CreativeMornings MKE | "EMBER" with Gina Cornejo

CreativeMornings is a global, volunteer-led breakfast lecture series designed for the creative community. Founded by Tina Roth-Eisenberg in New York City in 2008, it now hosts free monthly events in over 200 cities worldwide — providing an accessible space for designers, entrepreneurs, artists and other creative professionals to connect, find inspiration and build community.

The CreativeMornings Milwaukee chapter has been active since 2014. With CreativeMornings MKE, we foster Milwaukee's diverse creative community through boundary-breaking events at unique venues. Our free monthly Friday gatherings aim to ignite fresh perspectives, fostering an inclusive, vibrant space with engaging speakers. We champion diverse voices, inspire innovative thinking, and forge meaningful connections, enriching personal and professional landscapes. By transcending barriers, exploring new neighborhoods and nurturing creativity, we unite neighborhoods and harmonize voices, propelling our city forward in a collective spirit of creativity and inclusivity.

Gina Cornejo (she/they) is a Milwaukee-born, Queer-identifying, Americana Peruana writer, immersive storyteller, solo performer and self-proclaimed professional feelings-haver. The daughter of a Peruvian mariachi singer and a Chicago jazz dancer, Gina's love of the arts didn't just start early — it started in her bloodline.

For 17 years, she called Chicago's Teatro Luna home, contributing writing, choreography, and performance to the Jeff Award-winning Latinx/WOC company, even landing on an Audible Original along the way. From her First Draft Residency at Revolve Gallery (2021) and her Story/Arts Residency at Story Parlor (2022) to the stages of the Asheville and Green Bay Fringe Festivals, Gina has taken her raw, unapologetic autobiographical storytelling across the country — and now she's bringing it back to Milwaukee, where it all began.

Her Artist-in-Residence at Tooth and Nail Gallery, SCREWBALL, marked her joyful return to the Milwaukee creative community, and she hasn't slowed down since. Trained as an Intimacy Choreographer through Theatrical Intimacy Education, Gina is also a fierce champion of emerging artists and a living reminder that full transparency is an art form all its own.

CreativeMornings Milwaukee fans may already recognize her — Gina has graced our stage twice as a featured performer, opening for Rachel Duggan at the Urban Ecology Center in February 2025 and for Ike Wynter at Schlitz Audubon in February 2026. This time, she's stepping into the spotlight as our keynote speaker, and we could not be more thrilled.
Event Details
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Skylight Music Theatre158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Tickets are FREE! RSVP at: https://creativemornings.com/talks/gina-cornejo-ember

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