Our stories are often hard to understand until folks understand our true motivations, our true drivers and the stories behind why our mission or purpose truly matters to us. We’ve asked some inspiring folks from the community to talk to us about why they do what they do and have shared some of our favorite responses below.

Juliet Diaz

The Literary Craft Society is deeply mission-driven, born from my lifelong journey as a writer, activist, and advocate for liberation. The mission to foster revolutionary writing rooted in literary liberation, helping writers from marginalized communities find and amplify their voices. This mission is personal because it stems from my own journey of decolonizing my mind, dismantling oppressive narratives, and reconnecting with my Indigenous wisdom. Growing up as a first-generation Cuban American and Indigenous Taino woman, I saw firsthand the power of storytelling to heal, resist, and transform. Stories weren’t just entertainment; they were survival tools, ways to preserve culture, resist erasure, and find self-sovereignty. This is the energy I bring to the Literary Craft Society: a space where others can feel safe to create, learn, and reclaim their voice. Read more>>

Yvonne Coombes

Every year military families are moved around the country and the world on the needs of the military and these families are expected to start over and thrive with every move. This isn’t always easy to do and sometimes, even those special events that take place in the military community to help these families bond, create camaraderie and connect end up (inadvertently) leaving people out because not everyone can afford to attend. Operation Deploy Your Dress was born to help alleviate the cost of military balls, proms, homecomings and all those special events that help military families connect into the communities in which they are planted Read more>>

Tiffany Scales

I am a woman of service. Currently, I preside over a 47 year old non-profit organization that is run by volunteers and I aspire to inspire the community as we continue to uphold the values and principles of the founder, Larry Bagneris, Jr.Our Volunteers, Vendors, & Sponsors meet up will take place Tuesday, October 15th at Lustre Pearl Houston and our first fundraiser of the season will be November 17th. Our board of directors are: Paul Pawlowski, VP Glenn Dillard, Treasurer Amara Red, Secretary Ms. Kitty Howard, Director of Fundraising Shannon Baldwin, Governance Jaimee Adkins, Logistics Michelle Fuentes, Community Engagement Herman Finley, Director of Outreach & Volunteer Services Read more>>

Maria Bartolotta

Unfortunately, like many women, I experienced a lot of trauma at the hands of men from a very early age. I never really understood what happened to me until I was well into adulthood. Even though I had suppressed it all, the damage still wove its way insidiously through my life, affecting me in ways that were totally unbeknownst to me. Until one day it all came to a head. Simultaneously, on the other road heading to this fork, my career was going nowhere. I had a full rep team who didn’t really seem to care about me or my career. I was doing tape after tape alone in my studio apartment after working a 10 hour day, only to always hear crickets in response. For years, auditions felt like running into a brick wall. Trying to fit the mold of New York Actress was not working for me. Read more>>

Makayah Allen

The story behind me mission is the feeling of luxury for the everyday woman. As woman we go through a lot from just “being”, the many expectations, and so much more. Every woman regardless of what our differences as individuals deserves to be pampers and have the feeling of experiencing luxury. What better way to experience luxury other than through beauty? Read more>>

Jennifer Merlin

It is a common misconception that in order to make an income online you need to be an influencer or celebrity with a huge following and doing the silly dances and trends. I always saw the value in utilizing digital marketing to make an income however as a working mom of two teenagers, my hair is usually in a messy mom bun and the thought of filming my day in and day out and posting it online made me cringe. In December 2023 I was introduced to the concept of faceless marketing. I fell in love with it as it gives the ordinary woman that doesn’t want to put herself online, the ability to utilize social media to create a passive income to achieve that dream life… For some women that might be bringing in additional income around a 9-5 to break the paycheck to paycheck cycle.. For others that could be being a fully present stay at home mom and earning an income while spending time with your kids. After spending 17 years in a career that caused me to sacrifice so many moments with my family and friends, it has become my passion to help as many women as possible learn how to start successful businesses with the power of the internet and social media. That is the mission behind Fabulous & Faceless. To be able to inspire that mom who is sitting at work tonight, missing family dinner, and let her know that her dreams aren’t crazy… That there is more to life… and encourage her to go after it! Read more>>

Linda La Cayenne

Passion, that’s all I’ve got. If I don’t fell it, it’s not gonna happen. I ‘ve always felt a bit lost, melanchonic and sad. But I love life and the crazy people. I’ve always admired anyone who could go against the grain and have something to say to the world. I have a dream to share my art with you. You don’t have to like it, maybe it makes you feel unconfortable , maybe you don’t understand why, I don’t either. I have something to say, I have a vision I gotta share with you and with myself. Read more>>

Victoria Peña

Taking the road to become a therapist seems to inevitably take you down the road to face your own inner demons as well. It forced me to come face-to-face with my own childhood and the flaws it’s caused me to have in my adult relationships. This kind of came as a surprise to me because on paper I had a really great childhood. I had a mostly stable and predictable home life, my parents never divorced, my siblings treated me like normal siblings do, none of my extended family did anything harmful to us, I always had enough to eat, a comfortable bed, clean clothes that fit. From what I remember we had all the makings of a really great life. So when I came to the difficult truth that I had my own set of mental and emotional issues, it was pretty hard to accept. Over time, I learned that even when the basics of safety and security are there for a child, our deep and complex psyche’s can still experience hardship. The emotional relationship between a parent and a child is about more than just providing food, shelter, clothes, and education. When a parent doesn’t zone in to their child’s emotional needs this can cause issues with attachment. Then this child grows into an adult who struggles in relationships of every kind. I couldn’t believe it when I realized I had developed an insecure attachment to my parent which affects all the other relationships in my life, including the one I have with myself. I thought, if this could happen to someone like me, with all of the securities a child needs to survive and feel comfortable, image how many people have insecure attachments in this world. Read more>>

Boyona Graham

Before becoming a mother, motherhood felt like uncharted territory—an entirely new world, language, and experience. For some, it comes naturally, but for many, it can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking. When I had my firstborn, I wasn’t just stepping into this new phase of life; I was doing it in the midst of a global pandemic. My husband and I were navigating parenthood together, without any outside help, in a world that was suddenly full of uncertainty. It quickly became clear that entering this new territory meant a lot of research. The “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” book wasn’t as thick as a Bible for no reason. I watched countless YouTube videos, read pages of guides, sifted through advice, laws, and regulations, and took numerous classes. Even with all the knowledge I gained, preparing for a baby in the third trimester—when simply moving from the couch to the kitchen left me winded—was no small task. Read more>>

Bria Waldron

Green Career Services & Business Consulting’s (Greencscbc) mission is to provide clients with similar backgrounds with the power and resources to be successful in their careers & finances. We are committed to bridging gaps and creating opportunities, ensuring that every client has the support they need to excel professionally and financially. Through personalized coaching, strategic planning, and continuous support, we strive to unlock potential and foster growth, helping our clients build a future defined by achievement and financial stability. Read more>>