Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Den Theatre to be in conversation with Katya Balakina about her Camino. Katya's path started in Russia and has taken her through several Creative Morning chapters starting with Tallinn, Estonia, to Kansas City, and then to our very own Chicago CM chapter. Through her Camino she has failed fast and failed forward, using her passion for storytelling to foster connection.

Katya Balakina is a Chicago-based graphic recorder and visual storyteller. She captures conversations live, turning ideas and strategy into large-scale visuals as they unfold. Her work spans conferences, leadership sessions, and community gatherings. As an immigrant, mother, and creative, she’s especially passionate about using visuals to help people connect and feel understood.

Follow Katya to learn about her work. 💫

Thank You to The Den Theatre

The Den Theatre believes in the power of human connection. Their mission is to bring artists and audiences together in the spirit of respect, empathy, and community.

Learn More

Support our 30-Second Pitchers 📣

Each month, we randomly select members of our community who want to make a 30-second pitch on our stage. This month, we heard from…

📢 Shea Michaels: Art Exchange! Leave Art, Take Art, Connect with Artists! Located at Kildare and Roscoe near Kilbourn Park. Apply to host a locker and follow along @chicagoartlocker

📢 Camille Smith: Camille grounded us all in a deep collective breath. Follow Camille to learn more about her next meditation and wellness events. @clearlycamille

📢 Care Cubby is an ABC themed mutual aid project that partners with local businesses to have free library-style shelf that provies different types of supplies. Learn more and donate: https://carecubby.net/

Check out more pics from our Camino event on our Flickr! 
Post your pics #cmcamino and #cmchi!

"Hope is not optional, it is survival"

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Steppenwolf to be in conversation with Linda Abdullah about the role hope plays in our lives. Linda led us on a journey through her own life and art, of loss, grief, and connection. Through the darkness something unexpected often appears. Through her art she has had to find or invent her own Koorsoo.

Linda believes in the power of community and that practicing holding hands is the way forward. Follow Linda Abdullah to learn about upcoming workshops and exhibitions, and stay connected to hope. 💫

Thank you to Steppenwolf 📍
We are so delighted and thankful to have hosted you all at the incredible Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We heard from Steppenwolf about ways to get engaged with their creative community:

Associate Board: A vibrant community for emerging art enthusiasts. Learn more on how they Network, Give Back, and Have Fun! 

Rentals: Steppenwolf specializes in bringing people together for unforgettable moments. Learn more here and contact Kaitlyn Majoy.

StepEd & Engagement: See upcoming Public Programs here and Accessible Performances here.

Introducing our CM/Chicago time capsule ✨
What's one source of hope for your 2026?

Our very own Ryan Pairitz started us off with a thought starter: What is one source of hope you have for 2026? You wrote down your intentions and together we spoke them into existence, before saving in a time capsule. In November we'll revisit them to reflect on how much growth they've inspired and how they've reinvigorated our commitment to hope. 

Support our 30-Second Pitchers 📣
Each month, we randomly select members of our community who want to make a 30-second pitch on our stage. This month, we heard from…

📢 Shea Michaels: Art Exchange! Leave Art, Take Art, Connect with Artists! Located at Kildare and Roscoe near Kilbourn Park. Apply to host a locker and follow along @chicagoartlocker

📢 OG Ugwuanyi: Okrika holds space for black and african memory-work as a living, breathing practice, we gather around books, art, film, and each other. Follow @okrrrika

📢 Hannah Stelter: during Friday's event Hannah raffled off an original art piece with proceeds donated to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund through the Womens Foundation of Minnesota. Follow @hannahstelter_

Check out more pics from our Growth event on our Flickr! 
Post your pics #cmkoorsoo and #cmchi!

Incredible pics by Chicago volunteers Elliot Powell and Carlos Cerrato 

"There is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in Leadership"

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Adler University to be in conversation with Felton Kizer. He knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur at a young age and has had to reframe what it means to be a leader. Felton talked about stepping into leadership at Monday Coffee as their Central Creative Officer, where he's giving himself full range to explore and connect with the community through coffee.

Felton Edward Kizer is an American filmmaker and coffee roaster whose work bridges storytelling, culture, and community. Rooted in curiosity and inclusivity, Kizer explores the in-between moments of human connection through film, photography, and sound.

