NEW YORK – March 11, 2021 – The third episode of the new web docuseries INVOLVD airs today on vmedia.com/INVOLVD.
In today's episode, Minneapolis-based visual artist Xee Reiter is profiled. Reiter, a first-generation Hmong American specializing in watercolor and pen and ink illustration tells us how she has fused her art and cultural influences to find her voice and her place in the world.
“Art is freedom, and freedom is identity" says Reiter.
INVOLVD is produced by ADX Labs Inc.’s entertainment company, Virtual Media Entertainment (VME) and focuses on ordinary people bringing about extraordinary positivity within their communities. “In these times, it is so important to share the stories of regular people doing great things for their neighbors and communities,” says Steve Renner, founder and CEO of Minneapolis-based ADX Labs, Inc. “Through sharing these stories, our hope is to inspire others to become more INVOLVD,” he continued, “and that it leads to more compassion for one another.”
The web docuseries launched in February 2021, with episodes airing every other Thursday on vmedia.com/INVOLVD.
The series premiered on February 11th, 2021 featuring Chris Axelson, artist and former member of the US National Guard, who talked about his part in the Minneapolis protests following the murder of George Floyd and the art he created featuring the 1778 Gadsen Flag with the words “Don’t Kneel on Me” that went viral.
Episode 2, released on February 25th, 2021 featured Witt Siasoco, a community-based artist, activist and educator. In the episode, Siasoco talks about his involvement in art and skateboarding and the unique chance to merge the two as a key member of the team at City of Skate. The episode highlights how art, skateboarding, and Siasoco’s community involvement are changing the Minneapolis skate scene.
In addition to Axelson’s, Siasoco’s and Reiter's stories, the docuseries will also feature the stories of Cool Meets Cause, the organization bringing snowboarding to Minneapolis underprivileged youth, and female-founded Lady Boss (Sarah McNally), helping professional women through networking and support. As the series develops, INVOLVD plans to expand the stories beyond Minneapolis.
“2020 was a tumultuous year for this country, and it was a time of reckoning too, when we were each forced to think about how to be better for the good of our city, our citizens, and our nation,” said Renner. In 2020 saw ADX Labs’ renewed philanthropic effort through the ADX Foundation in hunger alleviation, COVID-19 vaccine research, grants to Minneapolis small businesses impacted by the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, and freeing the wrongfully convicted from prison. “The reality is that we are facing many of the same struggles in 2021,” Renner continues, “We face tremendous uncertainty and economic difficulties, but through it all our neighbors have made a difference in ways big and small. INVOLVD focuses on people in our community who are doing what they can to make the world a better place.” Watch INVOLVD at vmedia.com/INVOLVD every other Thursday in 2021.
Exclusive Spotify playlists support every episode of INVOLVD
Utilizing VME's Just Added Music cloud-based playlist distribution technology, INVOLVD has invited every featured subject to create an exclusive playlist of songs inspired by their episode's themes.
INVOLVD episode three's Xee Reiter's playlist is live now, and plays on Spotify, from the following link: https://justaddedmusic.ffm.to/involvdep3
The current episode rollout is as follows:
Thursday, 2/11 – Episode 1: Chris Axelson
Thursday, 2/25 – Episode 2: Will Siasoco
Thursday, 3/11 – Episode 3: Xee Reiter
Thursday, 3/25 – Episode 4: Cool Meets Cause
Thursday, 4/8 – Episode 5: Lady Boss (Sarah McNally)
Episode synopses
Episode 1: Chris Axelson
Chris Axelson is an art director, veteran of the Air National Guard, bike enthusiast and father. His life experiences led him to a unique lens during his involvement in the Minneapolis protests following the murder of George Floyd in May of 2020. Shortly after his participation in the protests, Axelson returned home and designed a take on the 1778 Gadsden Flag which went viral and included the words “Don’t Kneel On Me.” His story was featured in the premiere episode of INVOLVD on Thursday, February 11, 2021.
Listen to Chris Axelson's exclusive Spotify playlist, featuring songs inspired by his episode's themes at: https://justaddedmusic.ffm.to/involvdep1
Episode 2: Witt Siasoco
Witt Siasoco is a community-based artist, activist and educator. His involvement in art and skateboarding has allowed him a unique chance to merge the two and become a key member of the team at City of Skate. His story of how art, skateboarding, and his community involvement are changing the Minneapolis skate scene was featured in the second episode of INVOLVD on Thursday, February 25, 2021.
Listen to Witt Siasoco's exclusive Spotify playlist, featuring songs inspired by his episode's themes at: https://justaddedmusic.ffm.to/involvdep2
Episode 3: Xee Reiter
Xee Reiter is a visual artist specializing in watercolor and pen and ink illustration. As a first-generation Hmong American, cultural influences are found throughout her works. Finding her voice and her place in the world through artistic expression has led her to creating mural art, book illustrations, and TV graphics. Her story of how her art, culture, and identity become one was featured in episode three of INVOLVD on Thursday, March 11, 2021.
Listen to Xee Reiter's exclusive Spotify playlist, featuring songs inspired by her episode's themes at: https://justaddedmusic.ffm.to/involvdep3
Episode 4: Cool Meets Cause
Cool Meets Cause breaks down cost barriers that prevent underprivileged youth in the Twin Cities from trying snowboarding. Providing gear, instructors, time and space to the youth of North Minneapolis, Cool Meets Cause hopes participants get to enjoy not only the sport, but the long-term positive impact of the connections and skills they gain while in the program. Learn more on episode four of INVOLVD on Thursday, March 25, 2021.
Episode 5: Lady Boss (Sarah McNally)
Sarah McNally is a personal branding expert, wife, and mother. On a December 2019 morning, she and her friend Susan Auer met at a favorite breakfast spot in Minneapolis. That day, the absence of women at the restaurant eating breakfast and conducting business was startling. And it begged the question, why don't professional women meet for breakfast? And on the journey to answer this question, Lady Boss was born.
Lady Boss aims to provide an opportunity for women to network & connect with the goal of elevating each other so they can have the greatest impact in the workplace and ultimately in their lives. Coming soon to INVOLVD episode five on Thursday, April 8, 2021.
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