We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Kayla Nichols

I was 4 years old when my Honey bought me my first vintage 1970s polaroid camera from our neighbor who was having a garage sale. I remember how satisfying it was to hear the ‘tick’, and to see the sudden simultaneous flash of light. From an early age, I was captivated by how cameras worked. Throughout the years, as I grew the cameras grew with me, and you bet your bottom dollar any chance I had to get my hands on one I was going to. Read more>>

Tito Contreras

How I would define success is achieving the most important goal that would complete the establishment of who you want to be as a person. For me in this case, my biggest goal is to be independent. I want to think for myself and not let others influence my decision-making process. It is incredibly challenging to achieve that goal because of peer pressure and intimidation from others. But to become independent, I must have the courage and bravery to stand up to myself and voice my opinions to others. Building a filmmaking career for myself has been helping me a lot on my personal growth for many reasons, such as the knowledge of film history and networking. My ultimate goal is to establish an independent business in which I can work for myself and express my creativity to make art, whether it be films, photos, or music. I hope that I would be rewarded with independence, financial security, and lasting relationships. For me, that sounds like the American dream. That is my definition to success. Read more>>

Curtis James

Those most important things that I’ve done and continue to do is being very consistent and present and accountable for my actions and making sure I set the best example I can. I’m very present in they’re lives and it’s a beautiful thing to see yourself as a baby or 2 year old 🥹❤️ I have two daughters and they’re the reason I continue to strive to be a better father I’m learning everyday there’s no handbook to parenting so to be able to use what you’ve been through good and bad and give your babies those gems and life lessons and pray they do they best with what you’ve provided to them up until the time comes where they’re adults.. My experiences in life allows me to make nothing but positive impacts on my girls and that’s my gift to them sharing my good and bad times and making the best honest decisions in life… Read more>>

Cody Fountain

One of the most pivotal decisions that contributed to my success, apart from deciding to work for myself, was starting at a very young age. Read more>>

Paulina Dosal Terminel | ArtstillerySPACES Program Director

Artstillery is a multidisciplinary arts and social justice organisation that uplifts marginalised voices through original immersive productions. We are not a theatre company, although that is the box most people try to fit us in. At our core, we are a community of artists and activists who believe in the power of art to inspire action. Through our pillars of collaboration and storytelling we have been fortunate enough to create works that weave community narratives and invite authentic reflection on shared and differing perspectives. We also have a space that we steward with the upmost care and tenderness. It is our physical home and creative refuge, although we do not always perform there. It is in the heart of West Dallas and is fully equipped to run full audiovisual production akin to that of a concert hall. Through the generous support of our donors, city/federal/foundational support and the meticulous work of our grant writing team we are able to provide our space at accessible rates to independent artists and smaller nonprofits to perform or rehearse, at a sliding scale pricing. This is central to our mission because we believe artists need space and that is how we can do our tiny bit to contribute to the creative economy in Dallas. These community events, which aren’t not produced by Artstillery or our team now live under our new offering in our website, ArtstillerySPACES: A West Dallas Arts Incubator. Read more>>

DJ Boosie F Baby | DJ,Producer.Engineer

Being in the music industry is a very risky place. While it fun And can be very rewarding if you do not do the business half correctly it could come back and haunt you and change your view on the thing that you love. Read more>>

De’Qualis Waites | Yo Favorite Teacher

The amount of total funding available for us to use to create generational wealth. Many don’t have a clue of where to even start. Read more>>

Kimberley Dietrich | Entrepreneur, Accountant, & Artist

I want to be a successful, well-respected entrepreneur, known for my innovative and thriving businesses. I own Mind Your Payroll LLC, The Art Store by Kim, and have a notary service business. By the end of my career, I aim to have established a legacy of excellence in my fields, having grown my companies into industry leaders. My employees should see me as an inspirational and supportive leader who fostered a positive and productive work environment. I’d like to be financially secure, allowing myself to enjoy the fruits of my labor, and have a significant impact on my community through mentorship. Read more>>