AOKI Events
Community-Centered Engagement
My passion for community engagement is evident in my nonprofit work and collaborations with creatives & brands. I create initiatives that inspire action and foster collaboration, building lasting connections between brands and their audiences. From founding AOKI to working with various organizations, I prioritize creating campaigns that resonate locally and beyond, leaving a positive and enduring social impact.
What I Did
Executive, Creative & Art Direction
Product
Design
Event Production
Social Media Marketing
Campaign Ideation
UX
The Challenge:
AOKI, a nonprofit organization focused on fostering creativity and societal healing through art, sought to bring together local artists in Chicago to explore deep human tenets such as justice, mourning, mercy, humility, and peace. The goal was to create a series of events that would offer a space for both artists and the community to reflect on these themes, while also supporting artists in the creative process. AOKI needed a structure for collaboration and a platform to showcase this meaningful work to drive engagement and build momentum for future initiatives.
The Process: AOKI’s approach centered on partnerships with Chicago-based artists, with a focus on collaboration and providing the resources necessary to bring their creative visions to life. Key elements of the process included:
Artist Collaboration: We launched "Artist Table," a space where artists could gather, collaborate, and discuss how their work could contribute to themes of justice, mercy, and healing. Through facilitated discussions, AOKI built a supportive environment, ensuring each artist's voice was heard and their ideas were nurtured.
Resources and Studio Visits: Throughout the creative process leading up to each event, we provided artists with resources such as funding for materials, access to studio space, and guidance. We conducted studio visits to offer feedback, build relationships, and ensure the cohesion of the project’s broader themes.
Merchandise and Campaigns: Leading up to the events, we designed and executed targeted campaigns that included graphic design, interviews with artists, photography, and videography. These assets were distributed through email marketing, social media, and physical invitations, generating excitement and engagement for the events. Merchandise, such as branded items and artwork created in collaboration with the artists, helped raise awareness and support for AOKI’s mission.
The Results: Over the course of two years, AOKI produced three major events, hosting 1000+ attendees and collaborated with over 50 artists. These events not only brought art and the community together but also allowed AOKI to showcase the power of creativity in addressing universal human experiences.
Event Success: Our most recent event saw pieces donated from 25 artists for an auction, raising significant funds to support AOKI’s future work and reinforcing the sense of community around the organization’s mission.
Community Impact: The events created a profound impact by fostering conversations around justice, healing, and societal connection through art. The collaborative environment empowered artists to share deeply personal work, creating lasting connections between the participants and the audience.
Pandemic Impact and Future Vision: Unfortunately, as AOKI was preparing to take the next step by applying for grants to sustain the nonprofit’s efforts, the pandemic hit. With volunteers unable to continue, AOKI’s operations were paused. However, the passion, love, and fire for this work remains. AOKI’s legacy lives on in the connections made and the art produced, and the desire to collaborate with creatives to bring powerful work into the world is still strong.
Conclusion: Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, AOKI’s impact on the arts community in Chicago was significant. Through collaboration, meaningful events, and thoughtful campaigns, AOKI demonstrated the transformative power of creativity in addressing societal issues. The passion and talent remains poised for future opportunities to continue this work and support artists in sharing their powerful messages with the world.
Unseen//Seen
For Unseen//Seen the goal was to showcase AOKI’s mission of uniting artists from diverse mediums, neighborhoods, life experiences, and perspectives. We curated an immersive experience, where attendees engaged with art through tea, fabric, music, paint, charcoal, food, dance, and poetry—stimulating all the senses. To show appreciation, we produced custom pins and totes as gifts for those who donated. The event sparked enthusiasm for AOKI’s vision, resulting in remarkable art, excitement for future projects, and numerous donations, including the addition of regular patrons.
The Team
Taylor Hansen Hughes
Alicia Kiewitt
Tiffany Wong
Lauren McKeen
11 artists
5 volunteers
100 attendees
A Humble Beginning
A Humble Beginning marked AOKI’s first full-scale event, distinct from a fundraiser. While supported by funding, the event's success was largely made possible by the incredible community that embraced and believed in our vision, as well as the artists who responded to it.
The event was a journey into the theme of humility, beginning with a powerful collaborative performance by a spoken word artist, operatic singer, and musician. Guests then explored artworks by painters and a sculptor, followed by interactive “safe spaces” created by three artists, where attendees were literally wrapped in art. Poetry on the theme of humility filled the space, guiding visitors to the final experience—a garden of paper flowers for guests to take home, symbolizing the humility and growth fostered throughout the event.
The Team
Tiffany Wong
Lauren McKeen
Alex Kelly
Katie Collins
5 artists
8 volunteers
75 attendees
Welcome
to AOKI
For “Welcome to AOKI” we hosted an art auction featuring 30 donated works from 25 artists in support of our mission. Five of these artists were highlighted as part of AOKI’s Artist Table, where they collaborated to bring the event to life. Their presentation included a stunning blend of performances by two musicians, actors, digital artworks, and paintings, creating a rich, multi-sensory experience.
To close the event, we introduced an exciting new project centered around CTA cards featuring local artists, which had been developed in partnership with David Heo, who generously entrusted AOKI to lead the initiative.
The Team
Tiffany Wong
Alex Kelley
Katie Collins
Kamau Pendergrass
Elizabeth Vand Griend
David Heo
30 artists
15 volunteers
75 attendees
