Get Creative

Creative Minds is a student run organization here at Frostburg State University (FSU) that helps students prepare for future creative opportunities. The organization is run by President Justin Alexander, who you may remember from last week’s article The Rise of Jus10. Alexander is not only the president of the organization, but he is also the founder. Alexander founded Creative Minds in April of 2016, but the organization got its jumpstart on Sept. 1, 2016. Alexander says, “I founded creative minds to provide a platform for talented and creative students to showcase their talents.”

Justin, who is known as the upcoming artist Jus10, leads the group of students and, along with his executive board, helps mentor other upcoming artists. The executive board consists of Vice President Juwan Dorsey, Secretary Kaylah Calvert, Treasurer Dareion White, Historian Adetayo Ibijemilusi, Student Liason Derrick Lee, Social Media Coordinator Sean Francis, and Seon Thorne on public relations.

To signify their existence on Frostburg’s campus, the organization attempts to hold an event or forum every other Thursday. The organization holds many events throughout the academic year to highlight the creativity in not only its members, but the entire student body. Recently the board members of Creative Minds hosted their own version of the popular game show Beat Shazam. The program tested the knowledge of those in attendance in a music-based competition.

Though Creative Minds is meant to help highlight any form of creativity in students, the organization focuses heavily on the music aspect. Joining Creative Minds is very beneficial for the students of FSU. Being a part of the organization can assist students with networking, becoming more social, and expressing their creativity. Alexander says, “it gave me a career path, changed my perspective on the college experience, and it has helped me socially too.”

Creative Minds’ goal at FSU is to provide a platform for students and help prepare them to follow their dreams post college graduation. Creative Minds’ mission statement can be found on their Bobcat Connect page and is as follows:

“…to prepare students for creative opportunities after college. We want students to be able to showcase their talents, create songs, and learn more about how the music industry works…. Creative Minds promotes positivity in music as well as teaches students how to support and uplift one another…”

The organization promotes their events and forums in multiple ways. One of their sources of promotion is the Creative Minds Twitter account: @CreativeMindsFSU. Students who use Twitter are able to follow Creative Minds, and are able to stay connected with the organization and up to date on their upcoming events. They post flyers and even promotional videos to keep students informed as well as get them interested in joining the organization.

Creative Minds also does promotion at the tables that they host in the Lane University Center. Students who do not utilize Twitter are able to find information at one of their tables. The board members set up tables where they hand out flyers for their upcoming events, as well as inform students about Creative Minds. When the organization has something in the works, they also post flyers in buildings around the FSU campus, as well as have board members personally handout flyers.

On Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, Creative Minds is hosting a forum called “Be Your Own Boss.” The forum is meant to assist students with networking, resume building, and learning about marketing. Along with their forums, the organization has a host of major events coming up. On Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, Creative Minds will be hosting their version of the hit comedy show Wild’N Out. On the actual show, the cast members are split into two teams, and they compete against each other in multiple games that test their skill of on-the-spot comedy. Creative Minds will be recreating the show by splitting student organizations into two teams and having them compete in similar comedy games. Some of the organizations participating in the event are Creative Minds, African Student Association, Fandom Society, Paparazzi Perfect, Relationship Goals, Strutters Dance Team, Visual Couture, and many more. The Creative Minds Wild’N Out show is free; however, students are still required to obtain a ticket from the box office in the Lane University Center. Tickets will be available for the event starting Monday, Oct. 1, 2018.

In November, Creative Minds will also be hosting their version of another music inspired competition “The Four.” The organization will soon be releasing more information about the event and auditions for the show. Creative Minds has much more in store for FSU throughout the 2018-2019 academic year. Be sure to stay updated. Wishing the executive board, as well as the general body, of the Creative Minds organization a successful year not only with their upcoming events, but academically as well.