The July CreativeMornings Santa Fe gathering brought more than 70 attendees together at the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) for a morning brimming with connection, coffee, and powerful conversation. Guests mingled over coffee from CrashMurderBusiness and breakfast treats from Chocolate Maven, filling the gallery with an energetic, friendly buzz.

Before her talk, speaker Ash Steele, artist, educator, and founder of Obtain Creative, kicked things off with a lively icebreaker that quickly set the tone for the morning. Attendees paired up to share:

• A quick tip or skill they’ve learned,
• A life-shaping lesson, or
• The best social rule they’ve ever learned.

The exercise was so engaging that it was hard to bring the room back together.

In her talk, Mentorship in the Margins, Ash shared her personal journey from an unconventional childhood to red carpet interviews in Los Angeles, leadership roles in tech startups, and ultimately founding her own creative agency. Through deeply personal stories — including lessons from her late mother, formative experiences with her first professional mentor, and reflections from her current team — Ash reframed mentorship as a circle rather than a ladder. She reminded us that we are always both a learner and a teacher, and that mentorship can be a form of social power that builds communities rather than controls them.

The Q&A sparked thoughtful dialogue about how mentorship can be inclusive, reciprocal, and transformative. To close, Ash offered a giveaway of a free consultation with Obtain Creative, which went home with Lauren Hardage of Albuquerque.

This was our third event in our new home at CCA, and the space continues to shine as a hub for creativity and connection. Between the fresh ideas, the generous sharing, and the laughter over coffee, it was a morning that embodied the CreativeMornings spirit — everyone is creative, and everyone is welcome.

What are our events like? CreativeMornings is about community and inspiration. Come for both! Doors open at 8:30am, and we’ll have coffee, and a light breakfast ready for you. Coffee time is great for meeting the other CreativeMornings attendees. The talk will start at 8:55 followed by Q&A. We like giving hugs and high-fives.Check out our Flickr albums to catch the vibe… or come see for yourself at our next event!