Creative Connection

Julie & Julia meets The Art of Gathering as I curate a guest list, cook a themed menu from America: The Cookbook, and facilitate a salon-style conversation for each state in the U.S.

The best part: turning strangers into friends as we expand our knowledge and empathy together, and inspiring others to connect with people in new ways.

The worst: occasional kitchen mishaps, like the time I had to hold an ice pack to my arm while trying valiantly to get the meal on the table before 8pm.

When I’m not hosting a “state dinner,” I’m often writing about the process of doing so, from assembling the guest list to sourcing regional ingredients to following the wild conversational tangents during our table discussions. I share these reflections as essays in my publication, The Company We Keep.

I also sometimes write about gathering and community building beyond my dinner table, both as a participant (in groups like Walk Around Philadelphia and an audiobook craft club) and as a facilitator (like when I subverted all workplace norms and planned my own going-away party).

What if your creative projects were more than just something you’re working on? What if they were tailor-made to actually change your circumstances, transform your challenges, and get you closer to your aspirations?

Inspired by my own project journeys, I’ve developed a framework and interactive workshop for creatives to identify their next endeavor by examining their visions and their headwinds in a new way. Together, we walk through the process, explore ideas and opportunities, and commit to creative practices that instigate true life changes.

Jotting down your personal ratings for the weekly soft serve flavor specials at your favorite ice cream spot is fun, but what if it could be an opportunity to connect with other super fans too?

As co-founder and lead content/UX strategist for SoftServer, I’ve built a community of fellow sweet treat aficionados who rate and discuss the unique flavors that rotate each weekend at Small Oven Pastry Shop/Porco’s Porchetteria in Philadelphia. As we look to expand the network further, my eye is always focused on more ways to create moments of connection between people equally as passionate about supporting small businesses in Philly, exploring new flavors, and committing to “treat yourself” culture as I am.

There is no art form that fits better with my “creative connector” identity than collage. Seeing every scrap of paper as an opportunity, spotting patterns between themes and motifs, and strategically playing with arrangement and intersection until it all comes together? Honestly, it’s not that different than content strategy, facilitation, or community gathering.

I’ve exhibited at Icebox Project Space’s “Now, One With Everyone!” show, with more coming soon.