: Chris Hastings
I Create Birmingham: Andrea L. Taylor
I Create Birmingham: John Scalici
We Create Birmingham: Thank You Books
I Create Birmingham: Carlton Bell
I Create Birmingham: Randi Pink
I Create Birmingham: Shelly Ann Edge
I Create Birmingham: Michele Forman