Brian Kelly of Let Creators Create: Warmth Drive 2019

This is a very special series about an amazing individual and friend named BK. We sat down and he shared information about his Warmth Drive happening this month in Fresno.

Name: Brian Kelly 

Title: Founder/Creator 

What is Let Creators Create and how did it start?
At its core, Let Creators Create is a platform for artists of all backgrounds to show their work. They can share current projects that they currently have going on, projects that they're thinking about doing, and already completed ones. It's also a place for them to get feedback. It's really meant to be a channel that an audience can tune into, support, and interact with. 

​Let Creators Create has been around for almost two years now. Myself and my boys K- Rock and ItsG (local rappers here in Fresno) felt like putting on our own shows. We were looking at different venues, but we didn't see anything and nothing ended up happening. Later on we had a connection who gave us an opportunity to have a show at the Bitwise theater at the time. We didn't want the show to be just us, we wanted to work with other people. We needed a title that could fit well with the whole event - something that would be inclusive and bigger than just us three. That's when the title Let Creators Create came to be. 

​What type of projects do you have going on right now? 
Right now we have the Warmth Drive where we're collecting warm clothing and hygiene items until the 23rd of this month. I really wanted Let Creators Create be connected to this because the reality is that sometimes artists do become homeless - it's part of the process that we don't like to talk about. In general there's a lot of people who are a couple paychecks from being in very bad/potentially homeless situation. I feel like it's important for artists and creatives to be connected to this because they know what it feels like to be in that position. 

Who do you work and partner with? 
For the Warmth drive I look to reach out to companies and brands that already have their own sense of identity and a strong presence already. At the end of the day real recognizes real and I gravitate to people who do things for the right reasons. There's people like Johnny Q and others who put on the Monday mixers - those are the ones I like to reach out to. Tower Yoga and Tower Blendz are also companies that I partner with and that you can drop off clothing for the Warmth Drive as well. 

What inspires you? 
The inspiration came from connecting with Des from the We Are Not Invisible Foundation. I met her years ago and I've seen her work and help change many people's lives. She coordinates potlucks in the park on Eaton Plaza to help feed the homeless and take a step closer to end the hunger in our community. The next one is coming up on November 23rd where I will be taking the donated goods from the Warmth Drive and pass them out to the people there. It's just important to make people feel like there's help out there and that someone actually sees them. 

"Do what you can, where you can, and while you still can." - BK's Grandma :)

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