I am so excited to announce that I will be launching a new non-profit content studio for the Midlands in Winter 2025. Lab Nine Twelve has been a dream of mine for years, and it’s finally coming to life. God has been guiding me on this journey every step of the way, and it’s truly amazing to see how He aligns events in our lives to lead us exactly where we’re supposed to go.
“Because of Your great compassion You did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.” Nehemiah 9:12
The name Lab Nine Twelve represents creativity, experimentation, and purpose. It’s a place where ideas are tested, refined, and brought to life. For me, it is a constant reminder to align my steps with God’s plan and to keep the mission rooted in faith and intentionality.
Lab Nine Twelve is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ignite the creative fire in young adults and aspiring creative professionals in the Midlands and beyond. We will provide mentorship, workshops, and career opportunities to young adults who were told they couldn’t make a living doing what they love. Through our programs, participants will have access to hands-on training in photography, videography, podcasting, and post-production. They will be able to work with industry-standard equipment in a fully equipped media studio. They will receive guidance from experienced creative professionals, build portfolios that open doors, and gain the confidence to turn their passion into a sustainable career.
In high school, I was blessed to attend the Center for Advanced Technical Studies here in Chapin, South Carolina. At the time, I didn’t realize how rare that opportunity was. Most high schools may offer a photography class or a yearbook club, but few have the resources to build a fully equipped media studio. That gap grows even larger in college. In South Carolina, fully developed film, media, or photography programs are rare. Many students with creative ambitions feel forced to leave the state to attend schools like Full Sail University, UNC School of the Arts, or SCAD. Those options often come with a high price tag, intense competition, and the expectation of an already strong portfolio.
For many, these barriers lead them to set aside their creative calling in search of a “more reliable” career path. Lab Nine Twelve exists to break that cycle, to prove that creative careers are real careers, and to show that you don’t have to leave the Midlands to find opportunities and growth. I want the Lab to be a place where artists are reminded that their work matters and their skills are valuable.
We are currently preparing our space, building out the studio, and developing our first wave of workshops and mentorship programs for our Winter 2025 launch. You can help make this vision a reality in so many ways. You can give financially to help us outfit the space and fund free or low-cost programs. You can volunteer your time or expertise to help teach or mentor. You can donate equipment like cameras, lights, or computers. You can partner with us to provide internships, projects, or sponsorships that give our participants real-world experience. Every gift of time, resources, or funding moves us closer to opening our doors and changing lives.
I am so thankful to God for providing the path I have been on, and I pray the Lab will be a lit torch for someone else’s journey. I pray that their time here leaves a lasting impact on their confidence as a creative, that they find their community of people who want to grow too, and that they have the resources and a safe environment to do it all in. This is only the beginning.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. God bless.
~ Adria E. Gordon