CRAFTHER MARKET FALL 2019 SPEAKERS

COELINA EDWARDS

Coelina Edwards is a multidisciplinary artist, designer and educator in Austin, Texas. Costume, rights of passage, ritualistic ceremonies, religion, marriage and masquerade are a few of the subject matters that are communicated through their work. Currently, Edwards serves on the #BBATX programming committee and has curated the organization’s 2019 craftHER Market workshops.

ALLEGRA MOET BRANTLY

Allegra Moet Brantly is the founder of Factora, the female financial movement empowering women to learn wealth-building skills and accelerate their financial lives. Her life mission is the same as her company's: to lead 1 million women to $1 million in net-worth through community, education and accountability. Allegra also founded the ATX chapter of Ladies Get Paid and is their Texas-based salary negotiation coach.

JENNIFER STEVERSON

Jennifer Steverson’s practice explores Black Southern culture, family legacies and healing in the African Diaspora indigo, textiles, and archives.Her current project, Holding Ground, is a cultural cartography of Wheatville, a freedmen’s settlement that was established along the banks of Shoal Creek after the Civil War. Jennifer was an artist in resident with Hive Arts Collective in March 2019. She is currently a visiting research at the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies at UT Austin.

RILEY BLANKS

Riley Blanks is a communication artist in every sense of the word. She is a photographer, commercial model actress and compelling storyteller. In March of 2018 she founded Woke Beauty. Inspired by her mom, Riley's mission is to provide an uplifting photographic experience that liberates and empowers all women. In July 2019 Woke Beauty was featured in Forbes; she has grown her business exponentially through community engagement and a thriving social media following.

XOCHI SOLIS

Xochi Solis is a mixed media artist born and raised in Austin, TX. Her works include multilayered, collaged paintings constructed from paint, hand-dyed paper, vinyl, plastics, and images from found books and magazines. As an accomplished artist and leader in her community with over 15 years of experience, Solis is enthusiastic about continuing to transform her practice as a cultural producer into a vehicle for active citizenship and civic responsibility. In addition to her studio practice, she manages and spins records with Austin chapter of Chulita Vinyl Club with a focus on the preservation and performance of Tejanx culture. She is also a board member at #bossbabesATX.

JASMINE ROBINSON

Jasmine Robinson is the foundING Executive Director of the grassroots nonprofit Collegiate Mom Coalition, a #BBATX committee member, a Movement Mujeres Fellow, speaker, community organizer and mentor to college moms. Originally from Houston Texas, she currently resides in Pearland with her daughters Kenadie (10) and Kimora (9). She is a graduate of the HBCU Prairie View A&M University with a bachelor's of Architecture and a Masters of Community Development.

SARAH OVERMYER

Sarah is a content strategist and entrepreneur who loves making complicated stuff simple and fun. She is a content marketing manager at Indeed, where she writes for the Indeed blog and is a data and analytics specialist. She is also one of the co-founders of The Juggle, a blog and media company on women and work. Sarah’s career is the definition of a jungle gym in the jungle gym vs. ladder debate — she has worked in offices, schools, restaurants and a prison. She loves to read novels and plays on a field hockey team.

DJ CASS&RA

Cassandra Shankman is a composer and DJ (CASS&RA) recognized for her work with film, apps, musicals, and music therapy technology. As a pianist, she’s played with musicians such as jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon at Lincoln Center to DEVO’s frontman Mark Mothersbaugh. As a DJ, she creates the perfect sets for movement for clients like Soul Cycle and Wanderlust Yoga to Bumble and Lyft. Cassie’s also the world’s leading composer for Biomedical Music™ – music integrated with biomedical devices for rehabilitation. As a proponent for music education, she is a co-founder for the music theory web app Picardy Learning, and serves on the Grammy Education sub-committee. She is a graduate from The University of Texas with a degree in music composition and a secondary focus in film studies.

CARA CATE

Cara is a native Texan who moved to Austin after graduating with a Bachelors in Psychology. Austin has been her home for over ten years. Between work and travel, Cara volunteers to give back to the community. In her spare time, you can find her hiking, playing with her animals, or looking for the next adventure. She currently serves on the #BBATX programming committee.

MERCY EMELIKE

Mercy Emelike is passionate about the visual arts, community, and business. She mostly paints, thinks about business a lot, and brings people together to talk about art. Mercy spends 8+ hours a day helping businesses grow and in the remaining time, she works on her art and organizes art events. Find her on Instagram or Twitter at @mercyejiama.

ALEX PEREZ-PUELLES

Alex Perez-Puelles is a Reproductive Justice advocate who has been in Austin for the past 3 years. When Alex isn't working, she likes to spend her free time serving as a board and committee member to #bossbabesATX, as well as organizing events for organizations such as SXSW, Techstars, etc. She has over 5+ years of event planning experience, with a focus on concerts, festivals and conferences.

SEQUOYAH JOHNSON

This multi-talented girl boss is an experienced teacher, entrepreneur and engaging young artist specializing in ceramics and jewelry. This California native enjoys experimenting with forms, bold colors, and texture as she continues to discover she is not “one” design. She gains inspiration through traveling, meeting new people, and loves to share her passion for creating through teaching. Sequoyah is the founder of The Coy Collection and currently works out of her home studio in Austin, Texas.

EDITH VALLE

Edith Valle is a graphic designer and artist who actively works to serve her community. Since graduating from St. Edward's in 2016, she has been involved in the local art scene painting murals, being involved in community art projects and organizing workshops and lectures about design and publications for the Austin public. She currently works at the non-profit Deeds Not Words working to engage young women through art and advocacy.

