Illustration collab by Caroline Ferrero @carolineartsy17 and Aly Miller @aly_illustrations

On April 18th, one hundred and twenty-nine creatives gathered at South Second in Walker’s Point in Milwaukee for a morning of creativity and community. The stunning modern and industrial event space is owned by Saz’s and hosts weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and more. They just renovated the patio at South Second with an outdoor bar and balcony, and it adds so much to the beautiful space. Check it out and hire them for your next event here.

📣Special shout out to Cassie Caminiti from Saz’s for working with us to bring this event together, and for your outstanding hospitality. Thank you so much!

It may have been pouring rain, but we weathered the storm to gather, drink delicious Discourse Coffee, browse the beautiful ceramics from Terra Alta, and get ready to explore CROSSROADS together. The room was excited to hear from our speakers for the day (yes, two speakers!).

But first, we were honored to have a performance from Milwaukee musician Emmitt James! He performed two songs from his album It’s Giving Healed Black Man. Not only was it so much fun (morning concerts >>>), but it was also a great reminder to leave anger behind us and to lean into our creativity.

Performance Artist: EMMITT JAMES

Every month when we hear the CreativeMornings Manifesto, a different piece of it resonates a bit more. This month, on such a rainy day it was the part about the power of community that hit a little harder. How amazing is it that we all came together, despite the weather, in pursuit of community and creativity? 

✨If you would like to read the Manifesto at a future event, please email us at milwaukee@creativemornings.com.

Portrait by Linda Smallpage. Quotes captured by Murphy Fraser.

Keynote Speakers: Nia Love & Raven Stevenson

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads? Raven and Nia certainly have. They shared about the tough choices they had to make, the moments of thriving and surviving throughout their lives, and how every choice they made led up to the point where they met each other at a Black Data Processing Associates conference.And when an audience member asked them what they have in their toolkits from a healed space for when things inevitably get tough again, they both said it all comes back to joy.“This brings me joy,” Nia said. “Just telling my story, a story, relating to people in a close space, and you’re telling the truth, the nerves immediately wear off… to be relatable to people in this climate is really rewarding.“I do things that remind me of my joy, because in that period when I did lose everything, I had forgotten to do that for myself,” said Raven. “It really put me in a place that was dark unnecessarily because even though I didn’t have a role at that time, everything was brimming with opportunity.It was so inspiring to hear their stories, and made us reflect on the crossroads we’ve encountered in our lives and how we can find joy and trust the process going forward. 

🎬 Filmed & edited by Precious “Jae” Burrell from Epic Media

CreativeMornings is about shining the light on our communities. One way we do this is via 30 Second Pitches. This is where we invite a few people to the stage and share a pitch. Our 30 Second Pitch Nomination Form is always open! Feel free to self-nominate :)

👟👟 WEEKLY STROLLS WITH GIRLS WHO WALK MILWAUKEE

Lace up and join Sam Schulte of Girls Who Walk Milwaukee, a community-focused walking group dedicated to creating accessible, inclusive opportunities for individuals to connect, explore Milwaukee, and stay active together. @girlswhowalkmke is on a mission to foster a sense of belonging, well-being, and safety through weekly walks and community events. 

🎬 SUPPORT LOCAL FILM AND TV PRODUCTION WITH TAKE ACTION! WISCONSIN 

Did you know Wisconsin is one of four states in the country that doesn’t have its own film office? It’s also one of 13 states that doesn’t offer production incentives. Stacey Nash of Action! Wisconsin would like to change that — but she needs your help! Support film and TV production tax incentives and by emailing your elected reps in the Wisconsin State Senate and State Assembly today. Follow @action.wisconsin to get involved.

🏠👨🏼‍💻 EXPLORE A NEW WORKSPACE WITH MILWAUKEE MIX 

Have you been working out of your home or cafes and would love a separate workspace all your own? Amanda and Jon Schroder have just what you need. Milwaukee Mix is a small business community on the East Side, offering private studio/offices with a window and sink or a large lower level room, plus access to shared amenities, starting at just $650 (no added fees). 

💼🔌 CONNECT WITH BLACK WORK NETWORK

Black Work Network is a new networking collective seeking to elevate, celebrate, and support Black professionals in the Greater Milwaukee area. 

This org exists to create an inclusive and beneficial network of like-minded individuals who seek growth, camaraderie, and connection. Candace Burdine needs our help spreading the word to help the network grow. 🌱 BWN is looking for workshop ideas, volunteers to host in-person and virtual meetings, and more. Email candace.burdine@molsoncoors.com to get involved.

Event day photos by Holly Schisler. Lots more love in our Flickr gallery.

Big thanks to our local partners: