Creativity Speaks

On this episode of Creativity Speaks+, we talk with Isis Dallis who is currently Managing Director at Matter Unlimited, a creative and strategic consultancy focused on social impact. With a passion for storytelling, Isis has held President and senior strategist roles at several agencies, as well as co-founder and CEO of her own non-profit Camellia Network, (acquired in 2014 as part of Youth Villages).

As a Black woman and creative leader working in the design industry, Dallis discusses some of the barriers and biases that creatives of color face when it comes to corporate hiring, career building, and simply existing in the professional world. After the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, Isis also discusses the role that those in the creative sector have played in creating and circulating the very images that have perpetuated and influenced the attitudes and opinions around these tragic deaths. Offering up invaluable insights, solutions, and ideas to the racial issues found within the creative sector, Isis reflects on her own experiences and the meaningful conversations she has had around this issue.

Ebony Ava Harper is a Sacramento-based award-winning nationally recognized activist, philanthropist, writer, creator, life and world-changer, advocate for marginalized communities, and a tremendous inspiration to many. In this episode, Ebony talks about the intersections of being black and transgender and how it ties into a bigger movement.

After experiencing a very traumatic childhood due to her nonconforming gender identity, Ebony suffered years of abuse and hardships. Finally embracing her true identity and doing what makes her happy, Ebony moved from Los Angeles to Sacramento where she continued on the path to become the advocate she is today. From creating healing spaces, employment opportunities, spearheading the Chyna Gibson Memorial Mural (detailing the epidemic of transgender murders), to sex workers needing a shoulder to cry on, Harper never fails to show up for her community time and time again.

Today, Ebony is the Director of California TRANScends and is currently championing AB2218, a California Assembly Bill focused on providing health resources and improving the wellbeing of the trans community.

On Episode 2 Landon Lee, a multi-skilled creative aficionado, with over 10 years of professional experience.  In this time, he's worked in a variety of industries - honing his craft each step of the way - from broadcast news to boutique marketing agencies. Today, Landon is the co-owner of Noble Creative Collective, a creative Design Studio located here in Sacramento.  Through his own experiences BOTH positive and negative within the industry, Landon along with his business partner, are striving to create a company that operates with Noble people alongside him.

Kicking off our first episode of Season 3 we invited Maya Wallace to discuss what’s going on in the Sacramento Arts community. Maya Wallace is a longtime Sacramento resident committed to building an equitable and prosperous community for all. Dive into this first episode to see what kind of work Maya is currently up to and what she thinks our community can do to improve.

Creativity Speaks explores the stories of Sacramento’s creative community. Creativity Speaks focuses on a different theme.  This quarter, we are highlighting black voices in our creative community.

Host, Johnny Flores, shares his thoughts on the potential of hiring and highlighting diverse creatives.

Lin Fei Fei is a professional artist from Dalian, China. She moved to America after completing her Master’s degree in oil painting at Luxun Academy of Fine Arts. Fei also creates artwork outside of the traditional painting studio including murals, installations and mixed media collaborations with musicians, writers, fashion designers and virtual reality artists. The themes in her art center on humanity and the contrasting experience of our days: one moment dark and ominous, the next bright and hopeful. Rather than projecting an unachievable ethereal dreamscape, she aims to capture the truth in real life. Fei has worked in more than a dozen countries and participated in exhibitions in Europe, Asia, and the United States. In 2016, she was chosen as one of ten Contemporary Chinese Artists of the Future by the Wang Shi Kuo Art Foundation in Beijing, China.

Micah founded and hosts the Sacramento chapter of global speaker series Fuckup Nights, spreading the message of embracing failure as a stepping stone to growth and success. He has been on a personal awareness and growth kick since he was young and his creativity, curiosity, love of new experiences and willingness to embrace discomfort has given him a quirky work history studded with gigs like CNC programmer, scuba shop lackey, Parisian au pair, backpacking gear monger, full-time sailing instructor and a very brief stint as a Navy enlistee. In 2003, a pirated copy of Photoshop lured Micah into a career in graphic arts and illustration. Micah freelances as Foxhaus Creative and has worked as an in-house designer and creative director for a wide range of organizations. He is excited to contribute to a paradigm-shift in Sacramento’s culture of professional and personal growth.

Domina is a mother, teacher and overall badass. So far, she has earned a Master of Arts degree in Education, backpacked solo around South America and graduated from Space Camp. When Domina isn’t helping her young adult children with their own passions or studying to get her commercial pilot’s license, she is preparing for her next adventure as a NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador flying in the stratosphere with the SOFIA telescope.

Johnny is a rising star within the California comedy scene. With a raw, personal and darkly hilarious style, he has shared the stage with comedians like Dave Attell, Robin Williams and opening for Iliza Shlesinger and Brian Posehn. His first album, Tangled Up In Plaid, was released on Stand Up! Records and debuted in the iTunes Top 10 comedy releases. With his followup album and TV special Bummin’ With The Devil debuting at No. 1 on both iTunes and Amazon, he is showing no signs of slowing down.

Raoul is a storyteller, educator and visual artist who communicates through the disciplines of photography and graphic design. His creativity flows between visual communication and art form as he adopts a jazz- and design-minded approach, riffing off principles, theories and the playful side of things to strategically and intuitively create his work.