We had the good fortune of connecting with Leef Parks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leef, why did you pursue a creative career?

I honestly just can’t see myself doing anything else and plus I love the freedom that comes with it. It’s risky but all the most amazing things in my career/life have been tied to taking a risk or two. I really love what I do and I love helping people. I’m just living in it right now and it comes with it’s peaks and valleys but getting to be creative for a living is undeniably one of the coolest things that I get to do. This creative career path definitely chose me and then eventually I came around.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I’m an independent freelance filmmaker and photographer but as an entrepreneur, I wear many hats. My art is still a bit of an untold story, I started my creative career in 2010 and went full time in 2019. Despite the struggles and challenges I’m blessed to still be creating full time. I’m really excited about my upcoming photo and film projects that will help unfold that story. My next project will also be the first to be rolled out behind my own production company that I started, Beleef.
Outside of my own work one of my goals is to connect artists from different generations and mediums to each other through events and other new creative ways to connect. I’ve been fortunate enough to take my brand around the world and through that I’ve made incredible connections which is amazing but if I could connect two completely different worlds, who normally wouldn’t have connected, great and beautiful things can happen. Anything is possible, you just have to have beleef in what you’re doing. Get it?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Disclosure: I typically like hole in the wall spots that I don’t remember the names to but I got you. I’m in an area in New Jersey where I can get to and from New York really easily so some of my spots are out there. Let’s start in Jersey, almost any diner has good eats but you absolutely have to try Tops in Newark. Tell them Leef sent you, they may not know who you’re talking about but tell them anyway. For dinner Cuban Pete’s is one of my go to’s plus it’s BYOB and if not you can stop at Papillon 25 for food and drinks, they’re big vibe and black owned. When I’m in New York a bacon egg, & cheese from the bodega of your choice. Ode to Babel in Brooklyn for drinks and a good time and pizza is A+ in either state.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost God, my parents, my family, my tribe who is spread all across the globe. It’s a pretty sizable group that keep me up and running and I couldn’t do it without every last one of them. The support is unreal and I couldn’t ask for a better tribe.

Website: https://leefparks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leefparks/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleef-parks-803201188

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeTSGoLeeF

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ogking11

Image Credits
LeefShotIt Jazzmin Easley

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