Converse All Stars

"We know there's massive inequalities in access to careers within creativity,” said Converse CMO Jesse Stollak. “If we create new pipelines of experience, we can open an engine for youth opportunity.”

INDUSTRY defined an opportunity for Converse to launch their popular All Stars program. At its core, the program hinges on a robust community-focused ecosystem of mentorship, commission and funding; Converse's global network facilitates a capacity-building ecosystem that helps young creatives gain professional experience and opportunity.

With the help of INDUSTRY, Converse, for the first time, opened its community to the public by inviting up to 250 creative individuals to join the All Stars program. New members had the opportunity to engage with the All Star Series, an ongoing experience of one-of-a-kind workshops, conversations and performances facilitated by Converse’s extended creative family. The most recent All Star Series session included the likes of Issa Rae, Lay Zhang, Tobe Nwigwe, Jefferson Hack, Virgil Abloh and Samuel Ross. INDUSTRY served as both producer and creative director behind these sessions which helped to build an all immersive experience surrounding the all-star community.

Converse’s commitment to the community is punctuated by a $1 million accelerator program, Converse All Star Captains. This portion of the program fast tracked the progress of 13 individual All Stars who strive to define new possibilities through creative action in sustainability, inclusivity, diversity and youth development — areas where progress is critically needed today.