Welcome
2025 You Aren’t Alone Live Art Event
Fragments of Us: The Art of Becoming
Event Schedule
6:00-7:00 PM | Artist Meet & Greet
7:00 PM | General Admission
Experience the visual art exhibit, place your bids, visit mental health and wellness vendors, and grab your food and drinks (& merch!)
Fragments of Us: The Art of Becoming presented in collaboration with 2W0 Unit
This immersive gallery experience, told in five chapters, guides guests through a transformative journey of self-awareness, emotional release, healing, reflection, and renewal. Rooted in the power of storytelling, this exhibition brings together curated artwork, live performances, and sensory installations that allow each guest to witness, process, and contribute to the ongoing narrative of mental and emotional health.
This experience is not linear—it is layered, fragmented, and deeply human. Each chapter invites participants to engage both as observers and as narrators, bringing attention to the pieces of themselves that are becoming whole again.
7:30 PM | Welcome & Introductions
Chelsea Borruano , YAAP Founder & Executive Director
Rose Magee, Art Curator and Production Lead, 2WO Unit
Host & Drag Queen Extraordinaire Laveau Contraire
From New Orleans, Louisiana, Laveau has been putting audiences under her spell since 2015, and strives to bring magic and wonder to all of her artistic endeavors. Shortly after starting her drag journey, Laveau was crowned the winner of Tumblr’s Drag Race Cycle 7 and hosted and produced Cycle 8. Since then, Laveau has expanded her artistry to include hosting, producing, live singing, original music, celebrity impersonations, improv, drag mothering, drag wrestling, and is always looking to expand her horizons. Laveau is passionate about making drag accessible to audiences of all ages and often participates in Drag Queen Storytime events throughout the city. She was also recently awarded the title of “Best Drag Queen” by the community at the 2020 FLAME Magazine Awards, and Gambit’s 40 under 40 Class of 2021. She was featured on Season 1 of Peacock’s Queer as Folk and is a producer and star of the documentary “To Decadence with Love, Thanks for Everything” on STARZ. She was recently crowned the first ever Miss New Orleans Comedy Queen in 2024. Known for her non-stop shenanigans, this witch is sure to bring down the house.
7:45 PM | performances by:
Breathe by Ben Stonaker (he/him)
A live performance of an original piece from my new album "ROUTINE DISTRACTIONS" - a project exploring mental health's complexities through microtonal electronic art-dance music. The track I plan to present is BREATHE, which sonically represents the disorienting yet cathartic experience of navigating mental illness, medication, addiction, and recovery while taking care of my mom as she died from lung cancer right after losing my dream job teaching talented music.
This performance will feature live electronic soundscapes combined with expressive MIDI keyboard improvisation, live looped acoustic wind instruments, and custom microtonal tunings to evoke shifting psychological states—unsettling yet mesmerizing, chaotic yet grounding. The piece reflects the nonlinear nature of healing, weaving between moments of clarity and turbulence.
Da Conversation by Trvllion (he/him)
Da conversation is about how cycles that have been toxic chains have webbed generations. It discusses how it makes the people involved in those cycles feel and how they don’t like their lives, but it also offers a way to get out of those cycles. @Trvllion_
You Are..NOT by Kee.Note (she/her)
The literary work is a reflection of untold stories of youth in their households; traumas that are not spoken about. My work is to shed light on being transparent and utilizing poetry as a form of storytelling and healing.
Resent These Clichés by April Lombard (she/they)
@foolzepiece
My Mother’s Eyes by Layla (she/her)
A poem about generational trauma called “My Mother’s Eyes” outlines the expectations of a young black woman who is the daughter of a black woman undergoing her own journey towards healing. It’ll outline how the mom’s mental health affects the daughters and their relationship crumbles, only to be healed through conversation and love.
