A Morning of Music, Purpose & Power with Dennis Reed, Jr.
America's Got Talent Finalist / Founder of Inspire the Fire & Sainted Trap Choir

Charlotte, we need you to hear this. On Friday, May 1st from 8:00–10:00 a.m., CreativeMornings/Charlotte brings the heat with a speaker who has literally performed at Biden's Presidential Inauguration, rocked the Super Bowl, and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama — all in the name of empowering young creatives. Meet your next favorite human: Dennis Reed, Jr.

He’ll be speaking on our global CreativeMornings theme of CREATE. And we can’t think of anyone more qualified to unpack what it really means to make something — especially when the stakes are high and the community is counting on you.

FROM CHARLOTTE STAGES TO NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Dennis is the founder of Inspire the Fire, a nonprofit that has empowered hundreds of youth across the Carolinas through music, mentorship, and the arts. His signature ensemble, the Sainted Trap Choir, blends gospel and trap music into something that has to be heard (and seen) to be believed — they took it all the way to the finals of America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League under Simon Cowell’s eye.

But Dennis doesn’t just perform. He builds. Inspire the Fire has earned a dedicated “Inspire the Fire Day” right here in Charlotte, and his decade of service to youth in the arts earned him that Presidential recognition. Come hear the story behind the man and the mission.

WHERE BETTER TO TALK FIRE THAN THE HOME OF 200 MPH?
Our incredible hosts, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), are welcoming us to the NASCAR Hall of Fame — a venue that knows a thing or two about burning rubber and going full throttle. It’s the perfect backdrop for a morning built around heat, speed, and creative ignition. And did we mention? PARKING IS FREE! ✅

This one has all the ingredients of an unforgettable Friday morning. Don’t sleep on it.

BUT WAIT … THE CREATIVE VIBES DON’T STOP THERE!
We’re packing the morning with brilliance:

🔥 DJ set by Harvey Cummings II
🔥 Live performance by the Charlotte Chamber Choir
🔥 Morning brew from Enderly Coffee
🔥 Morning Mocktails by Swizzled
🔥 Breakfast bites from Community Culinary School of Charlotte
🔥 A Bolt of Inspiration from UNC Charlotte & The Savage Way
🔥 H.U.G. Micro-Grants, 49-Second Pitches & more

These tickets will go FAST, reserve your FREE ticket now by clicking HERE!

On April 3, Bring Your Kids to CM!
Elsa, Anna and Krum will be awaiting your arrival

In case you forgot, CMS Spring Break starts Friday, April 3. And we have a pretty great idea for how to kick it off:

Bring your kids to CreativeMornings/Charlotte!

On Friday, April 3rd from 8:00–10:00 AM, we'll be gathering at the Children's Theatre of Charlotte's McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn — and we'll be sitting inside the set of their production of FROZEN. ❄️

Your kids will think you planned this on purpose. Let them believe it.

BUT WAIT — IT GETS BETTER
The person taking the CM stage inside that icy kingdom? Robert Krumbine — one of the most imaginative creative minds this city has ever called its own.

Robert came to Charlotte after a storied career in such roles as Senior Entertainment Producer at Paramount Parks, where he managed major events like Titanic the Movie on Tour, the Star Trek World Tour in Germany, and Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton.

For decades, he's been the creative force behind some of Charlotte's biggest, boldest, most beloved events and festivals. Including a little thing called Charlotte SHOUT! — which, not coincidentally, CreativeMornings is helping to kick off that very morning.

And get this: he'll be speaking on our global CreativeMornings theme of “EMBER.” A man who knows how to make a creative spark grow into a bonfire ... speaking inside a castle of ice and snow. Perilous! Dramatic! We couldn't have scripted it better.

ALL GOOD THINGS ... ALL GOOD THINGS ...
We'll be kicking off Charlotte SHOUT! with all the treats and trimmings you've come to expect from CreativeMornings:

☕ Enderly Coffee — morning fuel for the grown-ups
🥐 Community Culinary School of Charlotte — tasty treats for everyone
🥂 Swizzled — morning mocktails for adults and kids alike
👏 Live Music, H.U.G. Micro-Grants, a Bolt of Inspiration, 49-Second Pitches & more

JOIN US FOR "WARM HUGS" AND HIGH-FIVES!
⚡WHEN: Friday, April 3 from 8:00-10:00 AM
⚡WHERE: ImaginOn
⚡HOW: Get your FREE ticket here!

