Where my lived experience, creativity and purpose come together.

Create. Share. Heal.

I often find myself at the intersection of empathy and creativity and this has been a meaningful part of my journey.

Sundays on State Street with The Simple Good, volunteering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, organizing teams for the Out of the Darkness Walks – these are some of the ways I have found more purpose as a suicide loss survivor.

In 2019, I created Sentiment Project as a way that I could start sharing more openly about my healing as a suicide loss survivor. In 2020, I added a conversation series for loss survivors to use creativity as a way to heal together.

Speaking up about suicide

In 2023, I shared my story leading up the the Chicagoland AFSP Out of the Darkness walk on ABC Sunday morning. I have been sharing my story so others can know they aren’t alone.

ABC SEGMENT

Women in advertising

In honor of Women’s History Month 2024, CultureConnect took a deep dive into the advertising ecosystem with some of the contemporary influential women on the front line of this creative and ever evolving field. We discussed what it takes to make it as a woman in advertising and break barriers in an often male-led industry. Hosted by Janelle A. James, SVP Ipsos UU

PODCAST

“Kerri, that is cooler than a Canadian coolfront.”

— Chaiwat, Graphic Design Professor | FHSU

And that’s how the KS Coolfront came to be. These are the words Chaiwat said to me when I presented my 50 cent bouncing balls packaging project in Graphics 2. In 2021, I started an annual scholarship to pass on the confidence that statement helped give me. Check out the four recipients so far.

HOW IT STARTED

Recruiting students

I am grateful for the doors graphic design has opened for me – a career that I never knew existed as a young girl growing up in Ellsworth, Kansas. This makes it really important for me to help students of all ages, to show them that creativity is one way to find their path forward and use their talent to dream bigger about what they can do.

CHICAGO MAGAZINE

“Kerri pushed me to be better, challenged me to think bigger and always drove for greatness. And that’s just the work part. She’s also one of the best humans I know. Her passion and kindness have broad impact and generally make the world a better place.”