CreativeMornings Portland

Welcome ☀️sunshine, creators and curators! We will see you at the fabulous on Friday, May 29 to hear from a woman who knows how to bring people together and visions to life: Tracy Cameron Francis.

🎟️Free tickets at link in bio. 🎟️

We’ll also welcome a few makers to the stage to launch their completed projects! It’ll be the most fun show & tell you’ve seen since kindergarten. And that, friends, is a high creative bar.

MEET THE SPEAKER 
A first-generation Egyptian-American director, Tracy’s work spans disciplines, genres and mediums. She is currently the Artistic Director of .

Tracy is a core member of and serves on the steering committee for the newly formed . She holds a B.A. from Fordham University in Middle Eastern Studies and Theatre, is a member of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and an associate member of SDC. Tracy’s creative work background is truly expansive, you just need to go read about everything she’s done on her website!

🤩 Our May global theme is CREATE. It was chosen in collaboration with our global partner and illustrated by Ana Grigorovici .studio.

Did you scroll this far? Here’s a secret: We might have yet another surprise performance in store for you at Friday’s event! Come find out. 🤫

🧨 The countdown to Release Day for YOUR project begins May 1—are you in? Put an emoji about your project in the comments if you’re participating!!!

is a collective deadline for that project you never seem to have enough time for. Or the new idea you want to dive into, headfirst. A sculpture. A podcast. An experiment. A first draft, or seven-hundredth (and final) draft. Whatever makes your curious and creative heart flutter, this is an encouragement to focus on your passion project all month . . . then launch! 🚀

comes with weekly check-ins, tips, motivation & accountability thanks to , .Quests, and . 😄 On May 29, join people around the world releasing their creative projects in a global firework display of creativity! 🌏 Sign up link in bio.

AND if you want to showcase your finished project at the May 29 , email [email protected]. We’ll randomly select 3 people to show & tell! We can’t wait to see what you create. 💜

🎟️ Free ticket link in bio for on April 24 ft. Chris Williams () 💜
What turns a spark into a story, a stranger into a collaborator? Grab a ticket for an interactive talk with Front Porch Sessions founder Chris Williams to find out! ✨Chris will explore how stories spark dormant memories and create unexpected connections. He’ll also share lessons he learned through storytelling and improv, and that the moments we almost overlook often hold the most creative power. ❤️

MEET THE SPEAKER
Chris Williams is a storyteller, improviser, educator, group facilitator, and community builder who believes the world gets a little better every time two strangers recognize themselves in each other. Based in , he currently works professionally in public education, where he focuses on elevating student voice, strengthening community engagement, and helping schools create spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and valued. Much of his work, both inside and outside the classroom, is rooted in a simple idea: when people share their stories, the distance between them shrinks.

He is the creator and co-producer of You Are Not Alone, a live storytelling series presented under the umbrella of his LLC, . The show blends humor, honesty, and audience interaction to create nights where people laugh, reflect, and leave feeling a little less like strangers. Chris is drawn to work that lives somewhere between performance and conversation, where audiences are not just spectators but participants in a shared human moment.

Whether he’s facilitating a workshop, hosting a show, or speaking with an audience, Chris is most interested in creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest, brave enough to listen, and open enough to recognize a bit of themselves in someone else’s story. 🔥

🔥 Our April global theme is EMBER. It was chosen by our Poulsbo chapter in Washington and illustrated by .

📆 Save the date for CMPDX: April 24 featuring

🔥 Our April global theme is EMBER. It was chosen by our Poulsbo chapter in Washington and illustrated by .

The literal meaning of ember is a small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire. But as a metaphor, it means so much more.

Our Poulsbo chapter had this to say about the significance of the theme:
“Embers represent the quiet, enduring remnants of fire—what remains after the intensity fades. They carry a smoldering potential, a subtle strength that holds heat long after the flames have gone. As a quieter community outside the city, we may not always burn the brightest, but we never burn out. Our spark lives in reflection, resilience, and the space we have to pause, think, and grow.