@Layorlayla | @layreenae
Yes sir by Trvllion (he/him)
Yes sir Is about coming up in the world and having a better lifestyle in a goofy charismatic way. Note: contains explicit language. @Trvllion_
CONNECT by The TMM Project Feat. True Justice
An inspirational program that shines a spotlight on the importance of mental health and the role the arts can play in fostering understanding, healing, and growth. It features the TMM Project’s collective of talented artists, led by founder, Terrance Michael Morgan, including female spoken word artist and mental health professional True Justice. Through art, dance, and spoken word poetry, students will explore creative ways to express their emotions, build connections, and embrace the power of storytelling by learning it’s ok to not be okay.
Laveau Contraire (she/her) takes back the stage for a special spell-bounding performance✨ @laveaucontraire
9:30 PM | Auction ends
10:30 PM | After Party & Drag Show at George’s Place
Exhibition
Chapter 1: Life Chapters – Where we are in our story
Chapter 2: Invisible Luggage – What we carry that others do not see
Chapter 3: The Canvas of Becoming – Honoring transformation
Chapter 4: Mirror Reflections + Echoes – Facing ourselves
Chapter 5: Garden of Becoming – Planting hope for what’s ahead
Oh, Whale by Aaija Rennai Turner
@artbya.r.tA
Description: ‘Oh, Whale’ isn’t about not caring but letting go of the aspects of situations that are out of your control. Just riding the waves. Going with the flow of life’s currents not against them. It has a oceanic flow feel. Brings a sense of tranquility in chaos.
22 x 28 mixed medium. Acrylic, resin, paint pens, glitter, gold/silver leaf, and crystals
Angelica Couvillion
I've struggled with mental health for a long time. I was diagnosed with depression in 2018, but recently have been looking more into AuDHD. In several of my poems, I talk about the feeling of a gaping hole in my chest where all my emotions leak out from. I recently saw a drawing by Autism_Sketches on X about Alexithymia that portrayed what I felt. I decided to do the same with materials I had around my house.
7 inches high, 5 inches wide, 8.25 inches tall
The Rebirth Collection by Barbara Lockhart
https://msha.ke/iambarbaralockhart.com
Rebirth is a special collection of Barbara Lockhart Jewelry that tells the story of how faith delivered her from depression and how nature inspired her jewelry line.
My Skin Unveiled is Gods Fabric by Blake Lenoir
@Blenartistry
Description: The piece was made in inspiration of those who live with the painful reality of skin ailments i.e. vitiligo & skin cancers alike that cause drastic or unusual changes to your skin without control and how these strong individuals use this painful and mostly surprise ailment and become role models for unfathomable STRENGTH.
This propelled me to go even deeper into this theme empathizing my own dysmorphia about my native features as the black man that I had to learn to love because my environment and society pushed an agenda of disliking or attempting to conform or even hide what I felt was different about me by costuming to likability under others standard of beauty for full spectrum. My nose, my lips, my ears, the color of my skin alike i envied the features of those other than my own, until ironically I was taught a song by an elementary school teacher of mine titled “Proud Black Child”.
38x39in
Untitled 2024. by DMBott
@drewbotte
Expressing what I don't know or understand is inside of me. These images develop over time. Usually starting with the ferocity of both hands clawing at the paper trying to find what needs to come out. Eventually images begin to take shape at which point I slow down and try to find how the entity is connected or how it lives. This image was created over the several months in which I moved into a new home and changed my life a great deal.
Charcoal. 18" x 24" Framed
Sanctuary in Stillness by Charlie Champagne
@charliefeet, @leur_co, www.charliefeet.com
This portrait reflects my relationship with myself, my anxiety, and bathrooms. When overwhelmed, I take a hot shower, turn up my karaoke playlist, and sing—it’s my release. But that day, I was too exhausted to sing, barely able to stand. So, I sat, knees folded tight in the small space. After the water stopped, I stayed, lost in thought. Shifting my legs, I accidentally kicked open the shower door, revealing my reflection. In that moment, I saw beyond my despair—life was still moving around me. It was a reminder that beauty exists, even in the darkest moments.
