Community Takes the Stage

Community Takes the Stage — In celebration of our birthday every year, we invite Buffalo’s creative community to pitch stimulating and thought-provoking “shorts” of their take on March’s global CreativeMornings theme. This year, that theme is ‘Folklore’ and three creatives will share their interpretation of it as related to creativity.

➤ Anthony Pierce — I am a proud, homegrown Buffalo native from the Delavan-Grider District. The eldest of five siblings and son of civil service workers, I grew up around others who truly embodied the city of good neighbors. I grew up around block parties, Kwanzaa celebrations, and noisy cookouts complete with Spades and line dances. As the weight of community improvement shifts to my generation, I have found ways to apply unique interests of photography, martial arts, and superhero geek-dom to an ongoing effort to engage my city. I am the owner of Get AMP’D Photography & More and co-founder of The Galactic Tribe and Wakanda Alliance Program. Along with a team of driven creatives and the support of those who believe in me - no idea goes unheard or unapproachable when it comes to making Buffalo the best it should be.

➤ Kimberly Behzadi — My name is Kimberly Behzadi and I love everything food. I’ve spent the past five years working in consumer product goods, which means, I have helped launch some of the food you eat. I’ve worked on plant-based milks, Planters snack nuts, and currently Halo Top ice cream. Within my career I balance creative marketing, trends and insights, and actual product development. I’m the founder/owner of the Read It & Eat™ box. Read It and Eat is a foodie bookish subscription box on a mission to fight hunger and support small businesses. Read It and Eat boxes are sent quarterly, and always include a gently used book, a delicious treat that supports a small business, and a $5 donation to fight hunger in partnership with a local non-profit.

➤ Sara Ali — Sara Ali is a freelance writer and resin artist. She’s also a horror movie and Halloween fanatic. Ali has always been drawn to the dark and macabre, something you can see in her creative writing. She’s the founder of Alexandrite, an e-zine featuring collaborations between local poets and artists. She spends her days watching indie horror shorts (obviously) and hanging out with her husband and two cats.