We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalie Perkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalie below.
Natalie, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
The simple answer comes from our culture. As African Americans, and particularly as women, we were taught the principle of resilience in the phrase No Matter what: no matter what obstacles lie in our path, we must show up, be present, and complete the task at hand.
I have chosen creative fields—such as cinematography, documentary and family photography, and community activism—where showing up is essential. As a creative, it’s also important to show up for yourself and avoid feeling depleted.
On those days, months, or even years when the effort to get up, be present, and engage feels overwhelming, remember to give yourself grace. Allow yourself the vulnerability to ask for help when you need it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a community artivist working as a garden steward for NeighborSpace, an urban land trust in Chicago. Gardens are transformative spaces that help communities grow into their best selves. I love assisting gardeners in imagining, envisioning, and creating places that reflect the spirit of their neighborhoods.
This can involve facilitating community design processes that result in colorful, environmentally adaptable pergolas, or starting native, drought-resistant, pollinator gardens that support the ecosystem. I also facilitate exciting, experiential, intergenerational programming that brings the community together and expands their vision.
As a photographer, being immersed in gardens and helping people realize and manifest their visions has renewed my focus on one of my photography projects: following urban agriculture farmers and gardeners as they transform the landscape of farming and greening in cities.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being resourceful, curious, and an active listener is the secret sauce to my success. These qualities have guided me through my careers, the world, and my relationships. During my time as a photographer, set decorator, and home stager in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, I learned that crafting vignettes with found objects, creating vibrant bouquets from roadside bougainvilleas, and transforming any location into a studio required peak resourcefulness and the ability to pivot.
Curiosity has opened me up to new people, situations, and the world itself. Living in different communities, countries, and cities has allowed me to form meaningful connections and experiences that wouldn’t have happened had I not embraced an open and inquisitive mindset.
Above all, being an active listener enables you to uncover the essence of people, places, and things.
On your journey, remember to be an active listener to yourself. Identify what serves you well as you navigate the world, cultivate these qualities, and respect your gifts!
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mother ensured that we grew up in a multifaceted, multicultural community rich in creativity, competition, and top-notch resources. I never questioned whether I could compete in academics, sports, or cultural activities with peers from other races and cultures because my sister and I engaged in that challenge every day at our local public school, YMCA, park district tennis courts, and neighborhood dance studios. My parents effectively laid the groundwork for us to become global citizens, providing us with roots, wings, and a sense of agency.
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