Conscious Entrepreneurship: May I introduce Chris Devins
Chris Devins , MUPP (2012) is a Chicago, IL based Urban Planner/Artist known for large, outdoor murals of A. Philip Randolph and the Pullman Porters , Rashid Lynn (Common) , Lorraine Hansberry , Chance the Rapper, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, the Bronzeville Marianos grocery store’s “Sunday Morning” wall and “Legends” fence, Chatham 2.0, Hyde Park Heroes , and other community Art initiatives that portray south side Chicagoans in a positive light. He is part of a team (with Civic Artworks) that won a 2016 Best Practices award from the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association.
He founded his multi-disciplinary practice, Chris Devins Creative, officially in Bronzeville, Chicago in 2014, as an outgrowth of his work in the community even as more residents’ homes were being demolished at a local project. As he pondered the loss of yet another important Bronzeville development, Chris began to think about Identity, the role it plays in a neighborhood’s economic and social viability, and the potential of public/street art as a way to strengthen community.
CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP — What meaning do you give this term?
Conscious entrepreneurship seeks, in addition to making money, to give back to the community in meaningful ways. It is business based on conscious values that are as important as profit making.
CAREER — What led you to your particular career path?
After following a purely entrepreneurial path for many years and having mediocre results, I was exhausted physically and spiritually. Instinctively, one day I just reacted creatively and began holding engagement meetings around area Identity and its importance to community. I then began a practice of community involved placemaking where I would research, survey community members about their area’s Identity and then produce a public artwork based on my research and their participation. I began to be interested in the role of public art in an area’s gentrification process and the possibility of Identity based public art to help slow down/stop/reverse the process. Putting my new approach into practice, I began to recover and felt happier living a life in line with my values.
MENTORS — We all need a little help along the journey. Who has been an invaluable mentor for you? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
My most important mentor was Dr. Sokoni Karanja, founder of Center for New Horizons early childhood development organization, which serves Chicago’s Bronzeville community, and who is also a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Award Recipient”. He, along with Dr. Sandra O’Donnell, were the first people to hire me as a research assistant, which put me on a path where I began to fully utilize both my intellectual and creative sides. Working with those two also gave me invaluable connections in the Bronzeville community. Dr. Karanja introduced me to the people involved in the development of my largest project, placemaking at the new Bronzeville Mariano’s grocery store (Chicago, IL).
TO THRIVE — When you see yourself thriving: Do you see yourself opening up opportunities for others along the way to participate in your success, and how?
In some ways I am thriving now and am in the process of co-developing a college and graduate school level class in my approach and basic process. The number one question I am asked is “How do you do that, how do you turn photographs into murals?” This class addresses that. I also will bring others into my success with collaborations.
CAUSE — What are the causes close to your heart, and you are supporting right now? Can you share a story how you got involved? How did it make you feel?
The cause closest to my heart, besides the community involved placemaking of my practice, is access to healthy food for everyone. I was ecstatic to be on the team that brought a new 75,000 sq. ft. Marianos grocery store to Bronzeville, Chicago, which had been a “food desert” for over 30 years. A food desert is an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food.
THE FUTURE — How do you see the face of entrepreneurship in 5 years? How do companies /brands need to adapt to secure their place in the future?
As the link between entrepreneurship and job creation weakens, as automation increases, many more people will have to create their own opportunities, to become entrepreneurs. These smaller , more nimble, micro-organizations will speed up the pace of design and production. An example of a sped up cycle would be “fast fashion” company Zara, which produces 26 clothing collections per year, as opposed to the 2 collections per year of legacy luxury brands like Gucci and Balenciaga. This leveling effect of small, nimble entrepreneurial companies like Zara will cause larger companies to have to adapt by becoming more flexible, creative and fast moving.
ADVICE — What kind of advice would you like to give to an aspiring entrepreneur who feels limited due to their background or lack of resources?
Limitations can free us. It is our limitations that give us our Identity and style. Example: Jazz Singer Ella Fitzgerald was a vocal purist with few limitations to her singing. She had purity of tone, incredible technique and was blessed with a naturally beautiful voice. She worked with most of the great composers and musicians and is generally held as one of the best jazz singers of all time. In contrast, singer Billie Holiday, a stylist, had a limited vocal range, no more than an octave, her voice was gravelly from cigarette smoke and she had little of Fitzgerald’s technical ability. And yet, Billie Holiday is widely considered the best female jazz singer, and possibly jazz singer, of all time. Her limitations set her free.
DRIVE — Do you sometimes feel bad for “wanting more out of life”, and if so, why? What is your personal motivation that leads you through the hardships of entrepreneurship?
I do some times feel bad about wanting more out of life because my mother always told me I didn’t deserve the gifts I had, because I didn’t work for them. So now wanting things and when things go well, I feel guilty for making Mom wrong. Kids value attachment over authenticity and I adapted my personality as a child, gave up some authenticity, to stay attached to family. Being honest with self is the best motivation. Regular, conscious self assessment generally leads to a steady desire for improvement. Focusing on processes, and not big goals, is key.
CHALLENGES — Entrepreneurship is very challenging. We each have our own coping mechanism. Mine is humor. What is yours? Can you share a story?
Exercise is my coping mechanism. I just spent 2 full days hiking 17 miles to the peak of El Yunque, a rain forest near San Juan, Puerto Rico. Exercise has many benefits, which everyone is familiar with. It especially helps with mood regulation, important to dealing with all the ups and downs you face as an Entrepreneur.
INSPIRATION — Is there an entrepreneurial book or podcast that inspires you that you would like to share with our readers?
The only book I could recommend is my own, and I haven’t written it yet. There are many excellent books on being an Entrepreneur. I have found that most books however, focus on helping people get what they “want”, without telling them of the cost for what they want, what they might have to give up to have what they want, the habits, people, modes of thought, prestige, regular career track you may have to sacrifice to attain your goals.
ACTIVISM: Do you have a principle to live by that you would like to share? How does it impact your life and the lives of others?
Principle: Leave the World around you a little better than what was left to you. This principle permeates my entrepreneurial activities, and is why I do the work I do. My approach has had a positive effect on the people I work and relate with though it also sometimes does foster resistance and resentment from some around me.
YOU — Is there anything you would like to share that we have not asked you here?
In the future, everyone will be an Entrepreneur.
THANK YOU!
Follow Chris Devins’ work on Instagram.
Demee Koch about the MEDIUM interview series on CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
Conscious entrepreneurship for me is about building a sustainable business that values and respects the resources used and makes an effort of giving back to society.
I believe we need entrepreneurs to really get involved in the causes close to their heart.
This is why I reach out to entrepreneurs that aim for more than generating profit. With this interview, I aim to share entrepreneurial purpose-led passion to inspire others.
Looking forward to learn from you. Reach out to me via LinkedIn.
Demee ❤︎
