Skylar Begay is Director of Tribal Collaboration at Archaeology Southwest. A citizen of the Diné Nation, he brings experience from the Arizona Conservation Corps, the U.S. Forest Service, and collaborative archaeological projects across the Southwest. His work centers on Tribal partnership and stewardship in protecting the Great Bend of the Gila.

Also of course we can do the video preview, let me know when it would be best for you all to come film.

John R. Welch is Vice President for Preservation & Collaboration at Archaeology Southwest, where he leads landscape- and site-based preservation efforts. He has more than three decades of experience working with Tribes in Arizona and New Mexico on research, stewardship, and outreach. He previously served as archaeologist and historic preservation officer for the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

Our theme for January is کورسو (KOORSOO). It was chosen by our Tehran chapter in Iran and illustrated by Hoda Ramy.

کورسو or Koorsoo (pronounced Koor·Soo) is a Farsi word meaning “a glimmer of hope.”

Each month, a different CreativeMornings chapter chooses a theme for our talks given in cities around the world. This year, many of our monthly themes will be in that chapter’s local language.

Our hope is that this will give each theme a richer meaning and foster deeper connections to other communities and cultures.

Our Tehran chapter had this to say about the significance of this month's theme:

"In our darkest hours, when everything seems to have dimmed, sometimes a light remains—not bright, not certain, but real. That is Koorsoo. A faint glimmer of hope that dares to survive. Koorsoo is not about triumph or clarity; it is about the fragile yet unwavering light that keeps us going. A glance, a memory, a word. Small things that prevent collapse. It represents the quiet resilience of those who continue in spite of the weight, who believe without guarantee. In a world that often normalizes despair, Koorsoo is a rebellion; soft, but profound. It reminds us, even the smallest spark matters.”</em>

As a new year begins, ask yourself, “what is giving me hope right now?”

It’s up to each of us to keep that little light shining. Protect it and hold it dear. But be careful not to smother it. Share your koorsoo with the people around you. Because the world needs all the hope it can get.

Tucson! We’re so excited to share that one of our own CM volunteers is our December speaker. If you’ve been to a CM Tucson event in the last 2+ years chances are you’ve been greeted and checked-in for the event by Jessica Gerlach. 🎉

Jessica is a designer, illustrator, and full-time wrangler of competing deadlines, scientific jargon, and—on particularly wild days—four cats. Based in Tucson, she holds an MFA in Visual Communications from the University of Arizona and currently works in-house at a land-grant university, translating complex research and outreach into visuals that actually make sense (and occasionally look great on a t-shirt).

A former design professor, Jessica has taught at multiple universities and previously led an arts-in-education program convincing schools that creativity is, in fact, essential. Her work is rooted in storytelling, nature, and just the right amount of chaos.

Our theme for December is INNOVATION. It was chosen by our Isfahan chapter in Iran and illustrated by Nazanin Emamieh.

Groundbreaking inventions and earth-shaking technologies make headlines and millions in profit. But innovation rarely arrives in a limousine. It shows up as a question or a pet peeve. A hunch that the default setting could be better. An inability to accept the status quo.

Innovation is risky and rebellious. It means breaking the routine and reimagining the familiar. It treats uncertainty as an invitation instead of a barrier. Innovation doesn’t take a genius, it just requires curiosity and willingness to try. And try again.

The world needs more tinkerers, experimenters, and fixers. People who believe change is possible and start with whatever they have. Then don’t stop until they’ve made something new or better.

Creativity asks, “what if?” Innovation replies, “here’s how.”

Ames (Amanda Meeks) is a death doula, interdisciplinary artist, teaching librarian, and community archivist living in Tucson, AZ. As a doula, they are committed to building compassionate, creative spaces for exploring death, dying, and grief. In addition to offering individual and community-based doula support, their own creative work centers around themes of love, grief, and feminist care through zines, book arts, and participatory experiences that invite reflection. 

Zines and artists’ books have been an important part of Ames’ creative and teaching practice for over 20 years. Since moving to Tucson, Ames launched a social art practice project and zine bike called Outspokin’ & Bookish, which has been running since early 2020, bringing zines and zine-making activities to community events such as Cyclovia and art markets. Ames has also facilitated many collaborative zine projects and led dozens of in-person and virtual zine workshops for all ages in Tucson and beyond.

