{"id":268,"date":"2016-09-06T22:48:22","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T22:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/?p=268"},"modified":"2020-06-26T22:10:35","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T22:10:35","slug":"1890-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/?p=268","title":{"rendered":"Yellow Conference 2016 Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"14188189_1737827013150833_4585174030531614966_o\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Before I sat down to fully grasp all of my thoughts from these past few days, I first wanted to read through my recaps from last year. Now as I write this, there are tears blurring my eyes because of how transcendent and applicable the wonder from #yellow2015 was found in #yellow2016 too. Beauty and wonder that I hope that it will even still be true for #yellow2040 or something really far from now but still changing the hearts and shaping the minds of creative women for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Can I first just say that I have never ever \u201cemceed\u201d or \u201chosted\u201d an event before and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. I felt as though I tapped into a whole different part of myself that I wasn’t fully aware existed. There was a certain electric energy about the room in itself and the people buzzing within it that made those two days making announcements about valet and sangria the most fulfilling experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I believe that the electricity, the magic swirling within the room came from the understanding that every woman there was there because they knew they had work to do or maybe because we <\/span>thought <\/span><\/i>we have work to do but aren\u2019t exactly sure what that work is quite yet. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two days of bringing women like minded women together to celebrate and not compete, to learn and not judge, women who desire to change the world with what they can create. That\u2019s what creatives are when it comes to our core isn\u2019t it? We are fixers, we believe that the world needs more healing, more beauty and so it causes us to create in hopes that we can be the orchestrators of that healing and beauty.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DAY ONE.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The nerves were high, the excitement even higher. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Women entered into the beautiful DTLA warehouse type venue with the most trendiest vibes and began their GRIT, VALOR and HEART journey. They were greeted by bright posters, beautiful and intentional decor made by Alexis (Shift Collective) and they entered into that world for the next two days and openly welcomed whatever it would bring. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Day one brought powerhouse speaking by world changers like Jessica Ekstrom who brought wisdom about dream chasing and business plans at fourteen. My favorite quote from her chat with us was, \u201cAchieving a dream isn\u2019t crossing a finish line, it\u2019s crossing a border into new territory.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

CJ Casciotta talked about the idea of a <\/span>movement <\/span><\/i>\u00a0and the complexity and necessity of \u201cweirdness\u201d. Kirsten Dickerson broke down a SLOW acronym and talked about the not so common of resting and intentionality of living in a moment as an entrepreneur and mother. Jessica Hische, shared some hard truths to the surface about being a new mother and flourishing lettering artist and author and the sticky stereotypes and misogyny that comes with returning back to work after maternity leave. Jedidiah Jenkins in all his whimsy and charismatic nature talked about routine being the killer of time and why he quit his job to take a biking trip across the country to experience life and perspective in the most freeing sense. As a writer myself, he challenged me with a reference to Benjamin Franklin’s quote, \u201c<\/span>Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DAY TWO.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Day two was (biasly) really close to my heart. I was able to begin day two with sharing a poetry piece that I had written specifically for Yellow Conference this year and was accompanied by a dance team of beautiful, powerhouse and honestly just really bad ass women (<\/span>(can I say that?)<\/b>) choreographed by the magnificent Gigi Torres. I cried a lot this day. The tears just flowed and had a mind of their own. I cried because you take in a lot during those two days, not only about creating and hustling but about who you are and what you\u2019re capable of doing. That\u2019s what I wanted day two to be about —remind them of their core, their worth as people, as women first and then have that transcend into what they were put on this earth to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Elle Luna (my new favorite human) opened the keynote speaking for day two and talked about the shoulds and musts that we are bombarded with everyday as creatives. She brought to attention questions that maybe we didn\u2019t even know we were asking such as: <\/span>what if I don\u2019t know what my must is?<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>What if doing what I love doesn\u2019t pay? <\/span><\/i>My favorite part of Elles talk was when she mentioned a comment a friend had said to her about looking for our dreams in reality which I shared on my <\/span>instagram caption<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Krysta Masciale touched on fear and the unknown and about the power of a brand who owns what they do and who they are. Sweet Tim Harris opened his chat with a dance number and roaring \u201coh yeahs\u201d his story of a business approach from a disability perspective just encouraged a wave of confidence in what we believe or have been told are limitations. Lastly Alexis Jones (who I have been fangirling over for quite sometime now) closed the two days of goodness out with a raw conversation with the audience from the floor and not the stage about fighting for something that\u2019s bigger than ourselves and dared us to ask the question, <\/span>why not me? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

There was no doubt, that whatever you came for, you walked away with that and so much more. I said it last year and I\u2019ll say it again, it\u2019s like that feeling after summer camp. You get back to home to the familiarity and normality of your rhythm and nothing has changed there but you have, you\u2019re different and life the way it was just doesnt seem like the right way to go. You realize what fire is in your hands and you will do everything you can to make sure it doesn\u2019t go out.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My friends, please don\u2019t let the fire go out. The world needs it so very much. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Cq1NLVwVYAEYMmt.jpg-large\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Take Your Place<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Last week at the end of an interview the director said,<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope you don’t mind an organization run by a bunch of woman <\/span><\/p>\n

I told her no in fact I prefer it <\/span><\/p>\n

And I thought of all the people who would cringe at the very thoughts of that —<\/span><\/p>\n