19.875 in x 24.875 in.
Black pumas colors (no.5) by Andrepace
@Andrepace057 Www.Artfacts.net/Andrepace
New from the art dealers' room and columnist series of contemporary art and mixed media design works. Shown in both national and international/ regional Art events.
5x7x8x10 Oils, pastels, crayons and acrylic/ watercolor
Are you real? by Antoine Lacey
@abstract.wolff
Description: "Are you Real?" is about being consumed by social media and how that plays a part in affecting a person's mental health. We look at social media as a means of chasing the dopamine to have the perfect life or take a downward spiral into a dark place.
11x14 mixed media
The Final Word by Jacquel Curry
@Jackfaires
The Final Word is an exploration of solitude, despair, and the silent presence of faith in moments of darkness. This piece reflects on the unsettling reality that many suicides occur in hotel rooms—temporary spaces where people often find themselves isolated from the world. Yet, within these rooms, there is almost always a Bible, an ever-present yet often overlooked symbol of hope, redemption, and unanswered questions.
This work does not seek to provide easy answers but rather to illuminate the tension between despair and divinity. It challenges viewers to consider the unseen battles waged behind closed doors and the paradox of finding oneself utterly alone while surrounded by the echoes of faith.
8 x 10 framed photograph in black and white with a black frame
"Is Dissociation Time Travel?" and associated poem by Kristen Williams
@unapologichealingstudio"Is Dissociation Time Travel" inspires reflective exploration of dissociation and it's potential connection to the experience of time, memory, and identity. I intended for it to challenge the boundaries between mental states, reality, and memory.
24x36 mixed media gallery-wrapped canvas
Don’t Wake Me, I’m Dreaming by Mia Hearns
@Artsy_nerd_over_here | Facebook: Mia_Hearns
It’s easy to say ‘just fix it and keep pushing through if you are unhappy with your life’. That seems to be everyone’s solution when you’re feeling your worst. You feel like you can’t talk to anytime about it. You think talking is not going to fix anything. You can’t escape. But there’s a way for me to escape from my problems and trauma. One where I don’t have to talk to anyone, one where I don’t have to put on a brave face. Just for one day I want to forget my problems. Just for one night, one more moment, I can just forget how much I hate it. With this drink, I can escape to my own world. But it just makes me hate my life even more. I want to go back to my own world, I want to feel happy again, so I take another drink. I’ve spent many days here, but my own world is not want it used to be. It looks darker outside, my room is too bright, and the smiles are bothersome. How could I let it get this bad? I need help.
18 x 18 x 0.5 inches wooden canvas . Mixed media with glitter, paper, clay and acrylic paint
Don't Let Me See Your Stains by Pilar Lagos
@pilarlagos.art | www.pilarlagos.com
This print is part of the “Seen or unseen” body of work. I used a strip of red glitter paper, with the aim of depicting the courage that it takes to be imperfectly human.
monotype, collagraph and chine collé printed on Rives BFK (white)
9.9 x 12”
What If/Flightless by Twila Arrington
ladyaethriascharms.com/
What pleasantries and joys have we prevented for fear of failure or ridicule? Is it possible that we bar the way to what all life can be? The risk-averse, are quite comfortable here on the ground. Only dreaming of flying while fretting over the fall that may never manifest. Seeing only the what-ifs and are dragged down to the dregs. We can and should be in flight instead.
11" x 17" watercolor plus frame
ashes by Nikki DiSalvo
@nicoledoesart_
There is beauty in the grief that lives within the ashes of life. Grief and love are intricately woven together, where one cannot exist without the other. It is ok for our heart to feel a little sad forever, as it is a reminder that where there is great loss, there is a greater love that was real.
24x24 5lb oil/mixed media
RavellXIV (14)
@RavellXIVRobinson
This painting depicts a dragon wrapping itself around a Fluer-De-Lis in the year of 1812. This overall painting represents Louisiana, and the year it become a state.