CRISTINA MARTINEZ

Cristina Martinez is from the South Side of San Antonio, Texas. Born of immigrant parents, Spanish was her first language, Spanglish is her current. She lives in the very same house she grew up in. Summers spent in Mexico with her Tías, weekend carne asadas and loterias, and memories of listening to Juan Gabriel at max volume while cleaning the house are the roots of her inspiration. Today you can find Cristina in and around San Antonio and other cities across the US setting up her wares at events, organizing local handmade shows, and living her life like it's golden. Very That has been featured in The Huffington Post, Remezcla, Mitu, Pero Like, Buzzfeed, San Antonio Magazine and more.

CYNTHIA MUNOZ

Cynthia Muñoz was born and raised in Austin, TX. Under the name Cindy Popp, she creates visual art inspired by fashion editorials, makeup artists on Instagram, B movies, clowns, and comedy. She has a professional and personal passion for community engagement, gender equality, and diversity & inclusion. She lives on the east side with her husband and cat where they collect clocks, VHS, and novelty drinkware. She listens to Rihanna nearly every day and doesn't have a middle name.

LAUREN MAHONEY

Lauren Mahoney is the co-owner of Oddballl Vintage (a local brand) and a freelance Social Media Brand Strategist. Originally from Houston, she began her professional career in San Marcos at Texas State University where she earned her degree in Communication Studies and Business Marketing. Since then, she has been fusing her passion for human communication and creativity to create communities and build brands. 

SHANI HEBERT

Shani Hebert is a Tax Professional. She got her start with H&R Block in southern California as a Tax Associate then moved to Austin in 2010. Continuing her employment with H&R Block, she became a manager, Tax Pro III, taught the (Bilingual) Income Tax Course, filed taxes and taught “Skills To Win” a sales course for new employees. She’s been working in taxation for a total of 11 years and began Hebert Tax Consulting, LLC in 2014. Hebert Tax Consulting, LLC was created to fill a void for a niche community that is rarely paid attention to and that she knows too well. She has also been a professional DJ for the last 21 years with advanced experience in Radio Production and Music Journalism.

DENISE ROSALES

Denise Rosales was born and raised in Mexico, and she has been living here in Austin for three years. She’s a fashion and footwork designer, who graduated in 2014 from De La Salle Bajío (in Mexico), and she has been experimenting with general crafts (sewing, drawing, beading, knitting, embroidering) since she was around six years old. She began to get more involved in seed-beading a year ago when she was pregnant with her only child. She spends her time earning new techniques that use seed beads and discovering cultures from all over the world that use this art in their traditional clothing.

ABBI MILLER

Abbi is an Austin-based “yoga-teacher-turned-productivity-preacher” who helps entrepreneurs dodge burnout and get the good shit done. A fervent wellness entrepreneur for over 11 years, running her holistic nutrition and yoga company, her passion is helping movers, shakers, entrepreneurs and makers get hecka healthy—body, mind, biz and bank. As a Holistic Biz Strategist and Mentor (read: cheerleader), Speaker and Facilitator, she is the founder of Biz Babes Unite, a community offering impactful ceremonies and mastermind circles that allow for space to approach and grow your work from a sacred, aligned place.

ZANNY

Zanny’s work is a multidisciplinary approach to ancient craft with modern aesthetic—a tangible expression in the boundaries of art, culture, and fashion. Made with the intention to preserve the history of handwoven textiles, every element of Zanny Adornments tells a story, and for her, the process is just as important as the final design.

DAMA NILZ

Dama Nilz is a DJ living and working in Austin, Texas.

MELISSA PENG

Mélissa Peng a.k.a the Curly Executive is an award winning brand marketer turned entrepreneur, content creator, and business coach. Mélissa’s journey in marketing started at the ripe young age of 8 as her mother's right hand woman in door to door makeup sales and eventually several network marketing organizations. Mélissa earned her MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and held roles with marketing behemoths including Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, and NBC Universal. After 10 years of successfully climbing the corporate ladder and earning the title of Director of Marketing at the age of 30, she left corporate and her six-figure salary to build a lifestyle focused on pursuing her many passions and her newfound purpose of helping others do the same. In addition to founding Curly Executive, Mélissa is the artist behind Camellias and Curls, a handmade flower hair accessories brand, and the creator of Pon Di Beat, a Dance Hall and Afrobeat dance masterclass series in Austin, Texas.

MONICA CENICEROS

Monica is a natural-born artist who has been creating art since she can remember. She grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, where she absorbed the colorful culture that is reflected in her work today. Monica moved to the US with her two sisters when she was just 15 years old. With her parents still living in Mexico, she learned to be self-sufficient and responsible for providing for herself at an early age. Today, Monica works as a full time Marketing Consultant and has been a part time artist in Austin since she graduated college. Her focus in marketing and event planning throughout her professional career made her fall into the creation of atxGALS with Whitney Avra. Monica’s passion for the cause brought her to the role of CEO and has been actively working on the brand's growth and success since their official launch in 2017. Monica is the vision and direction behind atxGALS and The Cathedral, and she is the sole funding partner for the group.

SYDNI ADAMS

Sydni Adams aka Smoki Daze is a model and musician from Maryland, moving to Austin in 2012 to attend St. Edward's University. There she earned a BA in Communication with a focus in Public Relations & Advertising. She's currently working on a EP entitled "Moodz" with her creative partner Bad Luc and is the Director of Creative Content for the Austin-based, female-run cannabis culture publication Stuff the Zine.

COMING TO CRAFTHER MARKET ON OCT. 12 AND 13?

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