An organization run by a bunch of women <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I thought of all the people who still keep telling us to sit down, <\/span><\/p>\n

be quiet, find our place, to be content with fading into the background <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But this — this is the end of fading into the background <\/span><\/p>\n

This is where we take our place <\/span><\/p>\n

At the table <\/span><\/p>\n

With everyone else <\/span><\/p>\n

In the board meetings <\/span><\/p>\n

At the brainstorming, dreaming, creating <\/span><\/p>\n

Table because that’s what we’ve been made to do<\/span><\/p>\n

Brainstorm, dream, create, bring into fruition <\/span><\/p>\n

And run things <\/span><\/p>\n

And I don’t want to get all Beyonc\u00e9 on you but ladies <\/span><\/p>\n

It’s time we get in formation<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s time we army line into companies that tell us we don’t belong there<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s time we show them how dirty these hands are <\/span><\/p>\n

How much grit are under these nails be cause we do the work too <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It’s time we write our own business plans<\/span><\/p>\n

And create foundations that were made only for us <\/span><\/p>\n

because that’s what you do when something doesn’t “fit” <\/span><\/p>\n

You give it a home, a space that was molded exactly for its size <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But at the end this this is not about them <\/span><\/p>\n

This is not about the naysayers <\/span><\/p>\n

Those still living in the times where <\/span><\/p>\n

they would gasp at the sight of our pants suits <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No<\/b><\/p>\n

This is for the magic in your very hands <\/span><\/p>\n

that you’ve been terrified to let loose because of how people will view you <\/span><\/p>\n

Bossy <\/span><\/p>\n

Emotional <\/span><\/p>\n

Irrational <\/span><\/p>\n

needy <\/span><\/p>\n

Dramatic <\/span><\/p>\n

Unrealistic <\/span><\/p>\n

Full of herself<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The only thing you are full of is the grace <\/span><\/p>\n

and wonder you were meant to contribute to this world <\/span><\/p>\n

There is a certain fervor to your valor <\/span><\/p>\n

There is a certain twinge of irreplaceable in the way that you orchestrate <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You are something this world has yet to see but desperately needs<\/span><\/p>\n

But you are no one woman show<\/span><\/p>\n

You are no lone woman island <\/span><\/p>\n

We need each other <\/span><\/p>\n

We need the collaborating magic we all have so that we can step back<\/span><\/p>\n

Look at what we’ve done and realize it’s no wonder they’ve kept us sitting, idle, quiet<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Because the moment we realize the lights in these very hands <\/span><\/p>\n

We were bound to set this world on fire <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And what does it mean<\/span><\/p>\n

When a group of women vow to show up <\/span><\/p>\n

vow to say yes, give themselves permission to say no<\/span><\/p>\n

vow to rest, vow to start again<\/span><\/p>\n

Seek to be inspired and seek to inspire <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What do you call it when a group of women declare me too <\/span><\/p>\n

Raise our hands when someone asks if they have ever felt as if they were not enough <\/span><\/p>\n

When women admit that our sinks our full of dishes <\/span><\/p>\n

and our cars look like someone lives in them (because sometimes we do )<\/span><\/p>\n

And maybe our children are not the cleanest today but at least they are alive<\/span><\/p>\n

And we struggle pay our bills because we’re too busy chasing dreams but at least \u00a0we are alive <\/span><\/p>\n

I hope you feel the most alive<\/span><\/p>\n

The most beautiful when you do the things you love<\/span><\/p>\n

Do the things that get you out of bed everyday and keep you from falling asleep in the first place <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For so long<\/span><\/p>\n

My identity was wrapped up in student, daughter, intern, friend <\/span><\/p>\n

Until I attended my first bloom gathering <\/span><\/p>\n

We walked through the the door <\/span><\/p>\n

Greeted with warm smiles and cute outfits I wish I could turn into my own rotating closest <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And we were asked who we were and what we did <\/span><\/p>\n

We responded, same answers as always<\/span><\/p>\n

And then we were asked again<\/span><\/p>\n

No <\/span><\/p>\n

Who are you and what do you do ?<\/span><\/p>\n

And for the first time<\/span><\/p>\n

We knew there were parts of us we left hanging in the closest because we were too afraid of what they could mean<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We cannot live afraid of the potential booming inside of us<\/span><\/p>\n

Because one day, that will be the melody someone needed <\/span><\/p>\n

to wake up the next day <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We cannot push Down the girl dancing inside of us urging us to still chase fairy dust and the things that seem bigger than us <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don’t let your insecurities be bigger than you <\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t let the voices of negativity be bigger than you <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Make them small<\/span><\/p>\n

Tell them to take a back seat<\/span><\/p>\n

Show them your hands, the work that you’ve done<\/span><\/p>\n

And take your place<\/span><\/p>\n

At the table <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

also posted on the Yellow Conference blog<\/a><\/p>\n

Photos by\u00a0Caca Santoro<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Before I sat down to fully grasp all of my thoughts from these past few days, I first wanted to read through my recaps from last year. Now as I write this, there are tears blurring my eyes because of how transcendent and applicable the wonder from #yellow2015 was found in #yellow2016 too. Beauty and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arielleestoria.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}