Creativity Speaks

Patrick Mulvaney is a proud Sacramentan whose cooking career has spanned five time zones. A Michelin-rated restaurateur and community policy advocate on many stages, Patrick is one of the people working tirelessly to make Sacramento the “Farm-to-Fork” capital of the country. He also co-founded the I Got Your Back project, a peer referral and online resource shifting the conversation about mental health in the hospitality world. In this episode of Creativity Speaks, Patrick talks about his efforts to serve the community during a time of crisis, and not just making room at the table but creating new tables with seats for everyone.

Rebecca Plumb is the founder of Studio Plumb, an interior design studio in Sacramento helping busy families create livable and lovable homes. Rebecca started her career as a graphic designer, managed creative teams, and co-owned a small creative agency. After 20 years in the marketing world, she took a big leap into the unknown and went back to her first love of interior design to launch Studio Plumb.  You’ll find Rebecca frequently encouraging others to JFDI (just freaking do it)--whatever it is they’re dreaming of.  In the latest episode of Creativity Speaks, Rebecca reflects on making room for new dreams, finding your creative confidence, and much more.

Steve Hansen has been a leading voice in Sacramento for the arts, smart growth, public safety, economic development, and innovation in government service.  He was also named by prior Creativity Speaks guest Maya Wallace as the “biggest advocate for our creative community of any recent local official.”  During Steve’s eight years on the Sacramento City Council, he passed a variety of key initiatives including those leading to new arts and educational facilities, Vision Zero policies, and protections for LGBT employees and residents.  Kicking off our next theme of “Shift” with this episode of Creativity Speaks, Steve discusses the importance of art in childhood education, subsidizing the creative economy, and showing up for music and theater culture in all its forms.

Faith J. McKinnie is an independent curator & consultant who has held leadership positions at the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Theater Company, Bigger Than Us Arts, and is the founding director for the Black Artists Fund. Originally from South Sacramento, Faith discusses the inequality gap and financial barriers that many black artists face when it comes to finding pathways and resources to thrive as an artist. In this episode, Faith also talks about the importance of building a community for black artists and discusses why art is a gateway for creating systemic change. Faith wields the transformative power of diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive art in her critically acclaimed projects, programs, and exhibitions.

Shawn Kahan is a serial entrepreneur. From selling oranges out of his yard to reselling his Halloween candy, he has always had a natural calling for working in business. Whether it was running a streetwear clothing line at age 17, working with high profile athletes and artists on marketing and branding, to cofounding the creative consulting group Yellow Brick Group, Shawn credits the Sacramento community for his successes. In this episode, Shawn discusses the birth of Our Street Market, the one of a kind event created by YBG which has become a hub for showcasing Sacramento culture and highlighting local artists and businesses. As a self-proclaimed master of none creative, Shawn shares his inspirations, discusses the path he took to success, and offers advice to those pursuing a career in the creative field.

Molly Weber is a co-founder and the Chief Experience Officer at The Urban Hive, where she is committed to building sustainable communities and beautiful work, collaboration, and event spaces, within which hundreds of creatives and entrepreneurs can thrive. In this episode, Molly talks about the vision she had upon creating what Paste Magazine calls one of the “50 Coolest Coworking Spaces Across the Country,” and discusses how the Urban Hive became the premiere hub that it is today for local creatives and innovators throughout Sacramento. Molly is honored to watch as driven and inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives have helped shape not only “the Hive”, but the city she calls home.

Amanda Sanchez is the Executive Director of Design Sacramento, a nonprofit organization that aims to make Sacramento’s design community more inclusive, equitable, and supportive for all. Wanting to see the design community in Sacramento thrive, Amanda has made it her mission to create a network built on providing resources, education, and opportunities to fellow creatives of all ages and backgrounds. In this episode, Amanda discusses the impact that the pandemic has had on her work and the design industry as a whole, the role that the creative community has in combating racial inequality, and exactly what she’s doing to help local designers and creatives thrive during these difficult times.

In this episode, Salvin Chahal, a Sacramento native driven by the immigrant hustle, discusses the impact that the local creative community has had on his journey to finding his true identity and fulfilling his need for artistic expression.  He's a storyteller, poet, producer, and an advocate for people of color from marginalized communities.  From humble beginnings and a career launched by social media, his book, ‘Verses From Above’, a collection of poetry and workshops, reached #3 on Amazon’s Bestseller Asian American Poetry list ultimately landing him on the stages of SXSW. Currently pursuing his acting career, Salvin shares how he knew creativity was his ticket to success and amplifies the importance of using his platform to create a dialogue of political discourse in order to influence real change.

Fueled by the passion of creating unforgettable experiences, Maritza Davis has built a successful career as an entrepreneur, executive and business leader. Born and raised in South Sacramento, Maritza discusses the importance of family and community in her upbringing and how it has shaped her career decisions. Walking away from a promising career to focus on her creative pursuits, Maritza shares her story and offers advice on how to achieve success in the creative field despite feeling under-qualified and lacking experience. Co-founder for the award-winning event marketing and production agency Unseen Heroes and many other projects, Maritza is currently the Vice President of Experiences and Social Responsibility for the Sacramento Kings. With her current role, she has found a way to channel the passion she has for community, creativity, and social justice to help underrepresented areas of Sacramento and beyond.

Born in New Orleans and raised in Sacramento, N’Gina Guyton is a self-made entrepreneur in the food and restaurant industry and has dedicated her life to serving the Sacramento community with the very best authentic Southern food. In this episode, N’Gina talks about what it means to be a successful, black, female restaurant owner during a truly unprecedented time.  N’Gina shares the different obstacles she has faced within the food industry and discusses the many ways that her creativity has helped set her apart from other business owners.