Lisa Valentine Clark, host of the BYU Radio Podcast "The Lisa Show" came to education week to speak on how creativity informs identity on Aug. 20.
“It's more than just the things that we like to do, but it is also this sense of our purpose, our why and who we're becoming and so I am really energized by this idea,” Clark said.
She gave several key points throughout her address including how practicing creativity strengthens home and family creativity, how creative expression can connect us with others in deeper more meaningful ways, and more.
She also spoke about how her late husband, Christopher, passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease in 2020.
His cousin, Jane and her husband Jed created a book about Christopher's life filled with lasting memories for Clark to remember him.
“Their expansive love of writing, editing, photoshopping, photography, storytelling, created something that is now a treasured heirloom for my children and my grandchildren who do not exist yet,” Clark said.
She said creativity was the instrument for this monumental act of Christ-like love and related her story to Christ-like service.
“Not only does creativity make us more selfless, but selflessness can make us more creative,” Clark said.
The focus on creativity as a collaborative effort was Kaylin McGrew, conference attendee, favorite part of her address.
“The more you collaborate and respond to your environment and to others around you, instead of it being more (of) just a personal pursuit, it can grow when you collaborate and respond," McGrew said.
Conference attendee Olivia Brizzee said she recognizes how creativity can have a ripple effect
“It was really impressive that she was able to talk about how creativity affects others and not just yourself and when you're creative, it’s able to reach outside of yourself and make other people around you more creative as well,” Brizzee said.