Morning Inspiration

When KERRY SKILES moved back to Wilmington after almost two decades in Raleigh, she was daunted by having to start over to find a new community.

“It is really daunting to reinvent your life and rebuild your circle,” Skiles shares.

Working independently as a freelance writer did not afford Skiles a common workspace to build that community. Having worked in ad agencies as a copywriter and creative director, Skiles was used to being around a lot of creative people.

She recognized the need for a third space, a space other than work or home where people can gather and enjoy one another’s company. When she was in Raleigh, she took part in events hosted by CreativeMornings, a monthly breakfast lecture series for creatives that started in 2008 in New York City. She wanted to open a Wilmington chapter.

Once Skiles started working in a seasonal position at the Cucalorus Film Festival, she met “a lot of cool, creative people.” One of those people was TRISH NICHOLSON, who was Cucalorus’ development director at the time.

“Humans need connection and need to be around other humans,” Skiles says.

Skiles asked Nicholson if she would like to embark on this new venture with her. After an extensive application process, Skiles and Nicholson are now the host and co-host, respectively, of the group’s new Wilmington chapter.

CreativeMornings is a creative community with chapters in seventy countries and 245 cities. It is a place to celebrate and connect with people who share a creative spirit. The free monthly breakfast series brings like-minded people together and hosts a guest speaker who gives a 20-minute talk that reflects on a global theme for the month.

“We both wanted to find a way to bring the creative community together on a regular basis to share connections, ideas, inspiration, and of course coffee,” says Nicholson.

Each of the free monthly events happens on Friday mornings, usually late in the month. As guests enter, they are asked to fill out a name tag with a prompt that relates to the theme. Their responses serve as an ice breaker during coffee and breakfast snacks where socializing and connection are encouraged.

“It is a relaxed situation of creative moments of connection,” Skiles says, and she explains how it is a part of the organization’s manifesto, which reads, “Everyone is creative. Everyone is welcome.”

“For me, art always feels honest – regardless of the medium or its appeal to an audience. I love how CreativeMornings believes that everyone is creative! Whether you are a writer, business developer, graphic designer, marketing expert, a builder, teacher, or student, creativity is everywhere and in everyone,” Nicholson says.

Though free, each event is ticketed to make sure there are enough seats and coffee available for all.

Skiles explains how CreativeMornings differs from typical networking events that bring people together who are looking for jobs or to expand their businesses.

“Networking events can have an air of desperation about them and tend to be high pressure, but CreativeMornings is about personal connections and meeting more creative people in the area. It is mostly just connecting people,” Skiles says.

Nicholson and Skiles work hard to ensure that members get as much out of the organization as intended. The monthly speaker gives a talk that ties in with the chosen CreativeMornings global theme.

“Wilmington needs CreativeMornings because it brings people together to inspire and spark ideas, provide innovation, and enhance local culture and voices while providing a sense of belonging,” Nicholson shares.

CreativeMornings Wilmington kicked off its first event in September with JAMES TRITTEN, of Fort Lowell Records. The event’s theme was “reflection,” which Tritten highlighted by explaining how his record company reflects on the needs of the community. Tritten started a vinyl collection that highlights artists and environmental causes.

Other speakers have included filmmaker Chris Everett, who spoke on the theme of vision, and Brian Ownbey, owner of the vintage shop Modern Love on Castle Street who reflected on the theme of journey.

“It is a loose formula, but we try to stretch it to whatever it is that the person is bringing to the table,” Skiles says. “It is more of a conversation and less of a speech.”

Following each talk, a question-and-answer session is held to hear from people and connect with each other.

“It takes a village as they say,” says Skiles, “and I feel very lucky that everyone is giving up portions of their time to make it happen.”

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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