CREATOPIA, INC.

We are a very young company but we are so grateful to have such amazing collaborators in Houston, Texas. Our radio show - Imagine That! - hosted 18 guests last year (2024). They shared about their past and childhood, their current endeavors, and future goals. Each episode dove into the deep connection between entrepreneurship and creativity. I am honored to share space and time with each of these changemakers, world builders, dreamers, and doers. They continue to inspire me. Imagine That! Is a radio show dedicated to exploring the power of creativity and collaboration. We celebrate artists, thinkers, and visionaries who challenge norms and enrich our world. We also highlight co-creativity—the synergy of teamwork that enhances individual talents and drives progress across various fields. We host a changemaker in every episode. We reveal how co-creativity and collaboration shape our future and improve our present. Tune in as we unlock our imagination and discover the endless possibilities of creating together. We stream live - Saturday at 11:30 AM CT. Episode 1: The art of play: How Creativity Enhances Fulfilment & Wellbeing with Henry Sanchez Episode 2: Unlocking Creativity: Why Incorporating Play into Your Routine is Essential with Fernando Moguel Episode 3: Creativity in the Digital Age: Navigating the Landscape of Online Expression with Mikaela Selley Episode 4: Exploring the Link Between Playfulness and Productivity in the Workplace with Connie Leon Episode 5: Creativity and Problem-Solving: How They Influence Each Other with Betirri Bengston Episode 6: From Vision to Action: How Creative Leaders Turn Ideas into Reality with Jatziri Barron Episode 7: Leading Through Change: Harnessing Creativity to Navigate Uncertainty and Adapt to New Realities with Gabriela Fierro & Julian Parra Episode 8: Storytelling Secrets: Crafting Compelling Creative Narratives with Ozeal Debastos Episode 9: Innovative Interventions: Creative Strategies in Support Services with Miriam Damaris Maldonado (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month) Episode 10: Crafting Change: How Creative Projects Influence Community and Awareness with Gabriela A Velasquez (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month) Episode 11: Designing for Dignity: Creative Solutions for Survivor Spaces with Sydney Marvin (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month) Episode 12: Music, Movement, and Memory: Healing Through Creative Therapies with Susana Collins and Victor Rua Episode 13: Words and Wonders: The Creative Process in Academia with Paola Guzman, MSW Episode 14: Words That Heal: The Art of Restorative Practice and Writing with Diana Rodriguez Episode 15: Writing Without Limits: Tapping Into Creativity as a Freelancer with Alina Lugo Episode 16: Skates and Scribes: Where Creativity Rolls with Brandi Myasia Episode 17: Deploying Ideas: Ops and the Art of Writing with ☁️ 👩💻 M G. Listen here : https://lnkd.in/gP7uXiFF

We are thrilled to begin the year advocating for such an important cause. January is #humantraffickingawarenessmonth . It's known that #houston is a hub for trafficking activity to happen. Its location makes it so. On episode 18 we'll discuss "Behind the Rigs: Illuminating Trafficking Through Creative Action." David Reid and Jason Duff will speak on redM Join The Movement : its history, current projects, and future goals. RedM was founded in Houston, TX in 2018 by David Reid, CTO and CMO of NOV. David’s vision is to provide a path for industry leaders and professionals to do something about human trafficking. Have a question for our guests? Want to get involved?! Comment below. 👇🏽 #RedMonday #humantrafficking #slaverystillexists #houstonisahub #communityawareness #communitymedia #communityradio #technologyasaforceforgood #thecaseforcreativity #allrealradio #redm #industryleaders #bethechange #safehomes #safecommunity #safespaces #stream #livestreaming #creators

