May 7, 2024 | 6-8 PM | Denton County Brewing Company
A FlintConf Kick Off Event
This year, we’re excited to be adding First Strike to the FlintConf lineup. This will be the first ever kickoff event for our creative startup conference. This free event is designed to bring together those who may not be able to attend the full conference, as well as creative entrepreneurs looking to connect and converse with others over the state of the creative economy in Denton.
What to Expect:
At this inaugural First Strike, held at Denton County Brewing Company, we will be joined by a panel of creatives making strides in the passion economy. There will be a short panel moderated by Stoke Executive Director, Heather Gregory followed by a roundtable discussion, where attendees will be able to join in the conversation and add their own takes on what it’s like as a creative in today’s ever-changing ecosystem.
Meet The Panelists:
Lasamee Kettavong
Writer, Editor, Creator
Head Chef & Founder at Good & Golden, Program Manager at LANA
Lasamee Kettavong, a Lao American and daughter of refugees, found her home in Denton, Texas, after moving there for college at the University of North Texas. Falling in love with the vibrant community, she has since become a cherished member. As a writer, editor, creative, and owner of a food and culture business, Lasamee’s passion for storytelling and culinary arts shines through.
With an MA in Philosophy and another in Professional and Technical Communication from the University of North Texas, Lasamee has held diverse roles, from consulting on sustainability reporting to teaching and managing programs at Stoke, Denton’s beloved coworking space. Currently, she serves as the program manager for the nonprofit Laotian American National Alliance (LANA), writes for Lao Food Foundation and Hottest Plate, and leads Good and Golden, offering immersive experiences in Lao cuisine and history. Alongside co-founding DTX Writers, Lasamee indulges in dining, dancing, and quality time with loved ones, balancing her time between writing, cat naps, and planning the next exciting chapter for Good & Golden.
Claire Morales
Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Musician
Claire Morales is a graphic designer, illustrator and musician from Denton, TX. After graduating from the UNT Comm Design program, she cut her teeth as a designer working at Imaginaria Creative, a design studio in Plano. After four years commuting, she transitioned to freelance life in order to have the ability to tour with her band and take long, solo van trips across the country. Her freelance work centers around branding, packaging, print design and illustration. A lifelong artist, her current artistic style is colorful, cute and psychedelic, emerging as an effort to lift spirits in the darkest days of the pandemic. Through use of color, she aims to create the sensation of a rainbow color therapy. Her work is inspired by her love of fruit, a childhood obsession with Sailor Moon, and growing up a Lisa Frank kid in the 90s.
Nadia Rosales
Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Nadia Ala’i Rosales (b.1995) is a full-time, multidisciplinary artist, living and working in Denton, TX. Nadia received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of North Texas, where she focused her studies on feminist theory and feminist visual culture. After graduating UNT, Nadia worked for a local non-profit, prior to becoming a full time artist. Currently, she balances an online ceramic business, a dedicated artistic practice, and a part-time role as a teaching artist for an arts-as-workforce intervention program for youth who have encountered the justice system.
Nadia’s artwork explores the ways in which customization and beauty are integrated into daily ritual. Her work is largely ceramic; however, she regularly intermingles her ceramic practice with painting and drawing, as well as found object assemblage. Rosales’ artistic practice has developed in conversation with the various folk art traditions she’s been exposed to, including tattooing and rasquachismo. Decorating the surfaces of the vessels she creates with bright and bold imagery, she playfully unifies elements from her personal background.
