theShift | Monthly Series, August 2026

This month's speakers are Ayah Davis-Karim, mixed media artist and founder of Chromophore Artspace, and Tyrone Nelson Jr., creative strategist, storyteller, director, and entrepreneur, founder of The Newviews Agency.

Our August conversation centers on Ownership. Not as a concept, but as a practice.

As Black creatives, we build. We pour into our work, our businesses, and our communities often without a roadmap, without the resources that others take for granted, and sometimes without anyone who has done it before us to show us the way. And still we build.

But ownership is about more than having your name on something. It is about what you decide to do with what you have built. The responsibility that comes with it. The way it can serve not just you but the people around you. The communities you come from. The creatives who are watching and wondering if it is possible for them too.

This conversation explores what it looks like to build something on your own terms as a Black creative, to own not just your business but your story, your vision, and your impact, and to discover that what you build has the power to give back in ways you never expected.

Doors open at 6:30 PM for a casual happy hour. Guests are welcome to arrive early, settle in, and connect with others in the room. Light bites will be available, and drinks can be purchased at the bar.

The program will begin promptly at 7:00 PM.

• An intimate and intentional space for listening and conversation
• Honest reflection on the creative journey
• Opportunities to connect with other creatives in the room
• A chance to explore the shifts shaping your own path

The Shift is open to anyone who considers themselves a creative and is looking for meaningful connections. We center those working in creative industries and those who work alongside us, but this space is open to all who value creativity, growth, and community.

Cost to Attend

Tickets for The Shift are free, but space is limited to keep the experience intimate and participatory. Please only register for a free ticket if you plan to attend. If your plans change and you are unable to join us, we kindly ask that you release your ticket so another member of the community can take your place.

We also offer a limited number of supporter tickets for those who would like to contribute to the work we are doing at Black Creatives RVA. Each supporter ticket includes admission plus your choice of a theShift notebook, sticker pack, or t-shirt.