Looking forward to our last episode of the year and the last of this #academicwritingmonth ! *** We'll be taking a break in December as we prepare for #humantraffickingawarenessmonth in January. *** Join us November 30th at 11:30am for Episode 17: "Deploying Ideas: Ops and The Art of Writing" with ☁️ 👩💻 M G. Monica Gordillo (Haaksma) combines a passion for innovation and a commitment to fostering inclusive technology communities. A seasoned cloud architect with a rich multi-disciplinary background in tech, Monica's expertise spans cloud computing, cybersecurity, DevOps, and AI. Her credentials are a testament to her dedication and skill, with multiple AWS certifications, an ISC2 cybersecurity certification, and an AWS Certified Machine Learning certification to help solve today's and tomorrow's most difficult problems. Over the years, Monica has solidified her role as a leader and mentor within the tech community. She has served with distinction as the Vice Chair of the Tech for Good committee at AnitaB.org for 4 years, shaping initiatives that leverage technology for social good. Her current position as the Houston Local Community leader allows her to directly impact and guide aspiring tech enthusiasts, fostering a culture of knowledge and empowerment. Reflective of her commitment to education and empowerment, Monica has led hands-on workshops, like "Let's Build a CI/CD Pipeline" and "DevOps Baddies," targeting women in technology and helping them to grow their technical skill sets. Monica consistently contributes content pertaining to Data Privacy, GDPR, Cybersecurity, AI, DevOps, and DEI topics. Follow Monica on LinkedIn. Her ability to translate complex technical concepts into accessible knowledge makes her a sought-after speaker and educator. #latinasintech #anitab #devops #cybersecurity #womenintech #communityradio #communitymedia #thecaseforcreativity #ittakesavillage #showup #mentor #educator #worldbuilder

Looking forward to our 16th Episode of Imagine That! - "Skates and Scribes: Where Creativity Rolls" with Brandi Myasia! After earning a master’s in education psychology at the University of Houston, Brandi had a full career helping educators develop as leaders. A health scare and open-heart surgery forced her into early retirement. As she healed and grew her strength, she looked for a business she could be passionate about. The answer was fashion and roller skating. She started Daisies and Pancakes in 2019. It was nostalgia on wheels. Roller rinks, music and fashion have long been an African American tradition. Since the civil rights movement, through the disco era in the 70s and the rise of hip-hop in the 80s and 90s, Black roller skaters have nurtured a culture, an art form, and a lifestyle inside rinks across the country. Including in Houston, where the city’s rap legends can trace their roots to roller skating rinks like Super Skate and Rainbow Roller Rink. In recent years, the sheer athleticism, dance and beauty of the sport is gaining in popularity thanks to the passion of these innovators. Myasia credits the pandemic for bringing Houston’s thriving skate culture out of the rink and out onto the streets and into social media. With more eyeballs on the sport, more people grew interested in learning how, so she also opened The Lab which teaches beginner, intermediate and advanced skating at TSU. As a natural-born leader and educator, the classes are her way of using her skills to nurture other talented skaters into teachers as well. Brandi has also styled other H-Town celebs such as Richelle Gemini and has an Ivy Park Collaboration under her belt. As always, we're live on Saturdays on www.allrealradio.com at 11:30 AM CT. Tune in!! #communityradio #communitymedia #academicwritingmonth #entrepreneurs #latinasintech #womenintech

Join us for "Words and Wonders: The Creative Process in Academia" - our 14th episode of Imagine That! with Diana Rodriguez. Diana Rodriguez earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees in criminal justice at the University of Houston–Downtown, where she served as Vice President of Alpha Phi Sigma and received the Criminal Justice Service Excellence Award. She has dedicated her career to advocating for social and economic equity, system accountability, and community healing. Diana began her career in criminal justice, focusing on understanding government systems and fostering community collaboration. As a juvenile probation officer, she used her expertise to advocate for equity and non-punitive responses to delinquent behavior, working with diverse youth, families, schools, and community partners to remove systemic barriers. Her commitment to system reform, restorative justice, and equity has led her to pursue a PhD, and allowed her to manage projects that align with her passion for enhancing social impact causes, advocating for system reform, and civic engagement. In addition to her role as Director of The Mulligan Fund, Diana is an adjunct professor at Lone Star College Systems. where she enjoys teaching and sharing her expertise in equity and social justice, economics, and public policy. Her research on restorative justice practices and youth resilience has been published in respected journals and presented at national conferences. We'll discuss the link between creativity, academic writing, and restorative justice practice. Can't wait to dive in. #communitymedia #cocreators #streaminglive #thecaseforcreativity

