Meet Lynda Coleman

We recently connected with Lynda Coleman and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lynda, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my relationship with God and my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ and listening to my mother’s stories of resilience with her overcoming obstacles in her upbringing and to witness her strength over the years.

I believe God’s Word when it says in Philippians 4:13, that
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Hearing the stories of my Favorite Lady, My Mama sharing, that eventhough she was a sickly child growing up she still did her share of picking cotton from the ages of 8-18. And to witness her perseverance and strength to keeping going after two head on collisions, to having to bury her husband of 29 1/2 years of marriage in January of 2003 and then to bury her oldest daughter in November of 2003. I gained strength from God in order to be strong for my mother in the passing of my dad and sister.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

The Herstory of the Conference…

The history of the Unleashing Your Greatness Creative Conference, formerly known as the Annual Art, Poetry & Networking Conference, is a testament to Lynda Coleman’s dedication and the powerful impact it has had on the Creative Community.

Here’s a brief recap of its journey:
The conference was born out of a genuine need for creative minds of all ages to have a safe platform to showcase their talents. Facing rejection from several art galleries in Austin, Lynda decided to create her own exhibitions and community programs. This act of determination and resilience led to the inception of the conference.

The inaugural conference took place on November 1, 2003, with the theme “Following Your Dreams and Making Beautiful Memories.” This first event was dedicated to the memory of her father, who had passed away on New Year’s Eve of 2002. This was a challenging time, as her sister was also in the final stages of Adult Leukemia, with doctors giving her only two weeks to live on October 14th, which is also her father’s birthday.

Despite these difficult circumstances, she persevered, promoting the conference through radio interviews on KAZI 88.7FM and dedicating her poem “Rise Above” to her sister. Lynda’s sister insisted that she not cancel the event, and Lynda kept her promise to her sister.

Lynda’s sister’s passing occurred the following night, but she managed to carry on with the conference as she had wished. The second conference was dedicated to her memory. Over the years, the conference has served as a launching pad for countless talented individuals, propelling them into various creative endeavors.

Lynda Coleman kept that promise and celebrated the 17th Annual Unleashing Your Greatness Creative Conference on Saturday, December 14, 2024. The conference’s enduring legacy and the positive impact it has had on the creative community are a testament to her commitment to providing a platform for artists and creative minds to shine.

Lynda Coleman’s quote, “Unleashing your greatness will touch lives and bless generations,” encapsulates the spirit and purpose of the conference beautifully. It’s clear that this event has not only celebrated creativity, but has also inspired and empowered countless individuals to pursue their passions and dreams.

RISE ABOVE

Keep fighting and always try,
Rise above the questions of why.

It may never go away, but I need some relief.
Rise above this grief.

Just a few times, I wish life would be fair.
Rise above these feelings of despair.

Start killing those things, that are killing me.
Rise above those things, so I can be free.

It seems like, less sun and more rain,
Rise above this heartache and pain.

For my life, believe that God knows best.
Rise above, love being East, and I’m west.

To the natural eye, it’s not all what it seems.
Rise above the thoughts of lost dreams.

To capitalize on lifetime chances,
Rise above all these circumstances.

Lynda Coleman © 2003

(One of her sister’s favorite poems, that was read at her Homegoing Celebration.)

Since 2001, thousands of youth ages (3-17) throughout the City of Austin have been instructed and/or inspired by Lynda Coleman’s Art from the Heart Workshops. In 2015, Lynda broadened her creative influence by hosting and facilitating her Unleashing Your Greatness Creative & Interactive Workshops for adults to have a safe haven to express their creativity.

And Lynda is also one of the Co-Founders of Generational Artists Collective XYZ, A Partnership of Artists that come together to mentor Youth Artists ages 5-16. The Mentor Artists facilitate Art Workshops throughout the year to help the Youth Artists build up their inventory of creations, so that they will have enough works of art to sale at various community events, especially the Annual Pecan Street Festivals, downtown 6th Street in Austin, TX.

The Spring Pecan Street Festival is in May and the Fall Pecan Street Festival is in September. The Mentor Artists help prepare the Youth Artists and parents on what to expect at the longest running open air Arts Festival in the nation. Since 2019 all Youth Artists, that have participated in the festivals have sold some of their works of art.

Artist Lynda Coleman has accepted two speaking engagements, the first will be at Dobie Middle School in Austin, TX for their Black History Program and the other speaking engagement will be at Timmerman Elementary School in Pflugerville, TX in March for their Career Day.

Lynda will also be collaborating with several organizations to help provide opportunities for local artists to get the exposure, that they need in Austin and surrounding cities. More details to come as dates are being secured for Special Events and exhibitions.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

First, my Prayer Life has truly helped me on this journey to obtain guidance on how to navigate this thing called, life.
So prayer, meditation and/or quiet time will help you to focus.

Second, I would say, that you have to believe in yourself and know that you have a purpose in this world. You are gifted and talented and it’s up to you to find your purpose and to discover your gifts and talents.

And third, you have to have a good support system that can help you along the way. A good support system is like your tribe of people, that you’ll value and appreciate each other. These people need to be vetted and show themselves trustworthy whether they are family, friends or colleagues. Trust is built with this support system, so that they have earned the right to tell you when you may have gotten off track and vice-versa.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m looking to collaborate with individuals, businesses, groups, organizations, etc. that have integrity and want to see the Creative Arts Community thrive for years to come.

Contact Info:

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