Today we’d like to introduce you to Phillip Davis.
Phillip, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I would have to say the defining moment of my story, and when it started was the moment I joined the junior auxiliary group, the Sigma Beta Club under the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Inc. It was here my passion for aiding my community started along with opening my eyes to new possibilities. Here I would be a mentee and hone in on my purpose. That being a love for creative arts and entertainment and also being more active in my community through the event, we as a youth and members of the Sigma Beta Club organized ourselves.
Sadly, death would run rampant through my family, starting my sophomore year of high school. I lost my father, my brother, my sister, my only grandparent who was my grandmother, and close family friend. The next few years to follow would lead me to stray from my path and purpose as I fought to find myself and even rediscover my passions. Life took the wheel for some time as I managed to stay afloat as me and my mother would be figuring out how life for us would be. During this time, I barely applied myself and squandered my talents and connections. Doing just enough to get by and make it to the next day, just to repeat habits I allowed to form due to not coping properly with the cards life had dealt me.
With the support and encouragement from family and friends, I would eventually get over this 3-5 year hiatus. Another defining moment would could in 2013, when I moved away from Savannah, Ga to Shreveport, LA with my nephew turned business partner, who served in the Air Force at the time. Here I would find a much needed reset and the necessary solitude to rediscover my purpose and passions. I dove into the poetry scene in Shreveport along with joining a writing group, You Damn Write, that would pull the voice in me out. I also started to develop myself as a freelance graphic designer and begin to build my brand, Feel Good, known today as Feel Good Savannah, LLC.
The Phillip that arrived in Louisiana was not the same person that left. I returned back home to Savannah with a fire that could never be extinguished. I constantly relate this moment in my life to a scene in the movie, Limitless. Where the main character jumps off a high cliff into the water below and when he surfaces, he has an idea, and a plan, and a purpose, and he knows exactly what he must do from that moment. I arrived back in Savannah to begin my new found journey and what a journey it would be.
Over the course of the next six years, I would accomplish things I never imagined. Beginning with hosting my very own open mic show at a local bar on the famous River Street, located in downtown Savannah. Myself and my business partner have been going strong since that moment. Creating a space for creatives to gather, perform, express, and network. We currently still host our open mic known as Creatively Crafted in downtown Savannah.
Next, I began recruiting friends, colleagues, and other local creatives to form The Indigos, Inc. non-profit. A organization built on unity, community, and creativity. We took to the streets and communities of Savannah to aid in any way that we could. We hosted various can good drives and clothing/blanket drive for the homeless. We volunteer at various schools in Chatham County, along with different STEM/STEAM based programs and organizations. We successfully sent 13 pallets of water to Flint, MI, uniting several businesses, schools, and organizations to complete our goal. We held a music, art, and soul festival with the goal of collecting school supplies for those in need for the upcoming school year.
I continued building my graphic design company, connecting with several local businesses, city and state officials, and many up and coming entrepreneurs to create visual content for their business, brand, or events. Along with being a graphic designer at Sigma Graphics, a local black owned print, embroidery, and sign company. The very mentor and member of Phi Beta Sigma advised me as a youth and through the difficult times in my life.
My nephew, who I mentioned earlier, would eventually retire for the Air Force and moved back home to Savannah. During our time in LA, he gravitated toward photography as I worked diligently on graphic designs. Who know that we would come together as partners to open our very own studio known as Flash Mob Creative Studio. Our now central location for creating and allowing others to follow their same passion for photography, videography, and graphic design.
None of this would have been possible without the continued support of friends and family and my will to not give. Something in me had awoken, a new mindset was birthed, and the future I wanted for myself was one that I would pursue and that I’m still pursing. My purpose is our youth and the community. My passions are creativity in every form. Speaking of creativity during this time, I would also publish two poetry books, one titled “To The Soul; Sincerely Love” and the other “GEM: This Not A Book.” As I developed my style of poetry, music decided to find its way onto my path, and my artist alias Phil Beach would be born. Im currently working on my third project, which is titled “333” and due to release March 2020.