Imagine That! came to fruition when I realized that at the root of creativity are play and imagination. Expanding on our mission to harness the power of cutting-edge technology to amplify awareness about the invaluable benefits of creativity we decided to begin with a radio show where we could have conversations on the importance of creativity and co-creativity. And what better way to begin to explore this than by hosting conversations with Houston entrepreneurs? What is creativity? How is it nurtured? How do entrepreneurs use it every day?  Now you may wonder why you should care about creativity and play and may even be wondering a bit why I care. The short answer is that in order to be creative we must feel safe and I believe safety is of utmost importance in all of our sectors given our current state of world affairs. How great would it be if we could all feel safe enough to share our narrative in the way we desire? How wonderful would it be if we all felt seen? Imagine that! Imagine how different the world would be if we all felt safe.  You have to feel safe to play and you have to feel safe to imagine. Your brain will literally not allow you to play if you don’t, it can’t because it’s thinking of how to keep you safe.  I have a dream, where we can all feel safe to play, imagine, and create and I know I’m not the only one.   Imagine That! Is a radio show dedicated to exploring the power of creativity and collaboration. We celebrate artists, thinkers, and visionaries who challenge norms and enrich our world. We also highlight co-creativity—the synergy of teamwork that enhances individual talents and drives progress across various fields. Episode 1: The art of play: How Creativity Enhances Fulfillment & Wellbeing with Henry Sanchez Episode 2: Unlocking Creativity: Why Incorporating Play into Your Routine is Essential with Fernando Moguel Episode 3: Creativity in the Digital Age: Navigating the Landscape of Online Expression with Mikaela Selley Episode 4: Exploring the Link Between Playfulness and Productivity in the Workplace with Connie Leon Episode 5: Creativity and Problem-Solving: How They Influence Each Other with Betirri Bengston Episode 6: From Vision to Action: How Creative Leaders Turn Ideas into Reality with Jatziri Barron Episode 7: Leading Through Change: Harnessing Creativity to Navigate Uncertainty and Adapt to New Realities with Gabriela Fierro & Julian Parra Episode 8: Storytelling Secrets: Crafting Compelling Creative Narratives with Ozeal DeBastos (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month) Episode 9: Innovative Interventions: Creative Strategies in Support Services with Miriam Damaris Maldonado Episode 10: Crafting Change: How Creative Projects Influence Community and Awareness with Gabriela A Velasquez Episode 11: Designing for Dignity: Creative Solutions for Survivor Spaces with Sydney Marvin Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gHK2fxJt

I'm so thrilled about this week's Episode 12: "Music, Movement, and Memory: Healing Through Creative Therapies" with Susana Collins and Victor Rua where we'll bridge #domesticviolenceawarenessmonth with the experience of #safetouch in #tango. Susana is a passionate instructor and choreographer. She started her tango studies with her father, who was the first Argentine Tango instructor in Houston back in the late 90’s and was quickly inspired to travel to her hometown in Buenos Aires to fully immerse herself in tango and expand her knowledge with the top maestros of the time. She's trained in Classical Ballet and Argentine Folklore and by the age of 16 she taught, co-directed and choreographed alongside her father for their dance company Argentina 2000. As a performer, Susana has shared the stage with many famous personalities and groups such as Pablo Ziegler, Carlos Buono, JP Jofre, Libertad Lamarque, Robert Duvall and The Houston Symphony. She has produced, co-directed and choreographed many works including her own original work Luna Argentina. Through The Houston Tango School, Susana continues to be a dedicated promoter of Argentine culture and tango through stage performances, productions, dance instruction as well as bringing world re-known Tango maestros for workshops and festivals to share and grow the Houston community. Susana’s intensive study in multiple dance disciplines gives her greater depth in body movement and allows her to convey to her students a better understanding of the fundamentals needed to reach and perfect their Tango technique. Victor is a tango teacher and dancer from Buenos Aires, holds a degree in economics and is fluent in Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese. Since 2011, he has been deeply involved in Tango, training with renowned teachers and performing on international TV programs. Victor’s expertise extends to organizing tango experiences for tourists and teaching classes at his studio and other locations, inspiring students and audiences with his dedication and passion for the dance. Looking forward to sharing why tango is my favorite!! #ihopeyoudance #cocreate #communityradio #podcasters #abailar #safetouch #healingwork #macrosocialwork

