We’ve been working on our publication and platform for almost a decade because we deeply believe that the world will be a far more empathetic and collaborative place if we all had the ability to know each other’s stories. The past decade has brought unimaginable challenges along the way, but we persevere because we believe this is mission worth never giving up on. We often are inspired by the folks we’ve featured and their commitment to their respective missions and so we asked some of them to talk to us about this very topic and have share some responses below.
TXVX
I am dedicated to inspiring and uplifting the world while amplifying the voices of Asian Americans. Throughout my life, I have often felt different and yearned for a sense of belonging. Establishing the TXVX brand serves as my commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for others. Read more>>
Cali Gilbert
The Pacific Palisades is my community. It was the first place I spent most of my time when I first moved to L.A. It was where my partner worked, and new friends lived. I loved spending time there and it became a very special place for me. When the fires broke out in January, my heart sank. So many friends lost everything. Read more>>
Amy Smyth
I believe that despite rapid advances in science, we thrive most when we turn to natural solutions before man-made ones. Everything I do is rooted in exploring, narrating and ultimately affirming this belief. I’m studying herbal medicine and I practice regenerative gardening to grow my own food and medicine. This is a lifelong path for me, one I’ll walk for as long as I live. Read more>>
Meredith Miranda
I’m committed to telling stories that inspire spectral human connection but also speak strongly to people like me. I grew up watching classic American and Filipino films; this shaped my cultural identity early on. I was fortunate to have parents who were just as proud to be from the Philippines as they were to have made it to America. Read more>>
Peter Mastne
That acting and storytelling will always be a big part of my life. And that belief is completely independent of my career. Because even if I have to get a different job one day or have a different career, I’ll still be acting on the side. Read more>>
Maurice Salmin
I want to work with movies’ is probably a parent’s worst nightmare… hearing that from their child hahaha. Least in the 90s when I told my single parent mom those words. The evolution from that moment until now, a co-owner of my own downtown Los Angeles based Motion Picture Advertisement company ‘REBEL’ was a journey. Read more>>
Sofia Terpou
I’m committed to proving that vertical storytelling is not a trend – it’s a new language. While it’s still sometimes labeled as casual or social media content, vertical storytelling has the potential to carry just as much depth, emotion and cinematic power as any other traditional format. Read more>>
Bhargav Choudhury
’m deeply committed to the projects with my bands as well as my production company, Stereo Sanctuary, no matter how long they take to grow and evolve. With my bands, the vision goes far beyond just making music—we’re building something meaningful, a sound and a message that connects with people on a deeper level. Read more>>
Lucius James IV
If I had to choose just one thing to dedicate myself to, without hesitation, it would be my clothing brand. For me, it’s not simply a side project or a business venture it’s a vision that I feel deeply connected to. I’m fully committed because I believe in the concept at its core and in the meaning it carries. Read more>>
Palmer Earl
For a few years now, I have been interested in ancient civilizations where Gods and Goddesses were worshipped and women were revered. I borrow aspects of medieval illuminated manuscripts such as gold leaf, floral motifs, intricate borders and vertical formatting, to paint about the Goddess religions that my ancient grandmothers worshipped for thousands of years. Read more>>
Rhea Carmi
I have committed irrevocably and with purpose to the making of art as an act of witnessing. My work manifests not only images, but urgencies: reflections of the world we inhabit, distortions of the world we ignore, and revelations of the world we imagine. I do not aim to decorate the present, but to disrupt it gently or otherwise with vision. Read more>>
Darrin Wilson
As mentioned, Pibborafi has seen many rough roads and it was very tempting to give up. In fact, I’ve come dangerously close to shutting the doors more than a handful of times. Somehow I seem to want to push forward. It’s not so much stubbornness or denial but rather an underlying belief that what we are doing is good and benefits animals. Read more>>
Ché Grant
The belief I’m most committed to, whether it takes years or even a lifetime, is that authenticity and honesty are non-negotiable in storytelling. You can have all the special effects, clever marketing, or production value in the world, but if the story doesn’t feel true, the audience won’t connect. People can sense when something is manufactured versus when it comes from a real, human place. Read more>>
Marina Ortega Mira
I truly see songs and instrumental music as two sides of the same coin, rather than big separate genres. I tend to approach a score as an actor would with one of the characters, and sometimes I think of the whole score as having a song structure. Read more>>