Our theme for September is BLOSSOM. It was chosen by our Pereira chapter in Colombia, illustrated by Edwin Morales, and is presented by Adobe.  

Every blossom is an act of becoming. The quiet force of roots pushing through the dark, the slow unfurling of a bud, a sudden burst of color. But plants don’t blossom on command. Each flower requires the right amount of sunlight, water, and nourishment across the cycle of the seasons. 

It’s the same for creativity. Our next idea lies dormant, while we fertilize our mind. With attention, protection, and space to play, our work becomes what it is meant to be. Petal by petal, the passion inside us bursts into a glorious bouquet.

But remember that flowers don’t bloom purely for their own sake. They share their fragrance, attract pollinators, and serve the larger ecosystem. Your creativity needs to pollinate as well. So, share your gift. Spread more ideas, more beauty, and more courage. 

To truly blossom, you must take the risk of opening up. This is your season. You deserve to be seen. Offer your abundance of color to the world! 

Ask yourself, “what within me is ready to blossom?” “What can I nurture to help others do the same?”

Meet January’s Speaker, Steve Nash. 🎉

Steve Nash has been President & CEO of Archaeology Southwest in Tucson since January, 2024. Prior to then he served as Director of Anthropology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (2006-2023) and Head of Collections in the Department of Anthropology at the Field Museum in his hometown of Chicago. Steve earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Anthropology at the University of Arizona and his B.A. at Grinnell College in Iowa.

As Steve likes to say, “the epic sweep of humanity is indeed mighty cool to behold.” Over the course of his career, he has done archaeological fieldwork on Neanderthal sites in southwestern France and in sites across the American Southwest, including tree-ring dating at Mesa Verde National Park.

He is a recognized world leader in the voluntary repatriation and return of ancestors and belongings that are housed in museums in the absence of informed consent, most notably to the Mijikenda people of coastal Kenya. He has published 10 books and dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as more than 60 “Curiosities” columns at the award-winning on-line anthropology magazine SAPIENS.org.

Our theme for January is JOURNEY. It was chosen by our Muscat chapter in Oman and illustrated by Salim Al Salami. 

Let’s go. Let’s get out there and see what the world has waiting for us. 

By putting ourselves in a new environment or experience, we gain a different perspective. That sense of discovery sparks fresh inspiration. If your brain feels stuck, try moving your feet. 

So, let’s travel somewhere we’ve never been. Either down the street or across a far-off border, there’s so many places to explore. Or we can take a metaphorical journey like unlocking personal growth in therapy, advancing on our career paths, or undergoing a spiritual awakening. Or we can enjoy a journey into imagination through a book, film, or other work of art.

As we travel through life, everyone you meet is at a different point in their own unique journey. Some of us know where we’re going. While other paths are full of twists, turns, and obstacles thrown in our way. The trick is to embrace the detours and delays. Because there are no shortcuts on a journey of self-discovery or creative expression. 

Just please remember: you are not traveling alone.

Meet December’s Speaker: Kathleen Dreier! 🎉

Kathleen Dreier is a versatile portrait/event photographer based in Tucson, Arizona. Kathleen whole-heartedly serves clients from all communities, fostering an inclusive environment where every person’s unique stories and experiences are honored. Since 2006, Kathleen has specialized in and is known for capturing candid moments, documenting authentic emotions and genuine interactions. Kathleen’s intention is to seamlessly navigate both private and public spaces, preserving moments with a unique blend of artistry and storytelling.

Our theme for December is CYCLE. It was chosen by our Freiburg chapter in Germany and illustrated by Isabell Meister. 

Our Freiburg chapter had sustainability in mind when they chose this theme — from their swarms of cyclists commuting to work to their robust recycling programs that recover and reuse 69% of the city’s waste. 

Our world runs on cycles. There’s the frantic buzz of the 24-hour news cycle. The boom and bust of economic cycles. The changing seasons. Every plant, animal, and organism exists in a life cycle of birth, growth, reproduction, and death. Water flows through a cycle of evaporation into vapor to condensation in clouds to precipitation that falls as rain or snow. The menstrual cycle. The circadian rhythm of our sleep cycle. 

Just as crops are grown on a rotation cycle to replenish the soil, our own creativity requires a cycle of inspiration or inputs, followed by a burst of productivity or entering a flow state, and finally a period of rest or contemplation. 

Cycles are circular and keep things moving. Which cycles are you living in tune with? And which ones are you fighting vainly against?