Phillip Davis, Born and raised in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. Currently is the Executive Director of The Indigos, Inc., a non-profit organization comprised of the artist of all crafts and backgrounds. The Indigos, Inc. Phillip and a number of the members host various creative expressions and community-based events for youth and adults. The Indigos volunteer their time, efforts, and talents to give back to the community any way that can. A proud director of The King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation who oversees The Beach Institute African American Cultural Arts Center & Museums. Phillip is a published author and poet after debuting his first book in 2016, a collection of poems titled “To The Soul, Sincerely Love,” and has also published and released his second book, titled “GEM: Grow. Evolve. Manifest.” Phillip is a professional graphic designer for his own company, Feel Good Designs. He contracted to multiple clients in the music industry, politics, and business sector. Phillip is the host of a local poetry/open mic event called “Creatively Crafted”, where he dares his peers, locals, and tourists to express themselves creatively and encourages them to dig deeper into their passions and what they love. Also, lending his efforts and talents to two local non-profit organizations, Phillip works as a “Teaching Artist” for the DEEP Center and a “Residential Manager” for Park Place Outreach. Phillip believes support is fundamental, which lead him to create “Creative Savannah,” an online directory that creates access to artist, creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business here in Savannah. “Live you, love you, be you” is his mantra and he will continue to spread love, hope, creativity, and awareness to those he can reach through his poetry, non-profits and events here in the city and surrounding areas.
Phillip Davis
Executive Director | The Indigos, Inc.
Graphic Designer | Feel Good Designs
Operator | Creative Savannah
www.facebook.com/theeindigos
www.designsbyfeel.com
www.creativesavannah.com
Facebook: Phillip Davis
Instagram: @f33lgood_inc
LinkedIn: Phillip Davis
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a road full of lessons and obstacles. Dealing with the many deaths that came during very critical years of my life. During my earlier years, I dealt with bullying in and out of school. The back and froth of the beliefs of a religion in my household would lead me on a more spiritual path as an adult. The stresses of emotional instability would cause me to harm myself and inflict pain during my teenage years, subconsciously creating horrible self coping habits as an adult. The burdens of not having a financially stable childhood would seep its way into my adult life. My mental health taking a toll along the way would make my journey a crowded yet lonely one.
Please tell us about your work.
My personal experience good and bad have groomed me to be the person I am, and I truly believe that’s what makes us all unique, our perspective and experiences. I believe my calling and specialty to uplift our youth, unite community members, and the art of creating, I find great joy in these aspects. My particular path in life has had me involved with those things, from going through it myself to living it to be an example for others, however I need to be. I’m known for most likely being a jack of all trades as I find pleasure in having my hand in many pots, I’m uncategorized, which to me is a beautiful thing because I am my most unique self. My brand is Feel Good and I stand by that, with everything going in our individual’s lives, in society, and in the world, I do my part day in and day out to spread positivity, insight, and support through creative arts and my community involvement.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
The luck I believe in is simple, the universe reciprocating the energy myself or others put out there, good or bad. As imperfect as I am my goal is to also speak with intent, positive manifesting intent, when speaking on my life, goals, family/friends, and my future. The hard work and energy I put out is sure to make room for me to receive what is meant for me. It’s simple. If I continue to take steps forwards, I will end up somewhere, my job is to focus my intent and purpose so as to guide my steps. Those steps lead me to places, people, and events that aid me along my journey. The same works in the opposite. If I don’t take any steps, of course, I end up nowhere, and I don’t take each step with a positive intent. It could lead me to places and people that with that same mindset.
I truly believe something is meant to be, as I feel I’ve personally experienced second chances with my purpose and life. That gut feeling, or intuition, luck, some force beyond me that also guides me and keeps me on the path, but that still comes with making sure you are putting out. The energy you want to receive.
Contact Info:
- Address: 205 Television Circle Suite BB
Savannah, Georgia 31406 - Website: www.itsphilbeach.com | www.designsbyphil.com | www.creativesavannah.com | www.flashmobstudio.com
- Phone: 912-341-7884
- Email: phillipdavis.info@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/f33lgood_inc, @itsphilbeach
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/f33lgoodinc, www.facebook.com/itsphilbeach
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/f33lgood_inc
Image Credit:
Flash Mob Photography & Shots By Zay
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