30inH×24inW Acrylic on Canvas with paint marker
Underworld Kaleidoscope by Daniel Varnado
@drcrazydan
I worked on the painting as an escape from trying times in graduate school.
44x33” Acrylic on Canvas
Brain Rot by Aerial Lange
@aerialsartistry | aerialsartistry.com
depicts a new age of mental health in our endless search to organize, enhance, & understand this inner world of each of us. But also how balance is needed for each of us to then properly analyze but as well not over assess into a spiral. Illustrations at the bottom include; grey matter nerve cells, lobes of the brain, & medulla oblongata.
12x18 inches Mediums: charcoal, pastels, watercolor, & ink pen
I'm not Okay by Antione Lacey
@abstract.wolff
The art piece"I'm not Okay," was based on my outlook on life during 2024, which was that I was going through the phases of depression due to losing my family members months behind each other. The art piece "Are you Real," is about being consumed by social media and how that plays a part in affecting a person's mental health. We look at social media as a means of chasing the dopamine to have the perfect life or take a downward spiral into a dark place.
11x14 abstract photo in black and white
Lovin' on My Inner Child by Bibbet Robison
@bibbet_art
When I make art, I have no ideas or plans. I just start making shapes, playing with lines until something grabs my attention. This drawing was done by doodling around with a pencil. I found the woman, and then the little girl. I thought it would be funny if the glasses were falling off the woman, with one lens over the girl's eye. Once I stepped back to look, I realized it looked like the me now, and the me when I was little! Hence the name “Lovin’ on my Inner Child”.
Frame 12" x 16", artwork 10" x 14"
Polar Echoes by Brooke LeBoeuf
@b_leboeuf9, @_thesagebrush
Two opposing forces, locked in an endless tug-of-war. One side claims victory, dominating for weeks. Then, without warning, the other side gathers its strength and takes its turn. How long will it last? Throughout it all, I strive for balance, for peace…for my own victory. Prescriptions taken like clockwork. I hope for a draw, but the cycle repeats itself.
24x36" mixed media
Ascension by Darian Graivshark
"Ascension" visually narrates the triumph over mental darkness, the powerful moment of breaking through to find inner light and strength. It's a testament to resilience and the journey towards healing and self-discovery.
16"x20" acrylic, wood
Familiar Strangers. by DMBott
@drewbotte
Expressing what I don't know or understand is inside of me. These images develop over time. Usually starting with the ferocity of both hands clawing at the paper trying to find what needs to come out. Eventually images begin to take shape at which point I slow down and try to find how the entity is connected or how it lives. This image was created at a time when I was becoming more social and trying to escape my isolated world of living alone.
Charcoal. 18" x 24" Framed
Silenced. by Dorothy Strasen
@dorothy.strasen
“Silenced” feels especially relevant in today’s society. A society where it feels like no matter our efforts, we are not fully acknowledged nor listened to. As teenagers, we still don’t have full control over our lives, which feels limiting and silences us. As women, we barely have a choice over our own bodies because of the laws that have passed, laws passed primarily by adult men. We feel like we don’t have much of a say in this world, and it doesn’t feel like it is getting any better.
11” x 14” Portrait. Total size with frame Charcoal portrait on Illustration Board
Élan Vital” (Force of Life) by Ali Sonnier
@alienalii_art
This work features a woman and her visceral cry for a connection to life. This represents the internal struggle of mental illness and the ever-present thoughts of death.
woodcut printmaking technique
Image 9x12 | Paper 11 X 14
Eat Your Disorder Alive by April Lombard
@foolzepiece
In the painting, a group of people sat around a table, cutting into the girl with knives and forks. Her body was made of cake, soft layers of frosting and sponge, but her face—still visible—remained human, filled with quiet distress. They ate greedily, unaware of the pain behind her eyes as her form slowly disappeared with every bite. The more they consumed, the more she seemed to fade, the sweetness of the cake masking the emptiness inside. Her expression never changed, a silent cry for help, as they continued to take, not realizing she was losing herself piece by piece.
