CreativeMornings/Chicago

🎤 Next Speaker: Francis Almeda, @francis.almeda

Francis Almeda is a serial entrepreneur, Creative Director, and dad. He’s behind some of Chicago’s most exciting and innovative hospitality concepts, including Side Practice Coffee, Drip Collective, Novel Pizza Cafe, and Kanin, and is an advisor and early investor in Del Sur Bakery. With over two decades in advertising, Francis worked at the top agencies in Chicago and San Francisco and spent time at Google as an Art Director/Creative Director. He has also taught design and marketing at Miami Ad School, Chicago Portfolio School, and DePaul University. A proud Filipino American, he’s become a pillar for the Filipino and AAPI communities—paving the way for the next generation of creative entrepreneurs and building platforms rooted in culture, food, and community.

#CMRevival


📅 Friday, May 23rd at 8:30-10am



📍 ⭐ In-Person Only ⭐ at @hostecocktails - 1857 W 16th St, Chicago, Illinois United States 60608



🎵 DJ Mike Caliber, @djmikecaliber



🎟️ Registration Opens Friday, May 16th at 9am. Tickets go first come, first served. Limited!



👋 High fives and humble gratitude to our local sponsors: @bigshoulderscoffee | @busybeaverbuttonco | @downstatedonuts | DJ Mike Caliber

Give special cheers to our Digital Illustrator 🖍️ Katya Balakina (@xrenobl) for turning our April's event into visual notes. 📝

What a morning hosting April’s event at BlueDog. Special thank you to our venue, volunteers, global and local sponsors for making this month’s event happen. A huge shoutout to Amanda (@amandarecupido) for her inspiring talk on the theme #crossroads.

See the rest of the magic pics 🪄📸 from our Flickr taken by our wonderful #cmchi photo team!

If you want your company, agency, or business love what we do and want to support our chapter for future morning events, DM us on our instagram (@chicago_cm) or drop an email - [email protected]

What a great Friday hosting March's event at @designmuseumchi. Special thank you to our venue, volunteers, global and local sponsors for making this month’s event happen.

A huge shoutout to Bryn (@citizen.bryn) for her inspiring talk on the theme #parallel.

See the rest of the magic pics 🪄📸 from our Flickr taken by our wonderful #cmchi photo team! Link is in our bio.

If you, your company, agency, or business love what we do and want to support our chapter for future morning events, DM us on our instagram (@chicago_cm) or drop an email - [email protected]

🎤 Next Speaker: Samantha Callender

Samantha Callender is a multimedia professional passionate about storytelling, culture, and digital media. With a background in journalism, social strategy, and brand communications, she’s worked across industries, from NPR’s WBEZ to Essence Magazine and luxury brands like Aesop. She amplifies voices, creates inspiring spaces, and thrives at the intersection of media and culture. A proud Chicagoan, she loves exploring local arts, design, and cafés. Connect with her @OnYourCallender.

📅 Friday, February 28th at 8:30-10am

📍 ⭐ In-Person Only ⭐ at See You Soon, @seeyousoon.chicago - 1757 N. Kimball Ave Unit 203C, Chicago, 60647

🎵 DJ Mike Caliber

🎟️ Registration Opens Friday, February 21st at 9am. Tickets go first come, first served. Limited!

👋 High fives and humble gratitude to our local sponsors: Big Shoulders Coffee | Busy Beaver Button Company | Downstate Donuts | DJ Mike Caliber

Give special cheers to our Digital Illustrator 🖍️ Coté Soerens (@cotesoerens) for turning our January's even into visual notes. 📝

Check out this graphic recording about Cara Sabin's talk on the theme JOURNEY 🗺 🌏 🏃‍♀️ 💪

An amazing morning hosting January’s event! Special thank you to our venue, volunteers, global and local sponsors for making this month’s event happen.

A huge shoutout to Cara Sabin for her inspiring talk on the theme #journey.

See the rest of the magic pics 🪄📸 from our Flickr taken by our wonderful #cmchi photo team! Link is in our bio.

