Third Thursday Speed Mentorship Mixer: Recap
Last week, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia opened its doors for our August Third Thursday: Speed Mentorship Mixer & Navigating the Creative Economy. Designed to bridge the gap between seasoned cultural leaders and early-career creatives, the evening provided emerging artists, organizers, and young professionals with direct access to actionable resources, candid career roadmaps, and community connections.
A Structured Networking Format
Traditional networking can often feel daunting, especially for young professionals breaking into the arts and nonprofit landscape, who don’t know where to start. For this Third Thursday, we piloted an intentional speed mentorship format:
Attendees met in focused, small-group tables that rotated throughout the evening, giving participants intimate access to diverse leadership perspectives without the pressure of working through a crowded room. The setup created a space for real conversations rooted in real expertise and knowledge.
We closed the evening with open networking, allowing attendees and mentors to continue specific conversations, exchange contact information, and share ongoing project ideas.
12 Mentors in the Room
We were thrilled to host 12 distinguished mentors in the room, each bringing deep knowledge from distinct corners of Philadelphia’s creative economy:
Ariel Shelton - Executive Director, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia
Lindsay Kijewski - Director, Nonprofit Repositioning Fund
Jessica Garz - Founder & Director, RAE Consulting
Eric Marsh - Executive Director, Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting & The Fathering Circle
Kelly Jung - Assistant Director, Hurford Center
Stefanie Kroll - Executive Director, Riverways Collaboration
Ron Robinson - Media Consultant, MPFR Media
Cristian S - Strategic Communications Consultant
Jeanette Lloyd - Partnerships Director, BlackStar Projects
Soonduk Krebs - President & Creative Director, SK Designworks
Koren Martin - Commercial/Portrait Photographer & Consultant
Bernard Lambert - Professional Drummer & Founder, ONDA1
Key Resources & Tools for Creative Workers
Throughout the discussions, attendees connected around starting creative businesses, establishing fiscally sponsored projects, and finding sustainable opportunities in Philly.
Explore these regional resources and tools to help build your projects:
CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia Fiscal Sponsorship Program: Direct model C and comprehensive fiscal sponsorship, back-office administration, and shared coworking infrastructure.
Hurford Center Arts & Culture Mentorship Program: In its second year, this initiative led by mentor Kelly Jung pairs Bi-Co juniors and seniors with professionals across creative fields. Students meet with designated mentors four times across the academic year to explore career paths and gain professional guidance. Learn more via the Bryn Mawr announcement or apply directly here (questions can be directed to Kelly at hjung1@haverford.edu).
Nonprofit Repositioning Fund Technical Assistance Grants: Open application cycles providing grant funding to support strategic restructuring, shared services, and collaborations.
PodGuesting Strategy & Media Kit: Practical framework for pitching podcasts, building audience visibility, and landing media features shared by Ron Robinson.
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Job & Audition Board: Active regional repository of paid arts administration positions, residencies, and freelance RFPs.
Creative Philadelphia Arts Access Calendar: The city's centralized hub to find local arts workshops, exhibitions, performances, and public cultural events across every Philadelphia neighborhood (you can also submit your own events here for free visibility!).
OACCE Creative Sector Directory & Opportunities Hub: Free listings for local artists, public calls for art, RFP opportunities, and city grants via Creative PHL.
Philadelphia Department of Commerce Business Services Managers (BSMs): Free 1-on-1 consultations assigned by neighborhood to help navigate city permits, licenses, and local business incentives.
Upcoming Sessions at CultureWorks
Continue building your practice with our upcoming community programming:
Sep 3 | Equity, Access, and Power in Philanthropy (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Zoom)
Sep 13 | Philadelphia 250: Welcoming Immigrants Rooted in the American Story (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia)
Oct 1 | Measuring Impact Without Overburdening Projects (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Zoom)
For coworking passes, fiscal sponsorship inquiries, or general community membership, explore cultureworksphila.org.
This event was conceptualized, planned, and produced by Mishti Nagrath as part of her Community and Programs Coordinator Co-op at CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia through Drexel University. Special thanks to the CultureWorks team, Ariel and Nasir (Mizzy) Mack, our 12 mentors, and every attendee who made the evening a success.