8x12 acrylic on canvas
Path of the Unknown by Jacquel Curry
@jackfaires
Path of the Unknown is a visual testament to the journey of faith—one that demands trust beyond sight and perseverance beyond feeling. This piece embodies the tension between uncertainty and belief, illustrating the quiet courage it takes to move forward when the road is unclear.
Faith is often a walk through the unknown, where clarity is not promised, and emotions can deceive. Yet, this work reminds us that true faith is not about what we see or how we feel, but about the steps we take despite both.
11 x 14 photograph black and white
It Was Never Your Fault by Loveday Funck
@lovedayfunckart
Once, there was a woman who wrapped herself in silence, in apologies, in the weight of things that were never hers to carry. The scarf grew longer, heavier, winding around her throat like a whispered accusation. But one day, she saw it for what it was—not a sentence, but a story. Not her shame, but her survival. It Was Never Your Fault is a spell of unbinding, a reminder that no one is made to be small, to be silenced. It is the unraveling of blame, the first breath of freedom, the beginning of a different tale.
20" x 16" framed digital collage piece
Cutting Ties by Mia Hearns
@Artsy_nerd_over_here | Facebook: Mia_Hearns
You think the people closest to you are your friends. You tell them your secrets. You are supposed to help guide each other through life and hardships. You didn’t know how a friend was supposed to act. You would make excuses for their behavior, how they treated you. You felt like a punching bag while being near them. You were young and naive. Thankfully, you saw them as the snake they really are. Now for the hard part, cutting the thread. It’s got a hold of you. As you’re cutting, the snake will hiss, bite, and throw your words back at you. But it’s over, you are finally free.
18 x 24 inches mixed media on stretched canvas
Your darkness. My light. by Rosalie Torres
fb.com/rosalieartsdesign, @rosalieartsdesign, rosalietorres.com
This piece speaks of early childhood trauma and its lifelong impact. Adult female lips wearing baby pink lipstick are surrounded by the dark trauma of assault during infancy. My healing process has involved becoming aware of what I do not cognitively remember, recognizing its effect on me, integrating it, and bringing my light forth -- expressed as a firm and steady out-breath of golden sunlight. Darkness cannot diminish my innate light.
10 x 10” gallery wrapped canvas, medium is acrylics
Becoming by Victoria Portera
@librastudiocreative
This photograph captures a moment of reflection between my brother and his pre-transition self. Taken during a day we spent together while he was beginning his journey of transitioning from female to male, the image explores identity, change, and the quiet tension of becoming.
As I tried to understand what transitioning meant for him, I also found myself confronting what it meant for me; to witness, to listen, and to hold space. The image reflects a shared moment of vulnerability and connection. In the context of mental health, it’s about honoring the complexity of transformation, the in-betweenness, and the importance of being seen.
12x16”
Where we belong by Alexis Poirrier
@skrunkly_photos
Whenever I feel the weight of gender dysphoria, nature is my sanctuary. Hiking with a friend, I escape the harsh noise of society’s judgment, disconnecting from the world to simply exist among the birds, trees, and gentle wind. It's peaceful, free from the pressure of my voice or the politics that surround me. But lately, I’ve noticed something disturbing. Beautiful landscapes, once untouched, are now marred by pipes and machinery. This time, though, we were lucky—no construction noise interrupted our moment. Still, I can’t help but mourn the growing encroachment of human industry on nature’s quiet refuge.
14 x 18 Photograph
The We(a)(i)gh(t)of it All byAshli Ognelodh
www.aoartwork.com
When we are in various processes of life sometimes the “wait” of something can feel “weighty”. I am learning that God’s delay is not a deny and I can learn to cast my cares or the weight of my situation upon Him.
