MIC? 🎤 Check! 💌 A Love Letter From January's Event

A Love Letter from January 16 کورسو (Koorsoo) Event

The 2026 CreativeMornings MKE season kicked off in true storybook fashion with our first event of the year, themed Koorsoo — a faint glimmer of hope that survives in the darkness.

As snow fell steadily all morning, Hart Park in Wauwatosa transformed into a wintery Wisconsin scene, setting the perfect backdrop for a theme rooted in quiet resilience and soft rebellion against despair.

Curling teams slid across the ice nearby while attendees gathered, bundled up and energized, to welcome the new year together.

Our Venue Hosts

Hosted by Heat Haven Suna Park, owners Jesse Hieb and Ryan Bingham shared their vision: “We just wanted to build something that helps people feel good, connect with others and maybe even enjoy being outside when everyone else is hiding inside.”

With hot coffee generously donated by Discourse Coffee, donuts from Cranky Al's, and good vibes fueled by a completely full room (and standing room only!), the morning was a powerful reminder that even the smallest sparks of warmth and connection can shine bright in the heart of winter.

Our Featured Performer

Setting the tone for the morning was Maximiano Janairo, who's music held the room with a quiet, steady glow. Their work is rarely about just one emotion, moment or person — instead, it lives in the in-between, where growth, uncertainty and hope gently overlap.

Their debut album, The Real Truth, explores how experience flows through seasons of change, making it a natural and deeply felt companion to our January theme, Koorsoo.

Maximiano shared that they knew there was a faint glimmer of hope — but didn’t quite trust it yet.

So they did what artists do best: they wrote a song to convince themselves. That song, “Simple,” was performed for everyone in attendance, offering a tender moment of honesty, vulnerability and soft reassurance that lingered long after the final note.

The Real Truth was ranked the third best album of 2024 by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, described as “one of the most piercing and emotionally resonant collections of songs from a Milwaukee artist… a towering artistic achievement.” And there’s more to look forward to — Maximiano will be releasing their second album, Rokeby, on April 1.

Connect, listen, and follow along:
📩: musicbymaximiano@gmail.com
🌐: maximianomusic.com
🌆: @publicmaximiano

This Month's Speaker

Our January CreativeMornings MKE keynote was a powerful reminder of how storytelling can carry us through life’s most unexpected chapters. Suzanne Spencer began by asking a simple but profound question: What’s the story behind where you are today?

As a news reporter, she built her career around telling stories of resilience — stories that mattered. Every day, she saw how storytelling had the power to inform, connect and make a difference. But in 2021, the story that would put her most to the test became her own.

A phone call from her doctor revealed a brain tumor, abruptly changing the script of her life. Suzanne went from having it all to not knowing what the next day would bring, eventually undergoing two brain surgeries — one while pregnant.

She shared the moment with striking honesty: “I was facing death at the very moment I was also bringing life into this world.”

Through sincerity, vulnerability, and humor — including the blunt email she sent to her family announcing she had a brain tumor — and photos she once thought she’d never share, she invited the room into the most challenging season of her life.

Suzanne spoke openly about the flood of what ifs: What if I don’t survive surgery? What if I come out of this differently? Will I return to a job that I love? How do I become a mom to a newborn while recovering from brain surgery?

And ultimately, the question that reshaped everything: “What is the point of surviving it if I don’t turn it into something more?”

When I say mic you say check – Mic? Check. Mic? Check.

From that experience, Suzanne introduced a simple yet powerful framework for resilience — M.I.C.

Mindset
Mindset matters. She described intentionally shifting from fear to gratitude, starting with a single decision and choosing her mindset in each moment.

Inner Voice
The inner voice narrates the story we tell ourselves, which then becomes the story we tell others. Becoming curious about that voice can change everything.

Community
Resilience doesn’t happen alone. Build your community before you need it. To receive support, you also have to give it. Her message resonated because it was universal.

While her story centered on a brain tumor and an unexpected diagnosis, people saw themselves in it — the invisible scars, the uncertainty, the moments when life comes without a blueprint or guidebook.

Suzanne's story reminded us that challenge connects us all, and that long after the details fade, you will remember how you felt hope.

Espresso Shots

Danielle Scampini Linn | Little Geese Shop

Our first Espresso Shot kicked off with serious heart and high energy from Danielle Scampini Linn, owner of Little Geese Shop — a community-driven children’s boutique built for real life with kids.

As a mom of three (ages 3, 6, and 8), Danielle shared her belief that life shouldn’t stop or completely change when you have kids — you should bring them along on all your adventures. Little Geese Shop was created to make that possible, offering a space where families can care for their kids while still caring for themselves.

From buying, selling and shopping thoughtfully curated secondhand finds to renting welcoming spaces like the Mother Goose Room and Golden Goose Lounge, Little Geese is all about flexibility, connection and community.

With a mission to make secondhand shopping fun, easy, and genuinely worth it, Little Geese Shop gives high-quality kids’ clothing and gear a second life — helping parents save money, reduce waste and keep their little ones looking great. Danielle’s passion, joy and rapid-fire enthusiasm filled the room, reminding us that strong communities are built one tiny treasure (and one bold idea) at a time.

Learn more or get involved:

🪿: 7601 Harwood Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
📩: hello@littlegeeseshop
🌐: littlegeeseshop.com
🌆: @littlegeeseshop

Anna Jarecki Cure | Nourish Skin and Sugar Studio

Our second Espresso Shot brought the buzz with Anna Jarecki Cure, founder of Nourish Skin and Sugar Studio, a locally owned East Tosa wellness space redefining modern, holistic self-care.

What started as a one-woman operation has grown into a phenomenal team — and in 2026, Nourish is leveling up even more with plans to expand into a full-service hair studio, create more community-driven experiences and continue growing their CBC-based skincare line, Good Influence.

From introducing sugaring — a gentler, plant-based form of hair removal still new to the Midwest — to actively investing in her neighborhood, Nourish is rooted in care, intention and connection.

Anna shared her journey of building a business and is now working toward purchasing the building and expanding the studio’s impact even further. Her message landed simply and powerfully: “When you invest in the people and places with intention, everything thrives.”

It’s a domino effect — and Anna is living proof of what happens when you pour back into your community.

Follow along and connect:

🧖🏻‍♀️: 6230 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208
📩: nourishmkestudio@gmail.com
🌐: nourishmke.com
🌆: @nourishskinstdio

Matt Garza | "You Got A Guy" Build & Finish Pro

Closing out our Espresso Shots was Matt Garza, founder of You Got a Guy Build & Finish Pro — and yes, he really is that guy.

New to Milwaukee after moving from Austin, TX about a year ago, Matt brings quality craftsmanship, straightforward pricing, and refreshingly honest work to local homeowners who want to love their spaces. From house painting to custom-built furniture, his focus is on results that last — and projects that don’t come with stress.

Matt spoke candidly (and hilariously) about how overwhelming homeownership can feel. His goal? To make home projects easy, enjoyable, and actually kind of fun — by being reliable, paying attention to the details, and showing up as someone you’re genuinely glad to have in your home.

In an industry where trust can be hard to find, Matt emphasized how important it is to be professional, transparent, and respectful of both people and budgets. With humor, heart, and a genuinely helpful spirit, Matt made it clear he’s not just fixing homes— he’s building trust.

If you’ve got a project in mind (big or small), shoot him an email at mattmgarza@gmail.com or text 512-644-3038.