If you want your company, agency, or business love what we do and want to support our chapter for future morning events, DM us on our instagram (@chicago_cm) or drop an email - [email protected]

🎤 Next Speaker: Cara Sabin

Cara blends art and athletics with nearly 20 years as a professional dancer in Chicago and as a member of The Seldoms, performing nationally and internationally. She found strength training while cross-training for dance, with her first CrossFit experience sparking a new passion. Cara believes health is happiness and became a coach to share how community and movement transform lives. She is Defined Training’s Head Coach, General Manager, and co-founder of The Lunge Ladies, an all-female strength training collective.

📅 Friday, January 31st at 8:30-10am

📍 ⭐ In-Person Only ⭐ at TBA

🎵 DJ Mike Caliber

🎟️ Registration Opens Friday, January 24th at 9am. Tickets go first come, first served. Limited!

👋 High fives and humble gratitude to our local sponsors: Big Shoulders Coffee | Busy Beaver Button Company | DJ Mike Caliber

Give special cheers to our Digital Illustrators 🖍️ Katya Balakina (@xrenobl) and 🖍️ Coté Soerens (@cotesoerens) for turning our December's Audience Takes the Stage speakers into visual notes. 📝

What a morning hosting December's event! Special thanks to our venue, volunteers, global, and local sponsors for making this month's event happen.

A special shoutout to our 3 talented audience members for their inspiring dialogue on the theme #cycle.

As we wrap up our 2024, we thank everyone for attending our 2024 events. We are excited for what 2025 holds for us!

If your company, agency, or business love what we do and want to support our chapter to generate future morning events, DM on our Instagram (@chicago_cm) or drop an email - [email protected]

Kurt Jolly is a queer Chicago-based writer, director and performer. They have a diverse experience in many artistic avenues: teaching art education, performing on the stage, and working behind the writing desk and the camera. Like their name, they look to find the joy and happiness in the world while also acknowledging its darkness. Upcoming projects include a horror comedy film 🎥 “Death Fest 3000” and a one person show 🎭.

🎤 Speaker #2: Nic Huchtmeier

Nic (they/them) is self-taught artist offering fine line, soft realism, dotwork, and stipple style tattoos. They have been tattooing for several years in Illinois and Colorado. Nic is currently based in Chicago at the beautiful serene Evergreen Studios.

🎤 Speaker #3: Madeline Loshaw

Madeline Loshaw is a collector of stuff she finds on the sidewalk. She loves recognizing patterns of waste and organizing discarded items in new ways to return their value. She is also the creator of the tiny lil actions Chicago newsletter and is currently improving foster kittens' lives by introducing them to Taylor Swift's discography. The event will be ✨ In-Person ✨ at The Den Theatre - 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 🗓️ Friday, December 13th ⏰ 8:30-10AM CST 🎵 DJ Mike Caliber 🎟️ Registration Opens this Friday, Dec. 6th. First come, first served! Limited! 👏 High fives and humble gratitude to our local sponsors: Big Shoulders Coffee | Busy Beaver Buttons | Downstate Donuts | DJ Mike Caliber

We're throwing some magic throwback from September's event. ✨

Everything would not be possible without our September's speaker, volunteers, and local sponsors. We thank you! 💛

See the rest of the our magic 📸 ✨ from our Flickr.

October's photos are up on our Flickr. Visit our memory lane of many new and familiar ✨😄✨

Special thanks to our October's speakers, venue, & local sponsors for making the event happen.

We are counting down the end of 2024 and preparing one final event before we wrap up the year.

🥁 drumroll please… @Adobe is CreativeMornings’ new Global Partner! Adobe recognizes the impact CreativeMornings is having on the global ecosystem of creativity and they’re committed to reaffirming their support of creatives all around the world. This is huge!

Read the entire announcement: https://creativemornings.com/blog/welcome-global-partner-adobe  

Bust out your confetti and welcome Adobe!

Three cheers to our Digital Illustrator 🖍️ Katya Balakina (@xrenobl) for turning our September's talk into magnificent visual notes. 📝

Check out this graphic recording about Natasha Oliveras's talk on the theme #Reflection 🪞

Here's quick takeaways from Sept's event:

- If we can't be ourselves freely, how can we create freely.

- Remove the notion of authority.

- Let people speak their own language.

- Make it safe for everyone to be questioned.