Creativity Can’t Be Erased: What I Found Before the Black Excellence Event

Broken Spill Your Creativity storefront window in Lockport, NY with scraped-off signage after vandalism β€” community fundraiser launched to replace sign, cover rent, and add security.

Thursday, August 21 β€” right before heading to the Black Excellence event in Buffalo β€” I stopped by my store and saw the word β€œCreativity” ripped straight off our window.

In the rush of getting ready for the event, I didn’t even have time to react. Later it hit me: they didn’t just peel vinyl. They tried to erase a message… a movement.

Spill Your Creativity isn’t a sign on glass. It’s a safe hub for youth, artists, and dreamers in Lockport, NY β€” a place where kids grab paint markers, where community gathers, and where expression is the point. You can scrape a window, but you can’t erase hope.

What we’re doing next

We’re rebuilding smarter and stronger β€” replacing signage, covering core costs so the doors stay open, and upgrading security (cameras + motion sensors) to protect everyone who walks in.

Our $2,000 goal (transparent breakdown)

  • $700 β€” Rent & NYSEG
    Keep the doors open and the lights on so the hub stays accessible.
  • $600 β€” Security upgrades
    Multi-camera system + motion sensors + basic cloud storage to deter and document.
  • $450 β€” New window signage & installation
    Restore the message they tried to remove β€” bigger, brighter, better.
  • $150 β€” Paint & restoration supplies
    Clean-up, touch-ups, and making the space welcoming again.
  • $100 β€” Emergency repair buffer
    Small, inevitable β€œoh wait” costs (brackets, adhesive, cables, etc.).

We’re grateful for every share, dollar, and word of encouragement. This space belongs to the community and together, creativity can’t be erased.

How you can help

Donate/Share: https://gofund.me/b933ee38

Shop with purpose: A portion of purchases supports the studio.

Shop SYC β†’ /collections

Spread the word: Tell a friend, tag a neighbor, bring a kid who needs a creative outlet.

Thank you for standing with Spill Your Creativity. We’ll keep posting updates with receipts and progress so you can see your impact in real time

Bring Creativity back

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