Looking forward to an amazing conversation with Sydney from @stunnersafety. This will be Episode 11: " Designing for Dignity: Creative Solutions for Survivor Spaces." Sydney Marvin is a two-time startup founder and engineering graduate from UT Austin. In the past 5 years, she has invented and developed two self-defense devices. She is currently the Founder of a startup called Stunner Safety. Outside of the companies she has started, she’s worked at multiple startups during their various phases of growth, including other consumer product startups and tech enabled startups. Sydney's favorite things in life include her family, friends, dog, and time spent on the water. She loves the sport of soccer and has been to two world cups! Join us on allrealradio.com or on IG (@mamma_chula) Saturday at 11:30 AM CT. #domesticviolenceawarenessmonth #intimatepartnerviolence #domesticviolence #communityradio #communitymedia #womenintech #womenempowerment #womenfounders #imaginethat #creative #solutions #podcastersofinstagram #impactdrivenentrepreneur #impact #survivors #design #startup #founder #safety

On Episode 9 of #imaginethat we'll discuss, "Innovative Interventions: Creative Strategies in Support Services" as it relates to #domesticviolence with Miriam Damaris Maldonado Miriam Damaris Maldonado (Mardivino) is a Puerto Rican poet, essayist, storyteller, activist, and feminist whose work explores themes of ancestry, nature, and femininity. Residing in Houston for over a decade, she has become an influential figure in the city's literary and cultural scenes. Her poetry collection, Enraizada (Valparaíso Ediciones, 2022), was translated into English and published as Rooted in October 2022, bringing her profound narratives to a wider audience. The collection weaves a tapestry of verses that resonate with Caribbean rhythms and the feminine spirit, celebrating identity and a sense of belonging. Miriam currently serves as Program Manager for the Puerto Rican Literature Project at Arte Público Press/University of Houston. Supported by a grant from The Mellon Foundation, the project aims to create a free, open-access digital portal that archives and makes accessible over 50,000 resources of Puerto Rican literature from 1917 to the present. As a cultural organizer in Houston, she founded Colectiva Colibrí, a feminist collective, and actively promotes literary and cultural events. She participates in and coordinates literary festivals and has been a member of Letras en la Frontera since 2014. In 2023, she was the recipient of the BANF Artist Award, which empowers and supports Greater Houston’s diverse arts community by providing significant investment to artists who identify as people of color. This award recognizes her dedication and contributions to Houston’s communities. In 2024, Miriam was honored with the Houston Texans Community Champion Award presented by Modelo, celebrating outstanding leaders in the Hispanic community. Miriam’s work reflects the strength and resilience of women and serves as a call to action for social justice and the preservation of cultural heritage. Can't wait for this impactful conversation! #poeta #latinasinbusiness #activist #feminist #colectivocolibrí #nostenemos #month #october #communityradio #leaders #jefas #livestream #communitymedia #tunein

On Episode 8 we will discuss, "Storytelling Secrets: Crafting Compelling Creative Narratives" with Ozeal Debastos. We'll stream live Saturday at 11:30 AM CT through allrealradio.com and the all real radio app. Ozeal is a Podcast Marketing Strategist, Podcaster, and the founder of @podhouston, Houston's biggest podcasting community, and Vid Houston, a community of video content creators/Youtubers/Live Steamers. Ozeal is deeply rooted in the creative space, dedicating more than 15 years to helping creative entrepreneurs and content creators build their brands and businesses through workshops, meetups, masterminds, and cultivating a sense of community. As a content creator himself, Ozeal is the host of the “Creator Factor,” podcast where he is committed to helping creators learn how to navigate the journey as a business-minded creator. His passion for the creator community and entrepreneurship, stem from his 10-year-plus dedication as an indie music artist and event organizer. An advocate for content creators, Ozeal frequently speaks at conferences on podcast branding and marketing, community building, and creative entrepreneurship. He speaks at various conferences, including Podcast Movement, PodFest, Texas Pod Con, Social Media Marketing World, and more Links: Creator Factor podcast: https://lnkd.in/gbvjECwV Pod Houston: https://lnkd.in/gASmeX28 Vid Houston: https://lnkd.in/gXAPikyG Ozeal's Youtube Channel: https://lnkd.in/gqHJxjtj Instagram: @therealozeal Facebook: Ozeal Debastos Tune IN!! #storyteller #community #communitymedia #communityradio #latinosintech #hispanicheritagemonth #narrative #shift #showup #theworldisyourstage #podcaster #vodcast #socialentrepreneurship #impact #community #tellyourstory