20 x 20 Medium is acrylic and Bible scriptures on canvas.
Birth of Neuroplasticity by Bibbet Robison
@bibbet_artI had a stroke in 2009 so I learned a lot about how your brain repairs itself. It does this by neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain's way of creating new neural pathways by reorganizing and rewiring neural connections to help you function after a stroke/head injury. Whenever I hear that word, I immediately picture this malleable, plastic-y brain, warm after the oven, and little gremlins running and stomping about in their boots, creating new grooves to keep the synapses firing - pew pew pew! The woman, her hair crackling with electricity, continues to birth new neurons, as neurogenesis begins again.
Frame 22" x 28", artwork 18" x 24"
Blooming Through The Wounds
by Brooke LeBoeuf & Nikki DiSalvo
@b_leboeuf9 & @nicoledoesart_
Though born of darkness, beauty often blooms in broken places. Pain is not concealed, but transformed - each petal, each wing, a testament to healing. Not the absence of trauma, but its alchemy into something living. Destruction gives way to rebirth, a quiet metamorphosis. Flowers rise from unlikely soil. Scars are not hidden but traced in gold. Through shared wounds, something beautiful has been forged.
24x24"
Unrequited. by DMBott
@drewbotte
The depiction of internal struggle, self worth and lack of empathy. An outward reflection of one's inability to accept unconditional love from the one's they love. Attempts to understand and discover the limitless bounds of mental illness and the origins of what must be festering from the past. In the darkest moments, all we have to find meaning here is some form of creation and leaving something of ourselves behind.
Mixed Media. 2ft. x 6ft. Canvas
The Grey Feeling, 2021 by Franziska Nössing and Fabian Kirchmair
franziska-noessing.com @franziska_noessing
Many people struggle with depression on a daily basis. During the Corona crisis, these became even more pronounced for many people, but few people talk about it openly. The idea of exploring this topic artistically gave rise to the film “The Gray Feeling”. States of depression are depicted on film in the form of a ballad using seven scenes (1. Emotional freezing, 2. Mourning, 3. Melancholy, 4. Sensitivity, 5. Fear, 6. Inner brokenness, 7. Allowing the gray feeling). The aim is to no longer keep mental illnesses secret, but to deal with them openly.
Film
Pieces of Us by Angel Ohome
@alaseeds
I created this piece while contemplating themes around community, connection, and each of our intertwined roles within the cosmos. I reflected on the ways all of our lives interweave together to form a greater whole and how the impact of each individual makes a shift within the collective.
6 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches stoneware clay
This Isn't Fun Anymore, 2024 by Ash Gaude
@ashgaude.art | ashgaude.com
This Isn't Fun Anymore' was initially a photo taken of myself the morning after a night out. I had realized I had done too much, and gone too far. After a week of binge drinking, in the name of celebration, I had never felt more low. I thought to myself, "this isn't fun anymore, I need to stop." Painting myself in states of vulnerability helps me sort out problems I otherwise would not have considered. Details in my painted face express emotions I cannot see in the mirror. I hope to help others consider how to find healthy outlets.
40x30 inches Oil on Canvas
I Am NOT Alone. by Justin R. Solomon
@Trillovative
justinrsolomon.wixsite.com/artofjsolomon/work
Description: At our lowest moments, it’s easy to believe we’re struggling alone. “I Am NOT Alone” captures the feeling of being at the end of one’s rope, only to find strength in the hands reaching out to help. The diverse hands symbolize community, support, and the unseen presence of those who care. This piece is a reminder that even in darkness, we are not alone. There is hope, connection, and people willing to pull us back from the edge.
20x16 acrylic on canvas
I am not evil, I am human by Magnolia Vincent
@magnolia.vincent
I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, and a variety of symptoms that overlap with autism. I have been struggling with all of these mental incapacitations for my entire life, and hope that showing my indifference with medication and help other understand it is 1000% okay to be medicated, and be better FOR YOURSELF. A reminder of your own humanity and mortality can be good for understanding yourself, being more aware, and continuing self-compassion and empathy.
