JDS Creative Academy

10/15/2026

🇰🇪 𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗬𝗔 𝗞𝗘𝗬𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 | 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭, 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟮: 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗬𝗔

From a school classroom to the Parliament of Kenya, all in one day!

As part of the Kenya Keynote Tour with Top Talent International, our founders and .strand1 had the opportunity to visit the Parliament of Kenya.

Walking through a place filled with so much history, beautiful artwork, and cultural significance was an experience in itself. It was a chance to learn, connect, and appreciate a different part of Kenya's story.

What made this visit even more meaningful was how it connected to something Diane and Scott have always believed in: the importance of people coming together to make a positive difference.

Whether it's through education, creativity, leadership, or simply lending a helping hand, meaningful change often starts with one person choosing to help another.

That's what HOPE, Helping One Person Every Day, is all about.

And there's still so much more of their Kenya journey to share!

Stay tuned for the next chapter.

10/14/2026

🇰🇪 𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗬𝗔 𝗞𝗘𝗬𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 | 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭, 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟭: 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧 & 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘

What a way to begin an incredible journey in Kenya!

Our founders, and .strand1, traveled to Kenya with Top Talent International, and we're excited to finally share moments that made this experience so meaningful.

Day 1 began at a local school, where Diane and Scott rolled up their sleeves and joined students in giving the classroom chalkboards a fresh coat of paint.

One of the most memorable moments came when hundreds of students gathered to welcome them during the school assembly. The energy, the smiles, and the warm welcome made it a day to remember.

Later, they joined a press conference to share the heart behind and why creative education, storytelling, and giving young people opportunities to develop their talents matter so much.

At JDS, we've always believed that everyone has a story worth telling. This visit was another reminder of how creativity and connection can bring people together, no matter where we are in the world.

And this was only the beginning!

Follow along as we share more moments from their Kenya journey.

10/13/2026

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

Our 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 is happening this evening, and we’d love to have you join us.

Garrett Ackerman, Founder and CEO of Homies, will be talking with us about Life Sharing, supportive roommate matches, Regional Center funding and support, and what these options can look like for adults and families navigating independent living.

This is a chance to hear the conversation, learn more, and bring your questions for the live Q&A.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟱:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠–6:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗤&𝗔
F𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰

You can still register here:
https://jdscreativeacademy.org/independent-living

If this topic has come up in your family, with a client, or in your community, we hope you’ll join us tonight.

10/13/2026

What an incredible experience being part of #𝗕𝗶𝘇𝗖𝗼𝗻 for the second year! 🎬

For over 23 years, we've built our businesses around something we truly believe in: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Entrepreneurship takes creativity, courage, resilience, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. And those are the very skills the arts help us develop!

It was wonderful to be here together as partners in life and business, sharing our journey and connecting with the next generation of entrepreneurs.

A big THANK YOU to 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗜𝗜𝗜 .cobbler for bringing us together and creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs to learn, grow, and turn their dreams into reality!

Here's to building businesses, creating opportunities, and inspiring the next generation of leaders!

𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗲 & 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 | 𝗝𝗗𝗦 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 & 𝗝𝗗𝗦 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼

10/12/2026

We’re going live tomorrow!

Our next FREE Online Education Series is almost here, and this is one conversation we really want families and caregivers to know about.

Garrett Ackerman, Founder and CEO of Homies, will be joining us to talk about Life Sharing, how supportive roommate matches are made, Regional Center funding and support, and what these living arrangements can look like in real life.

If you’ve been wondering what independent living can look like with the right support in place, come join us, listen in, and bring your questions for the Q&A.

T𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
5:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠–6:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗤&𝗔
F𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰

There’s still time to register:
https://jdscreativeacademy.org/independent-living

Know a family, caregiver, or friend who has been exploring these options?
Send them the link and invite them to join us tomorrow.

10/10/2026

This conversation may be for you if you’re a parent, caregiver, supporting an adult with developmental disabilities, or beginning to think about future living options.

There are so many questions that can come up when families start talking about independence. What support is available? What does Life Sharing actually look like? How do you know what might be the right next step?

That’s why we’re bringing this conversation to our 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 on October 13.

Join us as we learn more about Life Sharing, supportive roommate relationships, Regional Center support, and ways adults can continue building confidence, connection, and independence.

𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟱:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠–𝟲:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗤&𝗔
𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰

Save your spot here:
https://jdscreativeacademy.org/independent-living

Know a parent or caregiver who has been asking these same questions? Send this their way and invite them to join us.

10/08/2026

𝟱 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼!

We’re getting closer to our next 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, and we hope you’ll join us.

On October 13, Garrett Ackerman, Founder and CEO of Homies, will be with us to talk about 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 and how supportive roommate relationships can help create real homes, connection, and greater independence for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We’ll also talk about how Life Sharing works, how matches are made, Regional Center funding and support, and hear real stories from current matches.

If this is something your family has been thinking about, come learn with us and bring your questions.

𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟱:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠–6:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗤&𝗔
𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰

Register here:
https://jdscreativeacademy.org/independent-living

Please share this with someone who may benefit from the conversation.

10/07/2026

What happens when students get to learn from people who have actually lived the creative work they’re teaching?

They get more than a lesson.

They get real stories. Real experience. Real feedback. And mentors who understand what it takes to turn an idea into something worth sharing.

At JDS Creative Academy, students learn from creative professionals who bring years of hands-on experience directly into the classroom.

𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗺 brings art, design, production, and visual storytelling.

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 brings decades of television writing, producing, and script development.

𝗣𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲 brings real-world experience in filmmaking, cinematography, acting, directing, editing, and digital media.

And 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 brings decades of acting, directing, producing, and performance coaching.

Different creative paths. Different strengths. One shared goal.

Helping students discover what they can do next.

The latest JDS Creative Academy blog introduces the mentors behind the classes and looks at why real-world experience makes such a difference in creative education.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.
https://jdscreativeacademy.org/post/meet-the-coaches-jds-creative-academy

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀?
jdscreativeacademy.org/classes

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Meet the creative mentors behind JDS Creative Academy and discover how real-world experience in acting, filmmaking, writing, design, and production helps students build confidence, skills, and creative career pathways.