We marched into LOCAL with Mayor Danny Avula who reminded us that you become a "local the moment you start giving a damn".

Videography: Double Take
Photography: Antoine Robertson 

Watch the full conversation and go down the rabbit hole of photos here. 

As always, this morning wouldn’t be possible without the people who show up, lean in, and walk alongside us at Worth Higgins & Associates and Frontier and in kind contributors at Lavender Hill and Studio Two Three.

If you’d like to be part of fueling CreativeMornings Richmond, reach out at richmond@creativemornings.com

Until next month- keep giving a damn (locally!), Richmond.

Our global theme for March is LOCAL. It was chosen by our Santos chapter in Brazil and illustrated by Simone Matias.

Local (pronounced lo·cal) in Portuguese means “being a resident or native to a particular area.”

Our Santos chapter had this to say about the significance of this month's theme:

“We are proud to be from Santos. The feeling of loving the city but sometimes moving away. The benefits of belonging somewhere.”

Watch this video from our Santos chapter for more on what local means to them.

So, how does where you’re from define who you are? How do different spaces foster that sense of connection? How can we develop and strengthen bonds with the people around us?

It’s time to remind ourselves that community happens in neighborhoods not just on screens.

This March, our CreativeMornings Richmond host Linzy George sits down with our very own LOCAL Mayor of Richmond, Dr. Danny Avula to talk about local roots, identity, and communities that shape who we are and where we are going. 

• Tickets are live - and will go fast! Grab them here by Wednesday, March 19. 
• Have a question for Mayor Danny? Submit them here by Wednesday, March 19. 

February’s journey brought us together under the theme of CAMINO, a reminder that the path itself is just as meaningful as the destination.

We hope you all enjoyed the road that led you to this month’s CreativeMornings Richmond gathering. There was a shared sense in the room: that every step, every pivot, every pause is part of something bigger we’re all building together.

Our speaker, Kristen Cavallo encouraged us to embrace the winding paths, the unexpected turns, and the moments that ask us to slow down and take it all in. Because sometimes the most powerful progress happens when we simply recognize how far we’ve already come.Thank you to Katie Hoak for joining in this shared camino. Find them both at The Branch Museum of Design.

And a very special moment for our community... congratulations to Richmond Free Press, recipient of our first "Give A Damn Award". For 34 years, they’ve shown Richmond what it truly means to care, to advocate, and to uplift voices that matter. We’re grateful for the path they’ve paved. Thank you for giving a damn.

Videography: Antoine Robertson
Photography: Sam Park

As always, this morning wouldn’t be possible without the people who show up, lean in, and walk alongside us at Worth Higgins & Associates and Frontier and in kind contributors at Lavender Hill and Martin. 

If you’d like to be part of fueling CreativeMornings Richmond, reach out at richmond@creativemornings.com

Until next month- keep moving, keep exploring, and keep creating your camino, Richmond.

Our global theme for February is CAMINO. It was chosen by our Oviedo chapter in Asturias, Spain and illustrated by Marta Vila.

Camino (pronounced Kah-Mee-Noh) is a Spanish word meaning “path” or “way.”

Our Oviedo chapter had this to say about the significance of this month's theme:

"It’s inspired by the centuries-old pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago, which passes through our region in Asturias and has been a symbol of journey, discovery, and transformation for generations.”

So, what path are you on? If you’re feeling stuck, try moving your body to unlock your brain. Talk a walk, doodle, or sing. Soon, the way will reveal itself. And if you are feeling overwhelmed, slow down and focus on your next step.

You don’t have to know exactly where your path leads, just trust that you’ll learn what you need along the way. Wherever you are headed, we wish you, as they say in Oviedo, “buen camino.” May you have a safe and meaningful journey.

Join us on February 27, 8:30 am - 10:00 am when we unpack this global theme in Richmond. 

Tickets go live on the Monday, February 23 at 8:04 am. Set those alarms now and follow along on our social channels: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. 

January’s gathering kicked off the year with art and connection as Ron Stokes shared stories from his journey as a self-taught artist rooted in community and culture. From street art to building The Art Seen, Ron reminded us that creativity grows when it’s shared, and that even small, intentional acts can spark meaningful change.

Venue: Studio Two Three
Photography: Sam Park
Videography: Antoine Robertson

Relive this talk again and browse the full album here. 

Thank you to Style Weekly for copies of your top 40 under 40 edition feauturing Studio Two Three, 2025 Richmonder of the Year.

Thank you to our partners at Worth Higgins & Associates and Frontier and to our community champions at Lavender Hill, The Anderson Accounting & Advising Group, and DJ Anthony Bryant. 

Want to learn more about partnerships to keep this engine alive? Reach out at richmond@creativemornings.com.

See you next month, Richmond!

Our theme for January is کورسو, KOORSOO. It was chosen by our Tehran chapter in Iran and illustrated by Hoda Ramy.

کورسو or Koorsoo (pronounced Koor·Soo) is a Farsi word meaning “a glimmer of hope.” 

Each month, a different CreativeMornings chapter chooses a theme for our talks given in cities around the world. This year, many of our monthly themes will be in that chapter’s local language.

Our hope is that this will give each theme a richer meaning and foster deeper connections to other communities and cultures.

