From Girl Scouts and summer camps to entrepreneurship programs and internships, Concitta Cavin participated in almost every extracurricular activity you can think of but never quite found that perfect ‘fit’ that allowed her to express herself freely.
Fast forward 30 years, a college degree, corporate experience, and a non-profit stint later, and Concitta has found solace and success in embracing and fostering her own creativity and helping others – most importantly girls and women – do the same through The Creative Girl Project, a leadership program designed to nurture and provide Black and Brown girls with an equitable opportunity to foster their creativity.
N’DIGO recently caught up Concitta to discuss the origins of The Creative Girl Project and the initiatives planned for the future, as well as her Philosofher brand and more.
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Concitta Cavin?
Concitta Cavin: I am a creative at heart and skill who believes in the support, nurturement, and potential of black and brown women and girls. My businesses are mission driven and embody the creative and community galvanizing spirits of my late grandparents, the enterprising spirit of my corporate background, and the grounded principles of my baby booming parents. I am a seasoned branding strategist who often serves in the role of creative director and refuses to abandon my love for training others.
Would you mind telling us about your organization, The Creative Girl Project?
TCGP started as an idea to engage the creative daughters of my sorority sisters during the pandemic. I was a former teaching artist and saw the excitement in engaging students with creative projects during an unprecedented time and wanted to be of service to others. Unfortunately, at the time, I was also recovering from major surgery and was ultimately overzealous in my ability to give it footing.
Fast-forward to 2021. I took a course at UIC (Social Entrepreneurship Training) and had the opportunity to present an idea to be developed for a group project. The Creative Girl Project was chosen, assigned a team, and developed into a full-fledged organization from a simple extracurricular initiative.
The Creative Girl Project is a leadership program for creative Black and Brown girls. We recognize that there are no cultural and gender-specific programs specifically designed to nurture the creativity and development of Black and Brown girls, and we look to fill that void.
Through experiential learning, age-appropriate life skills, and creative workshops, we will provide Black and Brown girls with an equitable opportunity to foster their creativity, maximize their cognitive potential, and develop critical thinking skills – leading them to excel in life and the modern workplace, where systemic creativity is universal.
You’ve mentioned the reason you created TCGP is that it’s the very thing you needed growing up. Can you delve into that a little more and talk about young creative Concitta? How was or wasn’t she able to navigate her creativity?
Looking back, I was always creative and honestly came from a family of creatives. When I was younger, I made pillows out of socks and scraps, dollhouses out of milk crates, and I started a greeting card line. I was involved in a plethora of extracurricular activities, but none ever felt ‘perfect’ – they were all just outlets. At the time, some people recognized these talents and called on me to share them, but I never knew that these gifts were something to be fostered, that there were careers to be considered. I completed internships, went the corporate route, and after years of experience, I’ve come full circle back to professionally using the same skills I had so early on. I am forever grateful for my journey, but I often wonder if a mentor had introduced me to a marketing or graphic design major to accompany my business degree and in exchange for my psychology degree? Would my GPA have been higher? Would I have been more engaged in school? Would my salary be higher? Would I have felt different in the environments if I had a better understanding of why I seemed ‘different’ from my peers and had a tribe related to my idiosyncrasies? My creative peers often echo these sentiments.
The Creative Girl Project will give our girls a sense of freedom and direction that I never knew I needed and help them begin the journey to living their best lives with their best skills. Be it scientists, business executives, dancers, or chefs; they would be empowered to understand their full potential and make their talents and gifts work for them creatively.
What, in your opinion, are some simple things that any parent or guardian can do to help foster the little creative girls in their lives?
Being creative doesn’t mean your child is en route to becoming a starving artist, or even an artist for that matter. On the contrary, creatives have an extraordinary imagination and a natural approach to finding outside-the-box solutions – for everything.
Monitor their creativity as you see it develop. How do they express themselves? How do they engage with their peers? Regularly engage your daughters in conversations about what they like to do, what they love to do, what they dislike, and the reasons why. Try to immerse yourself in their world and embrace the notion that you don’t have to understand their creativity to support their creativity fully.
Can you tell us about the upcoming TCGP event?
Yes! We are partying with a purpose – celebrating the launch of and raising funds for The Creative Girl Project. The event will be hosted in a private Bronzeville location with indoor and outdoor activations, will feature the art and work of creative girls of all ages, and offer a fun way to bid adieu to summer. COVID restrictions will be in place. More info on the event can be found at our website thecreativegirlproject.org.
In addition to helming The Creative Girl Project, you also have an established brand called Philosofher. How did the brand come about and what are some of the things you do with the brand?
After living in New Orleans and becoming fascinated with the shops on Magazine in the Garden District, owning a novelty shop became my retirement dream.
In 2017, I was laid off as Marketing Manager for a non-profit. At the time I already had 10+ years under my belt as a freelance graphic designer, with a special niche for event branding and stationery design. I was prompted by a dear friend and mentor to display my products at a marketplace, and from people trying to buy old wedding invitations to the demands for my ‘stores’’ location, the reception was overwhelming and Philosofher was born.
Philosofher: The Life of • The love of• Her is a social venture that celebrates and honors women, girls, and creatives – intentionally and unapologetically. We offer creative, inspiring, and zesty apparel, lifestyle goods, stationery, novelties, and more. Our designs are simple, the quality of our products exceptional, but most importantly, it’s the words imprinted on our items and story behind each that sets us apart from most brands. Additionally, we curate events and programs to further support this demographic.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
There are a few things that immediately come to mind. For one, I am obsessed with alligators, but that may be for another interview, lol.
– I have a corporate background in management/sales/marketing/training and never aspired to be an entrepreneur. I thought I would gracefully live my life working in a Fortune 500 company as an executive.
– I am completely self-taught as a graphic designer. I have no classical training, have never taken a graphic design course, and never fathomed making a career out of being creative.
Can you name a book that changed or really impacted your life?
Sweet Summer by Bebe Moore Campbell. At the age of 13, it was the most beautiful and vulnerable, and relatable work of non-fiction that I’d ever read, inspiring me to embrace my experiences and simply use them as a part of my life’s tapestry.
Best advice to young creative girls?
Your gifts will make room for you. Embrace ALL that you are, and don’t be afraid to share your aspirations with your parents, teachers, and/or mentor. The more you share your interests, the more your interests can be supported.
Favorite quote or affirmation?
“I am a glorious being, a miracle. That which is in God is also in me. I survive all storms, and like a tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved.” – Susan L. Taylor
What’s next for Concitta Cavin and The Creative Girl Project?
The Creative Girl Project will launch its virtual pilot program in Fall 2021. We will host several virtual info sessions in September and are currently building our team, working on our curriculum, and engaging the community, prospective parents, and participants. We are looking for community partners, investors, and facilitators. If anyone reading is interested in learning more about The Creative Girl Project or exploring more opportunities, please visit our website.
As for me individually…I am currently pivoting. In order to oversee the direction and growth of TCGP, I am shifting my day-to-day Philosofher operational responsibilities to my team, focusing more on creative direction and training. I hope to re-open a brick mortar for Philosofher within the next year or two (the previous location couldn’t sustain during the pandemic). I will also continue facilitating a creative cohort focused on the psychology of branding and entrepreneurship for women and will be a guest lecturer for a course at UIC.
For more information on Concitta and The Creative Girl Project, please visit www.thecreativegirlproject.org and www.philosofher.com
