All Experts

Growing up as a Queer first-gen South Asian American in the Chicago suburbs, craft was a core part of my life and how I expressed my identity. As a kid, art was my creative outlet and how I made some of my closest friends. After leaving my tech job, art became a way for me to connect to my own culture. During a life-changing trip to India, I discovered the expansive world of South Asian craft and the incredible organizations that were trying to preserve them. I was able to travel to Rajasthan, experience the local culture, participate in craft workshops to study regional crafts, and learn from villagers that held generational wisdom on the art form. I felt incredibly privileged to get this rare glimpse into such an ancient art form. It inspired me to think of ways to bring this experience to more people within the South Asian diaspora and beyond. Then came the idea for Hamesha Project. My dream for Hamesha Project was to find a way to preserve and honor the full breadth of South Asian crafts, but make experiencing them more accessible. Finally to use what I was so passionate about to bring people together. When I'm not hosting craftworkshops and ideating my next South Asian craft kit, you can find me enjoying the farmers markets and community events of San Francisco, on a run, drawing, or enjoying a nice restaurant.

Ceal Hoskie, also known as Coach KB, is an emerging power player in various industries. She is a leading force in paving the way for hopefuls from all walks of life, carving success-enabling paths for those who need help reaching impressive heights. As this multifaceted go-getter continues to take the reins of her groundbreaking initiatives, Coach KB aims to become an instrument of transformation, most especially for women of color who do not have enough resources. Coach KB lost her six-figure dream job and was unemployed for 9 months. She hit a very suicidal depression that left her feeling lost, and hopeless. She found therapeutic healing in soap-making, which in return helped change her mindset. Coach KB decided to do something for herself and decided to jump into entrepreneurship and create her own business, Ready to Live Coaching and Ready to Live Soaps. Ready to Live Coaching started as a mindset academy that helps women release fear and turn their burning desires into reality. During KB's depression and new discovery on how creativity can help heal, the mind, body, and overall well-being, KB deep-dived into the world of creativity. KB did research on different healing essential oils and manifestation herbs to put inside soap to create a change in your overall well-being. Soap-Making was her creative outlet, helping her every day with her depression. Thinking as a true mindset coach, she thought "If soap-making can bring me out of a dark place, what will it do for the World? What will it do for women? What will this do for my young women who battle mental issues at a higher rate? Coach KB set out a mission to be an example for all Black and Brown women suffering from some form of mental illness. With a passion for change and the therapeutic nature of soap-making birthed Ready to Live Soaps. Since then, Coach KB has rebranded Ready to Live Coaching and has been on a mission to help women turn their creativity into a thriving business. Since her start, she has helped 33 Black and Brown women start a creative style business. She has a goal this year to reach 250 Women and help them take that step. She was honored this year as a "100 Women to Know in America 2023 recipient" for her work. Coach KB has started speaking at local high schools, conferences, and many other speaking engagements speaking to young women. She is on a mission to lead by example and break down barriers for all creative-style businesses. Ready to Live Soaps, prides itself in community involvement, like giving all unused soap to local shelters and homeless advocate groups around Georgia. Feed and provide free soap to families in need every two weeks while also providing free soap workshops for nonprofits that mentor teens, teenagers, or any teen organization. This is an attempt to help keep teens out of trouble, off the streets, and back into creativity.