Some people are worth melting for — and we think Robert Krumbine is one of them. So LET IT ALL GO! Bring your family, find your people, and start Spring Break the way all great adventures begin — with a joyful reminder that EVERYONE IS CREATIVE and EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

Our Next Speaker is CarlosAlexis Cruz on Feb. 13 at 8 a.m.

Young lovers, we know there is a lot on your mind before Valentine's Day this year. But the morning before belongs to us at CreativeMornings/Charlotte. And, boy, have we got a morning planned for you!

Our word in February is Camino. It was selected by our Oviedo chapter and means "way" or "path." It’s inspired by the centuries-old pilgrimage route and symbolizes journey, choice and discovery. Once we knew the word, there was only one person we trusted to take it on -- CarlosAlexis Cruz!

CarlosAlexis is the Director of the Community, Heritage & the Arts (CHArt) at the College of Arts and Architecture and Professor of Physical Theatre at UNC Charlotte. He's been recognized as a distinguished professor of civic engagement (2023) and community-engaged scholar (2024).

He's also the Producing Artistic Director of the Nouveau Sud Circus project -- a socially-engaged circus company in service of intercultural communications. The group is currently invested in La BESTIA, their take on the journey of Central American immigrants to the United States, a journey more perilous today than it was when the show began.

Carlos is a big fan of CreativeMornings/Charlotte. In fact, Nouveau Sud joined us for just the 6th meeting of CM/CLT at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art almost 10 years ago! (See above.) He helped us explore RISK then and he's ready to take on CAMINO, now.

This is going to be a special morning in a special place as Jonathan Coppedge-Henley has invited us back to one of our favorite spots ... Woodlawn Community Fellowship. This is an exciting place with a powerful purpose: putting themselves to the service of the community. And that could even mean you.

You know the morning wouldn't be complete without hot coffee from Enderly, tasty treats from Community Culinary School, mocktails from Swizzled, HUGs, Bolts, games, live music, 49-Second Pitches and (maybe-just-maybe) a sponsor song.

We're already hard at work. All you have to do is bring yourself to the morning party! Get your FREE tickets HERE!

Join us Friday, January 2, 2026 as we kick off our 10th Anniversary Year!

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer each other is this: کورسو ("Koor·Soo") — a faint glimmer of hope. And on the morning of January 2nd, that glimmer comes in the form of Michelle Fernandez.

Michelle is a local artist, first-generation American, mother, licensed therapist, and the creative force behind Limoncito Goods, Fresh Squeezed Craft Club, and La Bodeguita at Camp North End. She weaves art, therapy, and wellness together to create spaces where people can cultivate deeper self-awareness and heal through creativity.

In a moment when our immigrant community faces unprecedented attacks and uncertainty, Michelle's voice is exactly what we need to hear. Her story of building bridges between cultures and creating belonging through creativity reminds us why our creative community matters so deeply.

So, let's start our 10th Anniversary Year with hope, inspiration, creativity – and each other.

When: Friday, January 2, 2026, 8:00–10:00 AM
Where: Fullwood Theatre at Matthews Community Center
Cost: FREE (but registration required – which you can do RIGHT HERE!)

Here's what will be waiting for you in the heart of Matthews:

☕ Hot java from Enderly Coffee
🥐 Breakfast bites from Community Culinary School of Charlotte
🥂 Morning mocktails from Swizzled
⚡ 49-Second Pitches, Bolts of Inspiration & heartfelt connections
🤗 HUGS, high fives & heapin' helpings of community
💛 A message of hope to carry into the new year

Why This Morning Matters

Hope is cultivated in community. Creativity is resistance. And showing up for each other — especially our immigrant neighbors who enrich our city every single day — is how we keep that faint glimmer alive.

Come experience why کورسو is exactly the energy we need to launch into our 10th Anniversary Year!

Our final CreativeMornings/Charlotte of 2025 is almost here, and we are closing the year with a celebration of creativity, community and ten full years of CM/CLT.

HEAR HARVEY!
On Friday, Dec. 5 from 8 to 10 a.m. we will gather at The Pearl at 905 Pearl Park Way to explore the global theme of Innovation with our very own Music Man, Harvey Cummings II.

For years, Harvey has laid down the CreativeMornings soundtrack for us. Now, learn about the man behind the turntable. Harvey is a masterful Charlotte musician whose mix of jazz, hip hop and soul has taken him from local stages to national and international platforms.

We are also celebrating another milestone: 10 years of CreativeMornings/CLT. We will cut the cake, share stories and close out a decade of creativity, curiosity and community.

GET YOUR FREE TICKET HERE!
Seats will go fast. Register today and INVITE someone who has never been to CM/CLT. Help us widen the circle. CLICK HERE TO CLAIM THAT TICKET!

And on Friday, Nov. 7, he's going to tell us how he does it.

Daybreak Legends, our November theme is GROWTH — and we couldn't have found a better embodiment of it than Matt Alvis (aka @stencilspray).

Matt is a painter, curator, mentor, and one of those rare humans who believes that when artists thrive, entire communities flourish. His intricate multi-layer stencil work is stunning, for sure. But what really sets Matt apart? He spends much of his career creating the conditions for other artists to grow.

Whether it’s Activation Studios, the TAC Gallery, Art Cart NoDa or the Charlotte SHOUT! Lounge – Matt doesn't just make art. He makes room for art to happen.

GRAB YOUR FREE TICKET NOW
When: Friday, November 7, 8–10 AM
Where: Mint Museum Randolph
Cost: FREE (but you gotta register!)

Here's what's growing at this event:

🎨 Free parking at the Mint Museum Randolph
☕ Hot java from Enderly Coffee
🥐 Breakfast bites from Community Culinary School of Charlotte
🥂 Morning mocktails from Swizzled
🎸 Live music from Falllift
⚡ 49-Second Pitches, a Bolt of Inspiration & connections galore
💚 Your creative network (because growth happens in community)

And while you're with us on 11/7 -- Check out 2 exhibitions perfect for the theme of "Growth."
The Mint is currently showing "Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks" and "Central Impact: Skateboarding's Art and Influence" — both celebrating DIY culture, grassroots creativity, and art that builds community. Just like Matt's work. Central Impact especially honors Charlotte's skate scene and the builders who create spaces from scratch. Sound familiar? Stick around after our event to explore them.

The bottom line:
Growth doesn't happen in isolation. It happens when someone believes in you, opens a door, makes space, and says "yes, you belong here, too." Matt Alvis has been that person for hundreds of Charlotte artists.

Let's spend a morning learning how he does it — and how we can do it, too. GRAB YOUR FREE TICKET NOW!

Ready to Archive Some Amazing Memories?

Join us October 10 at CO-LAB at UNC Charlotte Center City to hear from Cheryse Terry — Charlotte native, mother, vintage collector, self-taught archivist, and the visionary founder of ARCHIVE CLT. Through grassroots fundraising, she brought her café and community hub on Beatties Ford Road to life. In just five months after opening, Cheryse’s work preserving Black history and culture caught the attention of the Today Show. Her personal collection even graced the walls of the Mint Museum’s exhibition “The Vault.”

But here’s what makes Cheryse’s story perfect for our morning together: she didn’t wait for permission to become the change she wished to see. She saw what her community needed and made it happen — one vintage find, one story, one preserved piece of history at a time.Cheryse knows that creative entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business. It’s about building something that matters, something that lasts, something that serves your community.

So … Let’s All Have a CreativeMorning — Entrepreneur Style!

Join us Friday, October 10 from 8 to 10 a.m. when Cheryse Terry takes the stage at CO-LAB at UNC Charlotte Center City — an innovation and entrepreneurship hub that cultivates collaboration, creativity and technological advancement. (Pretty perfect venue match, right?)And speaking of perfect matches — we’re helping our sponsor, UNC Charlotte, kick off Niner Nation Week 2025 with this event! That means we’ll have everything you love about CreativeMornings PLUS:

🚗 FREE Uptown Parking!
🎵 Charlotte drumline and live music
🤸‍♀️ UNC Charlotte cheerleaders
🎁 49er swag and amazing giveaways
☕ Hot java from Enderly Coffee
🥐 Breakfast bites from Community Culinary School of Charlotte
🥂 Morning Mocktails from Swizzled
⚡ 49-Second Pitches & Bolts of Inspiration
🤗 HUGS, high fives & heapin’ helpings of connection

Get your FREE ticket right now!

