5 Things We'd Share With You Over Coffee This Week If We Could

In this new series, we'll take you behind-the-scenes into the "creative diets" of our staff. Each week, one of us will share a list of five things that grabbed our attention or inspired us creatively that week.

You'll find a bit of everything included in this series. The only requirement we've agreed upon is that it's got to be something that caught our eye for a reason. These are the things we love. The things that challenge us. Good news. Inspiring words. Difficult conversations. Remarkable finds. Bold initiatives. Worthy causes. And always, presented with beautiful imagery. This is a collection of the things that fuel our creativity as a team.

These are the things we'd share with you over coffee this week if we could.

ONE - Roderick Cox in Kinfolk Magazine

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This interview with Roderick Cox in Kinfolk Magazine blew me away. A graduate of the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, "Cox has been praised as a conductor who is 'paving the way' (NBC News) and recognized as a 'trailblazer…a conductor who will be amongst the vanguard' (Minnesota StarTribune). Cox has gained international attention for recent appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera, and Philharmonia Orchestra (London)." (Source)

TWO - 'How Imperfect People Can Do Great Things'

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This essay by Amy Cummins was written for Darling Magazine several years ago, but the poignancy of its words struck me. The short two-minute read encourages perseverance amidst disadvantages in one of the most thought-provoking ways I've encountered lately. Read it here.

THREE - The NEH Cares Act

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I was admittedly a little late to the party on this news, but discovering this bit of encouragement in my Twitter feed this week was still a boost. The National Endowment for the Humanities has dedicated $40 million to CARES Action Grants to support essential operations at more than 300 cultural institutions across America. What does this mean? Read more here.

FOUR - This Interactive Way to Explore Alma Thomas' Art with Kids

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This art project for kids based on the life and work of Columbus native Alma Woodsey Thomas is a wonderful way to introduce kids to an artist whose work they can visit locally. (Thomas' work appears in the permanent collection of The Columbus Museum!)

Curious about the artist? Watch this video from Columbus Museum's Virtual Museum for Kids to learn more about Thomas' work as an abstract artist. Then, when the Museum opens again, you can visit Thomas' work together.

FIVE - This Performance of 'Helpless' Recorded in Quarantine for the #GlobalGoalUnite Concert

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After last week's release of Hamilton, it was a complete joy to discover this performance on Twitter. The recording of Helpless was put together for the Global Goal Unite benefit concert by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the original cast of Hamilton, and Jimmy Fallon with the Roots. The instruments are all household things the band had laying around, and it's a blast to watch each of the incredible performers do what they do in the comfort of their own homes. It's amazing, and if you haven't seen it, it's worth a view (or six).