Thank you to this great venue 📍

We have loved spending the last 3 months with you at Adler University as our first quarterly venue partner.

A nonprofit institution committed to effecting positive change, Adler University prepares practitioners for work within public systems and communities. Founded in 1952, Adler offers 28 master’s and doctoral programs across psychology, counseling, public policy, and mental health, and educates approximately 2,000 students at its Chicago, Vancouver, and online campuses.

💖 Special Sponsor Shout 💖

We are able to bring Creative Mornings to you with the generous support of our sponsors. Special shout to Big Shoulders Coffee for the morning brew, Busy Beaver for helping us make connections through buttons, DJ Mike Caliber for helping us groove, Elliot Powell for capturing our glow on camera, Brian at Ravenspring Media for capturing the magic on video, and Adobe for helping us grow.

Check out more pics from our Growth event on our Flickr!

Everyone is creative. Everyone is welcome. Our manifesto was read by Olga Seredyuk, who joined us from the Raleigh Durham chapter. Thank you Olga!

A note from our President

As we wrap our first year as a 501(c)(3), I’m sitting with two things: pride in the work, and gratitude for the people who made it feel rich in all the ways that matter. Thank you for being part of this chapter, literally and figuratively.

Every event this year reminded me how much a community can grow when people choose to show up with intention (and coffee). Your presence, energy, care, creativity, joy, and passion have shaped this space in ways we could never have imagined.

None of this would be possible without our board members, Sandhya, Elliot, and Areeba, and our incredible organizing team, who pour so much heart into building this community.

Here’s to growing bigger, bolder, and brighter year after year.

- Odun Ishola

Graphic recording by Katya Balakina

"I stay soft by studying it and sharing it with others"

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Adler University to hear Benz Amataya discuss how SOFT means Strong, Open, Forgiving, Tender

Benz led us in creating a tapestry of softness:

relax breathe hug allow comfort space compassion vulnerability stillness trust free care experience self-love grounded grace present desire warm gentleness soft kindness empathy joy love patience community open mindfulness peace space love perfection comfort boundaries understanding beauty free-flowing adaptable helpful care welcoming mindfulness inviting acceptance openness growth clarity journey to-let-go peace reflection mandatory creative mornings

Sirimas Benz Amatayakul is a multidisciplinary artist and psychotherapist-in-training based in Oak Park, IL.

Benz is a founder of The Dear Artists Project, an online platform with a mission to normalize mental emotional health conversations in the art community. Since 2018, The Dear Artists Project has been featuring over 150 artists and artists-in-residence and spreading the hopeful message of “You are not alone in your mental health struggles.” and “Recovery is possible.” Benz is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Concordia University Chicago.

Thank you to this great venue 📍

We're thrilled to be back at Adler University as our first quarterly venue partner. We hope you will join us back there next month.

A nonprofit institution committed to effecting positive change, Adler University prepares practitioners for work within public systems and communities. Founded in 1952, Adler offers 28 master’s and doctoral programs across psychology, counseling, public policy, and mental health, and educates approximately 2,000 students at its Chicago, Vancouver, and online campuses.

Check out more pics from our Blossom event on our Flickr!

Thanks Busy Beaver for helping us make connections with button name tags

Special shout to Trish for her Tarot readings. Follow Trish Tay Tarot

"We don't rush flowers to bloom.
Instead we tend to them with care.
Lovingly providing the nutrients they need to grow, to blossom.
Watering them every day shows our commitment to their success.
Keeping them out of the darkness and bringing forth the light.
Giving space for them to shine and be beautiful and bright."

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Adler University to hear Tara Levy discuss how we are all like flowers, planted by our roots.

Recall her affirmation as you too, blossom into the next season:

I am blossoming in divine timing, rooted in love and overflowing with joy, peace, strength and creativity. Everything I need to flourish is already within me, and in faith I thrive. In community, we grow together, radiating light and welcoming the abundance that is on its way... I am blossoming in divine timing.
Tara Levy is a multidisciplinary artist, author and educator from the west side of Chicago. Her passion for education and community outreach deeply impact her artistic practice. Follow Tara at the Liberated Arts Movement, an arts and wellness organization dedicated to promoting communal care and cultural expression. Tara creates so that others feel seen and empowered to let their light shine.

