Photographer Melissa Mjoen is opening up her studio space to amplify Black voices and bring more awareness to Black creatives and Black art. After going to protests and meeting other local creatives and artists, she wanted to give them a space to grow their art. Awesome Buffalo’s funds will help to purchase resources such as ink and paper, so local creatives can come to Melissa’s studio, take photos, and print out their work free of charge.

Another portion of the Awesome Buffalo funds will be used for packaging and shipping, as Melissa is also selling her own prints and donating a portion of proceeds to Black Lives Matter organizations.