Our Tehran chapter had this to say about the significance of this month's theme:

"In our darkest hours, when everything seems to have dimmed, sometimes a light remains—not bright, not certain, but real. That is Koorsoo. A faint glimmer of hope that dares to survive. Koorsoo is not about triumph or clarity; it is about the fragile yet unwavering light that keeps us going. A glance, a memory, a word. Small things that prevent collapse. It represents the quiet resilience of those who continue in spite of the weight, who believe without guarantee. In a world that often normalizes despair, Koorsoo is a rebellion; soft, but profound. It reminds us, even the smallest spark matters.”

As a new year begins, ask yourself, “what is giving me hope right now?”

It’s up to each of us to keep that little light shining. Protect it and hold it dear. But be careful not to smother it. Share your koorsoo with the people around you. Because the world needs all the hope it can get.

See you in Richmond on January 16th at Studio Two Three to unpack this theme together. Tickets go live on Monday, January 12th at 8:04am! Grab them here. 

December’s gathering invited us to slow down and listen closely as Michael Millions shared insights from over two decades of artistry rooted in craft, culture, and innovation.

Through thoughtful storytelling and deep attention to detail, he reminded us that meaningful creative impact is built patiently, with intention and long-term commitment—often before anyone else is watching.

Venue: Martin 
Photography: Sam Park
Videography: Double Take

Thank you to our partners at Frontier and Martin and our in-kind champions at Worth Higgins & Associates, Lavender Hill, The Anderson Accounting & Advising Group. 

Want to learn more about partnerships? Reach out at richmond@creativemornings.com.

Stay innovatively curious and be sure to give this talk a watch when it is loaded here.

See you next month, Richmond! 

Our global theme for December is INNOVATION. It was chosen by our Isfahan chapter in Iran and illustrated by Nazanin Emamieh.

Groundbreaking inventions and earth-shaking technologies make headlines and millions in profit. But innovation rarely arrives in a limousine. It shows up as a question or a pet peeve. A hunch that that the default setting could be better. An inability to accept the status quo.

Innovation is risky and rebellious. It means breaking the routine and reimagining the familiar. It treats uncertainty as an invitation instead of a barrier. Innovation doesn’t take a genius, it just requires curiosity and willingness to try. And try again.

The world needs more tinkerers, experimenters, and fixers. People who believe change is possible and start with whatever they have. Then don’t stop until they’ve made something new or better.

Creativity asks, “what if?” Innovation replies, “here’s how.”

Thank you to our supporting partners at Frontier and Martin for keeping this year's events running.

Join us at our last event of the year at Martin on December 19, 8:30am - 10:00am. Tickets go live the Monday before the event at 8:04am. 

Happy 10 years, CreativeMornings/Richmond! 

This November, we gathered for a milestone moment: 10 years of giving a damn in Richmond. A decade of community, creativity, courage, coffee, and showing up together. And what better global theme to mark the occasion than GROWTH?

Our morning opened in true anniversary fashion with a traditional rock, paper, scissors game and special lineup featuring all four of our CMRVA hosts across the years:

• Doug Nunn, our very first host, set the tone by reading the CreativeMornings Manifesto.
• Jolinda Smithson Anderson, our second host, read our acknowledgement and opened with grounding us in the theme.
• Michelle Mercurio, our latest host took the stage with a fitting talk on GROWTH, inviting us to expand, reflect, and step into what’s next.
• Linzy George, our new CreativeMornings/Richmond host, welcomed the community into her very first event in another full circle moment. 

Growth is messy, brave, hidden, and essential. Michelle’s talk reminded us of how growth shows up in our inner lives, our work, our creative practices. Growth takes courage, to shed old roles, to show up more fully even when the path isn’t clear. 

It was a morning rooted in gratitude, reflection, and the steady unfolding that has shaped this community over the past ten years.

Venue: ICA
Photography: Toine Robertson
Videography: Double Take

Our deep thanks to the partners who fuel this community: Frontier and Martin and our in-kind brand champions at Worth Higgins & Associates, Lavender Hill, The Anderson Accounting & Advising Group. Your support is the creative infrastructure that keeps CMRVA thriving.

Want to learn more about partnerships or how to get involved?
Reach us anytime at richmond@creativemornings.com, and stay connected with us on social.

Cheers to this creative engine! Stay tuned to relive the magic here (soon!).  Let's keep growing — together. 🌱

Our global theme for November is GROWTH. It was chosen by our Sacramento chapter in California, illustrated by Amber Rankin, and presented by Adobe.

When we were kids, it happened fast. We outgrew clothes and shoes seemingly overnight. We constantly reached for things just out of our grasp. We made messes and art without worrying about what anyone would think.

As we shift into adulthood, growth gets harder to come by. Get good grades and a great job. Burn the midnight oil. Struggle against the odds. Then somewhere along the way, we get comfortable with the status quo. Sitting on the couch, watching and scrolling instead of trying and doing.

But creativity demands growth. Not the kind that can be measured with a ruler. It’s about taking stock of your character. Who’s ready to chase wild possibilities and meaningful progress? We must unlearn the need to be perfect and busy. Remember how to play and get our hands dirty again.

It takes curiosity and courage. Because growth doesn’t always feel good. It forces us to shed our old skin, to stumble, and start again. Sometimes, growth happens quietly, in between uncertainty and doubt, the moments when nothing seems to be changing. Until everything does.

See you at ICA on November 21st as we celebrate our 10th birthday!