One of the worst lies we can convince ourselves of is that it’s too late to follow our dreams. Trust me, I know. For years we’ll put off our dreams, certain that it was too late. Not realizing that every day we wake up is another opportunity for us to make our biggest dreams a reality. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, including yourself.

We’ve been told California is the place where dreams become reality. However, for many creators, the constant hustle and struggle in pursuit of our dreams often leads to frustration and burnout, and the Golden State begins to feel less like a promising dream and more like a looming nightmare.

We all had dreams at one point in our lives. Dreams of being artists, writers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs (fill in the blank), but somewhere along the way, we traded in our aspirations and settled for a life deemed more “realistic.” A one-size-fits-all existence pre-approved by society and cosigned by our family, friends, and colleagues. But playing it safe is what’s costing us our dreams.

The People vs. The System was sparked during a time of chaos, exhaustion, rebellion, and solidarity that we, along with our family, friends, and neighbors, experienced throughout the height of the pandemic. Society’s climate during this period inspired us to create a bold statement to energize us to continue to fight the never-ending battle against racism, social injustice, police brutality, and other systems of oppression in this country and across the globe.

From the diversity in culture and the resilient community to the vast natural beauty and near-perfect climate—where creative and entrepreneurial spirits burn brightly with passion and grit, and going against the grain is etched into our DNA—this is just a brief glimpse into what we love about life in the Bay Area.