John Lennon famously sang, "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." I'm reminded of this constantly. On Tuesday, October 6, I watched the dream of many come to fruition, all in the name of John Lennon, peace and imagination.
John Lennon was so many things, an artist, a lover, a peacemaker, and a leader to his generation. Growing up, I was obsessed with the carefree culture of the '60s and '70s, including that of John Lennon and the Beatles. It was an infatuation I never outgrew and it eventually went on to play a pivotal role in our company, Baked by Melissa. His outlook on peace and art was a huge inspiration and impacted everything from the first ever batch of tie-dye cupcakes to our brand logo. Stop by our office, and you can feel his influence in every room -- literally; there are photos of John and the Beatles all over the office.
Fast-forward six years later, to the team of dreamers that make up Baked by Melissa today. John Lennon embodied so many traits that really made the world a better place. At Baked by Melissa we exist to make each day a little brighter through our bite-size cupcakes and are constantly working to embody the spirit that Lennon exuded. Last year we had the outlandish idea to attempt to create the world's largest cupcake art mosaic -- a giant image that would be made up entirely of our bite-size cupcakes. We discussed it for over a year but I never felt passionate about the project. This was going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the brand. It needed to be with purpose and in line with our company's beliefs. That's where John Lennon came in. In partnering with Yoko Ono and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a non-profit organization that helps keep music education alive, we found the connection. We would create a giant tie-dye peace sign in Central Park to commemorate John Lennon's 75th birthday. Setting up the edible art in Central Park just steps from where John and Yoko once lived and on the very ground they once walked together, gave the project purpose.
Just as Lennon's mission for peace can't be accomplished alone, this activation was in no way a one-man show. I've never been more proud of the Baked by Melissa team. Mapping out the 25 x 25 foot cupcake mosaic, baking and boxing 40,000 cupcakes, and organizing them in front of the Bethesda Fountain was no easy feat. The amount of preparation that went into this activation should not be overlooked. The morning of the event someone watching said, "This went so smoothly, which means a ton of preparation must've gone into it." I could not have put it better. There was a time when Baked by Melissa was first starting out and my involvement was necessary every step of the way. I baked the cupcakes in my own kitchen and delivered them by hand on the subway. To watch this activation in Central Park unfold in front of my eyes with little help from me is a testament to our team's growth. I'm surrounded by talented individuals who work every day to keep our dream alive with great love and passion and nothing could make me more proud. As John Lennon so wisely pointed out, "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality".