
The Radical Power of Gathering
Why simply Showing Up Is The Best Thing We Can Do The average American now spends 35 minutes a day socializing in person. Not 35 minutes with friends, specifically — 35 minutes with another human being, in a shared room, breathing the same air. That number is down from 38 minutes in 2019, and it never recovered after the pandemic

Stop Building Walls Between Arts, Culture, and Tourism. Beverly Is Showing Us How.
Arts and culture aren’t separate from tourism. Tourism isn’t separate from arts and culture. They are integrated, and in Massachusetts communities like Beverly, that integration is driving real economic growth – more visitors, more spending, more jobs, and a stronger local identity. I’ve been saying this for years. A few weeks ago, I got to make that case on stage

GRAYSCALE Indie Business Summit Takes Over Downtown Salem
The GRAYSCALE indie business summit Salem has been waiting for finally has a date. From March 31 through April 2, downtown Salem transforms into a three-day hub for creative entrepreneurs. Specifically, it’s built for indie business owners, artists, and makers who have always felt like outsiders at traditional business events. Amber Newberry and the Die With Your Boots On team

Salem’s So Sweet Friday Night Kickoff 2026 Photos
The Salem’s So Sweet festival kicked off on Friday night with a magical evening in downtown Salem, MA. Despite the cold and snow, the streets came alive with illuminated ice sculptures glowing in pink, blue, and purple lights, live saxophone music from Chagall PAC, and a warm kickoff event hosted by the Salem Chamber of Commerce. Local artisans showcased their

Bad Bunny Didn’t Translate. He Didn’t Have To. Creative Non-Compliance 101
Author: John, Founder & Executive Director, Creative Collective I need to talk about what happened while watching the Super Bowl Halftime this year. (I had some feelings about last year, too!) This one got me all up in my feels. If you watched Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, you saw more than a spectacle. The cameos and choreography amazed,

Lived Experience Leadership with Shantel Alix Fernandez
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she’s headed next. Local economies

Big Feelings, Real Anger, and Why These Moments Matter
On Thursday morning, over 100 small business owners, nonprofit leaders, artists, and community builders packed into the basement of The Bower in Beverly. What started as a simple gathering became something much bigger. A room full of people chose connection over isolation, community over fear, and each other over going it alone. Honestly? We needed it. Why Does the Essex

Community-Centered Leadership with Alyssa Conary
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she’s headed next. Local economies

Why Creative Collective Stands with MASSCreative: Creative Non-Compliance for 2026
You might not even realize it’s happening! The mural you pass on your way to work. The live music drifting out of your favorite restaurant on a Thursday night. The handmade sign in the coffee shop window. The photographer who captured your kid’s first birthday. The designer who made your business feel real when they handed you that logo.

How One Hat Inspired Handmade Crochet Accessories for Julianna Donovan
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki L. Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she’s headed next. Local





