Our theme this month is CREATE & we're passing the mic to you, our wonderful community, to share what that means to *you*!

OUR SPEAKERS:

Marco de Mel Pedersen is a Human, Licorice Fan, and Brand Identity Consultant. In random order. Marco loves drawing, taking photos of trash, and designing all things graphic design, and to connect with real humans in the real world.

Alison Pirie is an artist, curator, and cultural producer based in Montclair. For the past three years, she has co-led Garden State Art Weekend, a statewide celebration of visual art in New Jersey. She is passionate about fostering a more supportive and sustainable art ecosystem for fellow artists and art institutions across the state.

Shivani Verma is the Founder of Shiv Studios: a coaching practice for humans navigating work-life and exploring their personal brands. She also serves as Brand Strategy Lead at Women in Innovation, advises undergrad students at New York University and mentors women through WE NYC. Shivani lives in Jersey City with her husband Luke and their fluffy little dog, Remy.

Garlanda Washington is a writer, reader, and theatre professional with a wide range of experiences, as well as a self taught lacemaker interested in the fiber arts and all things creative.

Vicky Winkler is the founder of Wildly Creative Wellness, where everyday people discover that creativity has always lived inside them. Through art journaling workshops, online retreats, and one on one support, she helps people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and find fulfillment through self-expression. Her work is rooted in the belief that making art isn’t just for artists, it’s for anyone who wants to feel more alive.

➡️ RSVP here - it's free, as always!

Next month, we’re passing the mic to you, our wonderful community! 🎤

Our theme is CREATE, and we’re opening up the stage for up to 8 community members to share what that means to them. Music, spoken word, storytelling, show and tell, something a little weird, something deeply personal- we’re into all of it. You’ll have ~5 minutes and a room full of supportive, kind people who can’t wait to listen.

Want a spot? Submit your idea by 4/30 & you’ll be notified by 5/4 either way!

Get ready for a CreativeMornings you’ve never seen before. 👀

This week, we’re joined by a speaker who lives by the motto “older is bolder” - and trust, she means it. Arlinda McIntosh is here to challenge the idea that we’re supposed to shrink, settle, or soften with time. Instead, she’s making a case for getting louder, brighter, and more fully yourself with every passing year. 🌟

And in true fashion, she’s not just talking about it - she’s inviting us to live it!

For the first time ever, we’re turning CreativeMornings into a BALL. Yes, a ball. Think fancy clothes, bold looks, outfits that make you feel like the most you version of you. 🤩

Whether that’s a tuxedo at 9am, a gown you’ve been waiting to wear, or just something that makes you stand a little taller, this is your moment. 🪩

Come for the conversation, stay for the celebration, and don’t be surprised if you leave feeling a little more daring than when you walked in. 💪

As always, totally free!
 
See you Friday! ⬇️
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM EST
Lackawanna Station
1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair, New Jersey United States 07042

Simon Galperin is the founder and Executive Editor of The Jersey Bee, a nonprofit local news organization in Essex County that helps working-class communities and communities of color access resources, build connections, and participate in civic life. His work blends human-centered design, journalism, and technology to help people navigate – and improve – the systems that shape daily life. Hear him speak tomorrow on the global theme, "Local."

FREE RSVP HERE

TOMORROW!

Join us for a super-interactive, hands-on session exploring the CAMINO (path) to whole-person engagement. Using brain science, creativity, and specially designed LEGO activities (!), we’ll spark inspiration, strengthen authentic connection, and learn practical ways to engage others - at work, at home, and in our communities.

☕️ Coffee is FREE and will be provided by Boozie’s!

🍩 Breakfast is also FREE and will be provided by Burgers Donuts Potatoes!

🕰️ Doors open at 8:30. Please be punctual - the speakers will start around 8:45ish and you won’t wanna miss a thing (you saw about the legos, right?)!

♿️ Lackawanna Station is an ADA accessible building with no stairs to navigate. There are 2 single-room restrooms inside, and neither specify gender. Please hit reply if you need preferred seating or additional accommodations - we’d be happy to help.

🚗 Park at 1 Lackawanna Plaza or 227 Bloomfield Ave in Montclair, NJ & make sure you pay for parking to avoid a ticket. Make it happen by using the HONK app or scanning the QR code that’s posted in the lot.

🚂 We’re a half-mile, mostly flat walk from the Bay Street Station on NJ Transit.

Free RSVP here...

The only thing warming us up after 143 days of winter is these photos from Angie of our last meeting! 🔥

The Q&A we had with Farnoosh gave us so much optimism, light, & even laughter in these difficult times. It really brought home the theme, کورسو - Koor·Soo, the Farsi word for “a faint glimmer of hope.” ✨

Get a sneak peek here and check out the rest of the album over on Flickr!

We know the 9:30-11am event times have been tough on those of you with day jobs, so we've made a change:

OUR EVENTS WILL NOW BE ON THE 3RD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 8:30-10AM, STARTING THIS MONTH!

So why don't you put CreativeMornings MTC on your calendar as a recurring event for the year? As of now there are zero conflicts with holidays and whatnot, so we don't see making any exceptions unless absolutely necessary.

Excited to make the start of every 3rd Friday a creative morning!

Our December meeting with Charlie Spademan gave us so much inspiration, motivation, and yes - innovation (the monthly theme!) - that we're still carrying it with us 3ish weeks later! 👍

Thank you to Angie of Entwined Studio for these incredible shots (as usual!) - wish I could include them all in this post because it was nearly impossible to choose! 📸

And when you're done lookin', watch Charlie's inspiring talk here, courtesty of Luke at Overall Builds.

See you Friday!

Farnoosh Torabi was the very first person who came to mind when we learned that January’s global theme is کورسو - Koor·Soo, the Farsi word for “a faint glimmer of hope.” ✨💫🌱

As co-host of The Montclair Pod🎙️, Farnoosh somehow manages to stay grounded, curious, and optimistic while reporting on local issues like the $20M school deficit, the unhoused crisis, and canceled elections - no small feat.

She’s also a financial expert, media founder, and published author - on the front lines of economic anxiety - yet she always leaves room for that glimmer. ✨💛

(Her latest book is literally called “A Healthy State of Panic” 😍📖 which… says it all.)

So yes - we’re thrilled she said YES to being our January speaker and we know we're all in for a treat! 🎉

Join us for an inspiring conversation + Q&A
🗓 Friday, Jan 16
⏰ 9:00 AM (new time!)
📍 Lackawanna Station

☕ Free coffee thanks to Boozie's
🍩 Free donuts thanks to Burgers Donuts Potatoes
💖 Always-free inspiration + community

🎟 RSVP here
🙌 We can’t wait to see you there!

TOMORROW! Come hear local artist Charlie Spademan speak to the global CreativeMorning theme, “Innovation”.

Tickets are free, coffee is free, breakfast is free, the inspiration & community are free too! RSVP (yup, for free!) right here & we’ll see you tomorrow morning for our last meeting of the year! ☕️ 🎤