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We Create Birmingham: Dr. Leah Tucker
“Jazz is democratic because everyone has a chance to add their own voice to the music. I want to keep passing that on. It’s the only original art form created in this country and now it’s celebrated in so many countries around the world. If it’s not passed down it may disappear.”

We Create Birmingham: Tyler Jones
“We don’t want to add noise. We want to put something in the world that moves someone. We want to be thoughtful in our work, not just reactive.”

We Create Birmingham: Edina Shrestha
“My design is inspired by my culture. We are deeply spiritual people, and I can see myself in every customer.”

We Create Birmingham: Cristal Laraé Brister
“When you know what you want, when you know who you are, regardless of the space, it makes it a lot easier to be able to navigate life and do what you need to do.”

We Create Birmingham: Jessica Moody
“I’m immediately invested in people’s success. Everything that I already am has helped me help others. At Create Birmingham, it’s just been improved because now I feel like I know more people to connect you to.”

We Create Birmingham: Ursula Smith
“I can’t just teach dance. I use dance to teach life.”

We Create Birmingham: Anthony Waller
For me personally, it was also just good because the more time I spend downtown, the more of an intimate feel I get for it. I didn’t even know all these businesses were down here, and it was really nice to frequent them and actually have a better understanding of everything Birmingham has to offer.

We Create Birmingham: Viola Ratcliffe
“Also, quilts mark a place and time in something tangible. They link generations together and connect us in surprising ways. Textile art has the ability to break down barriers because you can see it and analyze it independently while embracing its warmth, humanity, and history.”

We Create Birmingham: Jorge Castro
“Your passion needs to reach beyond the food. It has to be about the people who come to eat here and make memories here. It’s all about the people.”

We Create Birmingham: Anna Foshee
“I think a lot of folks think about the Arts & Culture scene as something reserved for bigger cities, but I take dance wherever I go. The arts are for everyone – including those in small communities.”

We Create Birmingham: Dr. Leah Tucker

We Create Birmingham: Tyler Jones

We Create Birmingham: Edina Shrestha

We Create Birmingham: Cristal Laraé Brister

We Create Birmingham: Jessica Moody

We Create Birmingham: Ursula Smith

We Create Birmingham: Anthony Waller

We Create Birmingham: Viola Ratcliffe

We Create Birmingham: Jorge Castro

We Create Birmingham: Anna Foshee

We Create Birmingham: William J. Rushton

We Create Birmingham: Meghann Bridgeman

We Create Birmingham: Keith Cromwell

We Create Birmingham: Kiwi Lanier

We Create Birmingham: Buddy Palmer

We Create Birmingham: Darlene Negrotto

We Create Birmingham: Daniel Grier

We Create Birmingham: Cassandra King

We Create Birmingham: Will Mason
“Music is just innately human. Our heart is literally beating inside of us, rising and falling with our movement, every day. Like our heartbeat, music is just essential to our survival. We should stay more focused on things (like music) that inform our mental health and well-being.” Will Mason

We Create Birmingham: Aaliyah Taylor and Gelenda Norman
“Whenever I feel like I need to refine myself to be like others, I have to remember that I have purpose in who I am. I am unique, and it’s important to remain true to you. And by doing that, you remind others to stay bold and authentic.” Aaliyah Taylor, Exalting in Beauty

We Create Birmingham: Jordan Higgins and Jacob Patrick of Electra Film Lab
“When you’re shooting passively on the phone, you can be taking pictures, but when you have a film camera, you’re photographing actively. It’s the activity you’re doing. Similar to the rise of vinyl records. I’m listening to music. That’s the activity.” Jacob Patrick

We Create Birmingham: Cameron Sankey
“I always go the extra mile because you don’t know when that opportunity comes to you. You never half-do something. You always go full force. It’s always better to be prepared.”

We Create Birmingham: Dr. Leah Tucker
“Jazz is democratic because everyone has a chance to add their own voice to the music. I want to keep passing that on. It’s the only original art form created in this country and now it’s celebrated in so many countries around the world. If it’s not passed down it may disappear.”

We Create Birmingham: Tyler Jones
“We don’t want to add noise. We want to put something in the world that moves someone. We want to be thoughtful in our work, not just reactive.”

We Create Birmingham: Dr. Leah Tucker

We Create Birmingham: Tyler Jones

We Create Birmingham: Edina Shrestha

We Create Birmingham: Cristal Laraé Brister

We Create Birmingham: Jessica Moody

We Create Birmingham: Ursula Smith

We Create Birmingham: Anthony Waller

We Create Birmingham: Viola Ratcliffe

We Create Birmingham: Jorge Castro

We Create Birmingham: Anna Foshee

We Create Birmingham: William J. Rushton

We Create Birmingham: Meghann Bridgeman

We Create Birmingham: Keith Cromwell

We Create Birmingham: Kiwi Lanier

We Create Birmingham: Buddy Palmer

We Create Birmingham: Darlene Negrotto

We Create Birmingham: Daniel Grier
