Over the past few months we’ve reached out to members of the CanvasRebel community to dive deeper into their stories. We wanted to learn how they got to where they are today and we heard stories that will keep our inspiration cup full for a long time. Their stories, lessons and humor have lifted our spirits and we hope you’ll take a minute to check out the stories below.

Kemisha Levy of Kybos Baby Clothing and Little Bee Box

My name is Kemisha Levy, and my journey began in Kingston, Jamaica, where I spent my early years. Thirteen years ago, my family experienced a significant loss with the passing of my father, which led us to relocate to the United States in search of new opportunities. I started school in the medical field, driven by a passion for helping others and making a difference in people’s lives. However, life took an unexpected turn with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward to the pandemic’s onset, a time of immense uncertainty and change for everyone. Despite the challenges, I saw an opportunity to pursue my entrepreneurial ambitions. I took the leap and started my own business during the pandemic, recognizing the need for innovative solutions and services in the midst of such unprecedented times. Read more>>

Britt Vasina

In 2019, I decided to make a pivotal life change. I left Atlanta and moved to Portland, Oregon. I was drawn to the cooler climate and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Living just an hour away from both the coast and the mountains, I found so much peace and inspiration in nature. My mini-bernedoodle, Walter, and I love to explore the outdoors, and this new environment breathed fresh life into my creative pursuits. I’ve always had a passion for creative expression, but it wasn’t until 2016 that I started sharing my art on Instagram. As a self-taught artist, I love the freedom and spontaneity of creating without boundaries with my creative business Britt Vasina Studio. My art reflects this, with each piece full of energy and movement. Read more>>

Dante Henry

I’d always been a fan of music and knew I wanted rap, so as a kid, I’d just written poems and songs, but had no way recording any sort of lyrics until I’d gotten an iPhone. Fast forward, right before college, I’d gotten a laptop and began recording songs via different DAWs for practice in order to get better. After years of trials, tribulations, failures, and so much more in between, it’d made me the artist that I am today and I’m happy to say that although I have a very long way to go, I’m grateful for how far I’ve came and humbled to be in this position. Read more>>

Casey Droege of Casey Droege Cultural Productions

CDCP is an artist-run, woman-owned, disability-owned business created in 2016. I built the business from my own arts practice. It was a way to house ongoing programs focusing on public interactions with artists. It organically grew to include art consulting services as well. Over the years we’ve had gallery spaces, plus created and sold a concept store called Small Mall. In 2022, I rebranded the art consulting wing as The Art Supply Co., where we connect clients with living, local artists to help create dynamic, art-forward spaces. Read more>>

Bryan Hancock

Bryan “Harvest Blaque” Hancock is a Perry F. Kendig Award Nominated actor, Writer, Radio Host, activist, organizer, Voice over actor, Slam poet and Hip-Hop Artist. He is also an International best Urban Act WigWam Radio Music Award Winner, and two time Diverse Chamber of Commerce Top Community Leader Award Winner. Bryan is very passionate about community work and music. Bryan loves to share his life through music and spoken word poetry. He also works as an Activity Technician and artist for Carilion Adjunct therapy where he teaches Adolescent youth how to find their voice through music and slam poetry. Read more>>

Phil Ross of Master Phil Industries

As a child, I was skinny and relatively small. However, I was very “scrappy” and had a driving desire to be strong, fit and a good fighter. This led me to activities such as boxing, wrestling, weight lifting, running, football and eventually martial arts. As an adult, I worked in the corporate world, yet trained and operated a small school. After losing my job after the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9-11 (I had an office on the 25th floor of Tower 2), I decided to follow my passion and pursue my fitness and gym business full time. I went back to school and obtained my Masters Degree in Health and Sports Sciences and was selected as the speaker to the commencement. Read more>>

Haley Joyner

I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, and my passion for music has been evident since the age of four. I was particularly drawn to the old-school songs my parents would play, admiring artists such as Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and many other iconic figures. What captivated me about these artists was the uniqueness of their voices, the depth of emotion, and the evident effort they invested in each of their songs, as well as their masterful use of instrumentation. These qualities resonated with me and became aspects I aspired to incorporate into my own artistry. Read more>>

Talena Lachelle Queen

I was born to my teenage parents. One of my parents, my father, fell in love with heroin soon after I was born. His love for the drug shaped his life and omitted active involvement in anything family related. My mother worked hard, very hard for everything she had and could offer her children. I was in love with school and stories. I loved to read and write which helped me to be successful in school, After a lifetime of dedication to schooling and following my passion as a writer, a poet in particular, I was appointed as the Poet Laureate of Paterson, NJ, my hometown. Read more>>

Victoria Mikael

I’m a writer/editor and mom living in Seattle. I’d always loved to write but started pursuing it more after my husband passed unexpectedly when our daughter was a baby. And within about a year of his passing, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was during my recovery period that I started going through my old diaries and journals, trying to piece together all the events that’d led to where I was at that moment and to maybe make sense of it all. I think I also wanted to document and preserve our lives and family history in case something happened to me. I started to take memoir and poetry classes and that led to me searching out spaces like open mics where I could connect with other writers. I approached my favorite women writers from each space and began assembling my own feminist writers group online. Read more>>

Derek Anthony Wilson

I started singing at a very young age. My mom is a wonderful soprano and she would sing songs to wake me up, to go to bed, and just because she was a beautiful mother. I used to sing with her in the car, and in the house. My family always celebrated music. My aunts would play Whitney Houston and all kinds of gospel music. My older sisters always had on the coolest hits of the time. I always loved music and it was cultivated within me at an early age. I was in the youth choir in church growing up, and a small church called The Apostolic House of Prayer, where I learned to love the Lord. I was in the Chestnut Hill Academy boys choir. I also took private piano and music theory lessons from when I was 10. My favorite movies were musicals – