Creative person or not, if you've been tuned into the news at all the past few years — no matter what your political stance may be you've felt this national, maybe global feeling of anxiety.

We want to provide equitable opportunities as opposed to equal opportunities because there's a big difference.

In the civic realm, what are our responsibilities to make sure that people are being represented well and that every single opportunity that comes their way is not a one-size-fits-all solution or representation?

"...but if you do your best, you can never be angry that anxiety won, right? I gave it everything I got and if it didn't work out ... that's ok I'm still worthy, I'm still creative, I'm still authentic and yeah, I'm still lovable."

"..but if I've recognized what my triggers (to anxiety) are, I can actively work on making it better and ... embracing whatever the universe wants to throw my way..."

Creativity thrives when devoid of the borders you build within your own mind.

Stories are powerful, especially within the context that they are told or represented.

My perspective as an ally is not the same as someone who is directly affected by the issue that I am exploring in my work.

When I rise, they rise with me.

As a child of immigrants, a product of two people who experienced extreme poverty and migrated to this country for a better opportunity, I carry their triumphs and struggles with me.

Anxiety whether friend or foe, whether you do these 3 things or not; remember, human beings, it doesn't have to control who you are. It doesn't have to define who you are.

If you do your best, you can never be angry that anxiety won.

Do your best - anxiety does not want you to do your best. Anxiety will make you run away from the best possible you. Anxiety will want the worst for you.

Here is the one gift that anxiety actually gives us - anxiety reminds us that we are human, and we are alive, and we are feeling. And, for good or for bad, the feelings will trigger others, trigger ourselves, guide our moon, guide our stars, guide what we are doing in life.

Recognize and redirect. Recognize when you actually have anxiety in your life, and name it for what it is.

Let go, to quell the voice. You can't do it all, you can't please everyone... you're not nutella.

I had actually conquered the anxiety, conquered the fear, and done something that made me feel alive. Alive.

Anxiety is what keeps us segregated in 2018, in Charlotte. Anxiety is when people are like "I didn't even know that when on over here, or there, or that was even a thing". It prevents us from knowing each other.

I also know that if I don't push past that anxiety, that person and me may never learn. That we may never have new conversations, I we don't push past the exterior, and have some real hard and honest conversations about stuff that matters.

But, the fact that I walk the Earth with anxiety of what people think of me, and what they interpret of me, because of how my skin looks and how my hair is done... that anxiety is, almost, retarding. It keeps me in one place.

I inspire men and women to be better than they were yesterday, and even better tomorrow #WeMakeLeaders

You realize that anxiety is an internal force, right? It starts from within. It is, literally, self-sabotage.

If you look around, there is art all in this room. You're wearing it, you're sitting in it, Christmas trees, lights, sound, video, photographers, we've all got our phone out... those are all designed and created by artistic people.

The arts are dying in school, and I agree, we've gotta find a ways to get it back in front of kids. It's the next generation of creative people.

I'm an artist, but basketball just got in the way for 10 years.