36”x48”
The Power of Dreaming by Naj Elle
@dvynesoul / www.najelle.com
There are ones who dare to dream;
Ones who kick the dreamers down.
But is it not a dream that leads to progress world renowned?
Were there not dreams that were deemed impossible, yet became true?
Dreams that bettered our quality of life
for the world; me and you.
Never be afraid to dream.
It is what keeps the world alive.
It is what gives us hope—
To see the beauty in a dreamer that didn't let their dream die.
16x20 mixed media painting on canvas
Generational trauma: Be Silent or Be Curious by Rosalie Torres
fb.com/rosalieartsdesign, @rosalieartsdesign, rosalietorres.com
Be quiet or be curious?" Family secrets held as though buried forever, but passed along the neural pathways of one generation to the next. The occasional hint of something amiss; a boundary crossed in something revealed, but incomplete. The feeling of unease about what I've heard. Should I explore the unease or stay silent as so many before me? How might knowing make it worse? How might it scare me? Am I willing to bring it into the light? Could I bear to expose it? How might it help me?
Framed 11 x 14” print of black and white graphic art
Brokenness to Restoration by Tyquencia Vessel
@divinely.inspired.creations
An abstract expression of my journey from brokenness to restoration. For me, true healing and restoration is only possible through the grace and power of God at work in our lives. I’ve witnessed how God takes our brokenness and transforms it, restoring, renewing, and reviving us to a greater level and purpose.
“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me.” Psalms 23:3-4
24x24 Mixed Media- acrylic, watercolor, fabric, metallic embellishments, resin
This year’s exhibition was thoughtfully produced in partnership with the brilliant minds and incredible talent behind 2WO Unit.
Founded by McCaala ‘MC’ Nelson and Kayla 'Rose' Magee, 2WO Unit (pronounced two) is a creative service and experiential production studio. Drawing from diverse backgrounds spanning government, professional development, lifestyle, sports, and entertainment, we've honed our skills in ideation, strategy, and execution over the past eight years. Our expertise extends from local to global platforms, highlighting the significance of skill development, accessibility to resources, and aligned opportunities.
Through projects like HOMEGROWN, spotlighting local musicians, and connecting global brands like AVEDA to niche markets such as Black women at Essence Festival, they excel in bridging creativity, culture, talent, and goals. They are adaptive innovators, smooth on the pivot.
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Rose, a pioneering creator and advocate of self-discovery, channels her passion for human experience across the diverse landscapes of fashion, culture, and history. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, she possesses a profound understanding of people, enabling her to forge genuine connections pivotal to her work. With an unwavering commitment to authenticity, Rose aspires to inspire fellow creatives to unleash their voices and incite change while remaining true to themselves. Her expertise spans photography, creative direction, project management, and various art forms, including set and fashion design, empowering her to craft immersive experiences that resonate deeply. At the helm of her brainchild, 2WO Unit (formerly Blueprint77), she fosters a collaborative community and provides accessible resources for creative expression. Fuelled by emotion and driven by authenticity, Rose endeavors to create timeless experiences that reverberate as a collective expression of voice and vision
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An intuitive creative force, McCaala Nelson channels her unique and multifaceted talents into creative strategies for brand strategy, communication, and production. After earning her B.A. in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University in 2020, this July-born Cancer has acquired expertise in roles ranging from consultant, brand designer, and art director—each role combining an eagerness to learn with a solution-oriented mindset. When not honing her strategic and creative superpowers, you might find McCaala curating playlists to life's seasons, capturing moments with iPhone photography, or refining her tastes and talents, sometimes simultaneously.
Thank you to our sponsors & donors. We couldn’t do it alone.
Food Donations:
Bistro Byronz