Today we’d like to introduce you to Casha Mills.
Hi Casha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Little Casha dreamed of being an artist even when all she could draw from human were heads and legs. As I got a little older the idea of being an artist never left but kind of just hung out in the background. Then I started writing songs and poems around the age nine because I wanted to be like my brothers who were making rap music with their friends. I’ve been writing ever since. Although I was a shy I grew up in the church and was expected to get up in front of large crowds to speak. I think all those times make it easy for me when I started reciting my poems and later being in competitions. Visual art my a reappearance in college in a class called exploring creativity. We were required to pick a domain that we wanted to explore create a project around it. I chose to start painting. My project was “We Still Wear the Mask”. it was a nodded and a visual continuation of a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar. That was in 2014/2015. I have been painting ever since.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am a creative, artist girl through and through. I write, I act, I do improv, I paint, I’m interested in directing and I want to do it all right now at the same time. That is my biggest struggle. finding ways to blend all the things that I love without being burnout or creating things I don’t love. What has been smooth for me is time. I’m not trying to arrive anywhere, I’m just trying to create meaning art and in doing so I’ve been able to work at a pace that feels authentic and I’m still able to reach small goals and get recognition in areas that make me feel fulfilled.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think I’m probably most known for my poetry, followed by painting, improv, and the many other creative pockets I’ve found myself exploring over the years. I don’t consider myself a full-time artist, but the work of being an artist never really stops. Creativity has always been a constant in my life, even when it has taken different forms.
Professionally, I work for an educational nonprofit that provides afterschool programming for marginalized youth. One of the things I love most about my work is that I’m able to pull from all of those creative pockets and bring them into the programs I create for my students. Whether we’re writing, making art, performing, having conversations, or simply creating a space where they can express themselves, I use creativity as a tool to help young people explore who they are, build confidence, and grow.
At the core of both my artistic practice and my work with youth is a mission I’ve carried for years: **creating for healing and creating space for healing through art.** Art has been a source of expression, connection, and possibility for me for as long as I can remember, and I want to create spaces where other people can experience that too.
I’m also learning that being an artist doesn’t always mean making art full-time. Sometimes it looks like writing a poem or painting a canvas. Sometimes it looks like developing a program, helping a young person find their voice, or creating an experience that allows someone to see themselves differently. For me, all of those things are connected.
One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is becoming a published author. Seeing my words become a physical book was a powerful reminder that the things I create can exist beyond me and reach other people. I’m equally proud of the work I’ve been able to do with my middle school students. Watching them become more confident, creative, and willing to express themselves has been incredibly meaningful to me. In many ways, that work reinforces why I create in the first place.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
People say to be a better writer you need to read and read a lot. I think the sentiment is always true for artist but to be a better artist you have to live. You have to explore. You have to get curious.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGloryArtist
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theglory_artist
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theCashaGloria
- Other: https://substack.com/@thegloryartist