Thank you to Adler University for hosting us!

We're thrilled to be back at Adler University as our first quarterly venue partner. We hope you will join us back there next month.

A nonprofit institution committed to effecting positive change, Adler University prepares practitioners for work within public systems and communities. Founded in 1952, Adler offers 28 master’s and doctoral programs across psychology, counseling, public policy, and mental health, and educates approximately 2,000 students at its Chicago, Vancouver, and online campuses.

Check out more pics from our Blossom event on our Flickr! 

Graphic recording by Katya Balakina

"My story is only as good as the threads it can connect to others." ✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us to hear Jacoby Cochran share his journey of creative nomadism through storytelling, community, and finding purpose in the wandering path. A special thank you to our friends at the Chicago Architecture Center for welcoming us into their gorgeous space.

City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran came back to his hometown ten years ago with a master's degree, national speaking championships, and absolutely no idea what to do next — so he did what any good storyteller would do and started driving around Chicago's South Side, parking outside his old apartments and recording himself talking about the memories each place held. What looked like creative wandering (photography one day, teaching storytelling in prisons the next, hosting events after that) was actually him figuring out that being a "creative nomad" isn't about being scattered — it's about giving yourself permission to explore while staying anchored to what truly drives you, which for him was connecting with people and mastering his craft. His journey from sitting in alleys recording the story of his uncle's bootleg cable installation to hosting 1,100+ podcast episodes about Chicago proves that sometimes the best career path is the one you create by following your curiosity, digging into your own story, and using your creativity to serve others instead of just yourself.

Jacoby Cochran is a writer, storyteller, and educator from Chicago. He is the award-winning senior host of City Cast Chicago, the city’s number one daily podcast. Whether exploring the public housing crisis, sitting down with the mayor, or roller-skating with his mom, Jacoby’s infectious curiosity has anchored the award-winning podcast for four years and over 1,000 episodes.

Graphic recording by Coté Soerens

Thank you to the Chicago Architecture Center for hosting us!

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966, dedicated to inspiring people to discover why design matters. A national leader in architecture and design education, the CAC offers tours, programs, exhibitions, and more that are part of a dynamic journey of lifelong learning.

Learn More about CAC

Check out more pics from our Nomad event on our Flickr! 

Our Summer Series kicked off last week with a trip to the Art Institute. You came for connection, you basked in the glory of artistic wonders, and perhaps you found your new creative besties. We loved having you!

"Mentorship doesn't always have to be people — they can be experiences. An experience can be a mentor." ✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us to hear Lewis Williams share about the mentors, both people and experiences, that have shaped his life. A special thank you to our friends at ALTAR who hosted us with such warm, welcoming vibes. 💛

Lewis took us on an inspiring journey through his career, sharing stories about the seven mentors who guided him along the way. From his parents who taught him to work hard and treat people right, to his college experience at Kent State that gave him confidence, Lewis showed us that mentors come in all forms — sometimes they're people you work with, sometimes they're artists who inspire you (like Archie Boston Jr., whom he finally met after decades!), and sometimes they're experiences that teach you tough lessons. His dad's advice stuck with him throughout his success: "Get a job where you work inside" — a reminder to stay humble no matter how far you climb.

Lewis is an award-winning creative leader and a masterful mentor himself. Through AD OG, his mission is to share knowledge and experiences to help mentor young or not so young creatives navigate the ad space. Curious to see his advertising work that spans over three decades? Find his portfolio here.

Graphic recording by the amazing Katya Balakina

Thanks to Altar for hosting us. 

Check out more pics from our Mentor event on our Flickr! 

"With a bit of passion and the audacity to color outside the lines, you can push your creativity to the next level."

Thank you to everyone who joined us to hear Jordan Harper and Mike Damato to celebrate the punk spirit that lives within all of us. You showed up as your authentic selves and that's what Creative Mornings and Punk is all about. Shout out to our friends at Live Bash for hosting us. 🖤

Mike and Jordan showed us how they broke out of their own shells to create something through cosplay. While they had no formal training, they had "hot glue, thread, and a passionate dream".

Thanks Mike and Jordan for helping Creative Mornings Chicago celebrate our 15th year! 💛

Find yourself in our pics here. 

#cmpunk #cmchicago