Cheryse’s story proves that the best entrepreneurs don’t just build businesses — they build community, preserve culture, and create spaces where everyone belongs. Come learn how she turned her passion for Charlotte’s West Side into a thriving hub that celebrates our city’s rich cultural heritage.

Because just like Cheryse will tell you, some memories are worth preserving forever. This CreativeMorning promises to be one of them. GET YOUR FREE TICKET NOW!

Have you seen this man before? Yeah, you have!

Whether it’s celebrating the creative community of Charlotte with us every month, gracing Queen City stages as an actor, starring in radio and TV commercials or … you know … appearing in hit shows like Ozark, Stranger Things, Outer Banks, The Hate U Give, Homeland, Nashville and The Vampire Diaries.

Brian Lafontaine has spent over 30 years as a professional actor, but his real superpower is helping people communicate with clarity, confidence and authenticity.

As a public speaking coach and event host, Brian helps people stop “presenting” and start connecting. Because your message matters — but only if people believe you when you say it.

Join us Friday, Sept. 5 from 8 to 10 a.m. when Brian Lafontaine takes the stage at Project 658 to speak on the global theme of “Blossom.”

As always, we’ll have hot java from Enderly Coffee, breakfast bits from Community Culinary School of Charlotte, 49-Second Pitches, Bolts of Inspiration, HUGS, high-fives, live music and heapin’ helpings of community connection and togetherness.

Get your FREE ticket right now at https://creativemornings.com/talks/brian-lafontaine

Do you have strong feelings about artificial intelligence? Are you looking to learn more and figure out how it’s affecting your life and your artistic pursuits? Good. Let’s get into it. 

From 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday, August 8, we’re going to do something a little different at CreativeMornings/Charlotte.

As CreativeMornings chapters around the world have been doing throughout the year, we’re engaging our chapter in a community conversation about artificial intelligence (A.I.) and creativity at Blume Studios. This is part of CreativeMornings’ international “Thriving Through Change” series.

AUGUST 8, ON A VERY SPECIAL CM/CLT …

While the morning will still feature the creative fellowship we all love – along with hot Enderly Coffee, breakfast bites from Community Culinary School of Charlotte, a giveaway game and (yes) even the infamous sponsor song – this gathering will center on a moderated chat about how A.I. is impacting the present and the future of creatives. 

We’ve gathered a panel of 7 individuals with a wide array of experience, opinions and feelings about A.I. Before we break into audience questions, we’ll be throwing a crowdsourced series of statements and questions at our panel to see how they feel about them and to allow them to share their perspectives.

Now, we need your help to develop the list of questions and statements we’ll ask our panelists to react to. We are aiming for a diverse collection of opinions/positions from folks who are excited to use A.I. in their work … to those who are still uncertain … to those we are greatly concerned about the impact A.I. is having on their work.

That’s where you come in! If you have something you’d like us to consider sharing with the panel, PLEASE CLICK HERE and take this 2-minute survey where you can share your question(s).

AND THEN, GET YOUR FREE TICKET!

This is sure to be a robust morning in a truly future-focused place – Blume Studios. And, it won’t be the same without you. CLICK HERE to claim your FREE ticket! 

Davita Galloway
Jul 18, 2025
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM EDT
Johnson C. Smith University Science Center

On June 2, 2017, Dr. Davita Galloway asked a vitally important question: What does it take to survive as a creative in Charlotte?

On Friday, July 18, 2025, she’ back again – our first ever repeat speaker ever – to hare her thoughts on the global theme of “Mentor.”

Davita is a creative leader. An active, beloved, engaging, supportive and challenging Charlotte creative, entrepreneur and fashion-forward force for change who believes in building safe spaces for self-expression and community empowerment.

We’re being generously hosted at the Johnson C. Smith University Science Center. Doors will open at 8:00 a.m. for coffee, breakfast bites, morning mocktails, music, mingling and more, and then our inspiring program will run 8:30-10:00 a.m. Tickets are currently available — so grab yours while you can.

And, fear not – our friends at Charlotte Star Room will be filming it for you to watch later if you’re unable to be in the room with us this month. Learn more at https://creativemornings.com/talks/davita-galloway