In those calm moments, we find what many others miss: the steady glow of ideas, relationships, and dreams that don’t need noise to thrive. Embers remind us that even after challenges or change, something powerful remains—ready to reignite when needed. We hold that same quiet fire within ourselves, and in community with each other, we kindle more.
Together, we tend the quiet fire—fueling one another through presence, care, and shared warmth.”

What ember is quietly glowing inside you? And what new fire will it ignite in your life?

Did you RSVP for CreativeMornings on 3/27? 👉 link in bio

For theme LOCAL, we couldn’t pass up the chance to bring you not one but four speakers. Why? Because there is no one way to be “local.” It’s about community, connection & belonging. Kevin, Daren, Joaquin & Fuchsia each bring a singular perspective on how places define us (or don’t), the importance of developing community around arts & culture, and how different spaces offer inspiration and opportunities to forge bonds with people around us.

MEET THE SPEAKERS
✨ Fuchsia Lin () is a Taiwanese-American artist, fashion/costume designer and filmmaker who has worked in NYC, Paris and Taipei. Her imaginative art and performance work invites people together from across the disciplines of film, fashion, dance and the performing artsint her fantastical worlds. Her work has won numerous grants and awards, including the Women in Film PDX Vision Grant Narrative Award for her film Future Cosmos Flow.

✨ Joaquin Lopez () is a performing artist and counselor whose work is grounded in personal transformation, self-expression, and Latino Q***r identity. He holds a passion for producing cultural events that honor Latin American heritage and Latino Gay culture. Among May arts & culture leadership roles in Oregon, Joaquin recently served as a Portland Creative Laureate.

✨ Daren Todd () is a muralist and multidisciplinary artist whose work fosters inclusivity and advocates for equality for marginalized communities, addressing themes such as q***r visibility, racial justice, and support for immigrant communities. Through his creative firm Art Larger Than Me, Daren creates art that inspires conversations and personal reflection.

✨ Kevin Truong () is a documentary photographer, filmmaker, and journalist. Born in a refugee camp for Vietnamese boat people in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Kevin and his family immigrated to the U.S. the following year. His projects include The Gay Men Project, , and feature length documentary Mai American.

💜 Whether long time Portlander or brand new, at you’re always a local. 💜

March’s global theme is LOCAL. It was chosen by our Santos chapter in Brazil and illustrated by Simone Matias. https://creativemornings.com/blog/march-theme-local Make your feed feel like home with this month’s hashtag:

This month's theme is CAMINO—and our speaker David DaCosta has walked a path that includes everything from branding and DJing to bus wraps and dad jokes (brace yourself). An author, illustrator, designer, and self-described bringer of joy, David has spent over 20 years finding new ways to connect creativity with community.

You may have even spotted his work rolling through the citY—David designed TriMet's LIFT Bus for Hispanic Heritage Month. He rooted his design in the values of family, joy, warmth, and hard work, and "Siempre Pa' Lante, Nunca Pa' Tras" (Always Moving Forward, Never Moving Backwards).

Whether you're just starting out or miles down your own creative path, come join us on February 27 to hear how David found his camino.

February’s global theme is CAMINO. It is a Spanish word meaning “path” or “way.” It was chosen by our Oviedo chapter in Asturias, Spain and illustrated by Marta Vila. https://creativemornings.com/blog/february-theme-camino Explore new paths with this month’s hashtag:

Arms pumping. Neon blazing. '80s hits on full blast.

On January 30 at Multnomah Arts Center, join us to hear how Krista Catwood turned, "I hate exercise," into the Food Court 5000 community fitness phenomenon. 🪩

Their rules? 💪 Pump your arms. 👋 Wave at everyone. 🫶 Listen to your body. 👯‍♂️ No one walks alone.

It creates a 3.5-mile train of joy cutting through the Lloyd Center. What can we say? Sometimes hope wears a tracksuit, feels like a party, and waves at strangers-turned-friends.

🎟️ Tickets available Friday, January 23 at 9am PT here: https://creativemornings.com/talks/krista-catwood-the-food-court-5000

Our theme for January is کورسو (KOORSOO). In Farsi, it means “a glimmer of hope.” It was chosen by our Tehran chapter in Iran and illustrated by Hoda Ramy. https://creativemornings.com/blog/january-theme-koorsoo Discover more glimmers of hope with this month’s hashtag: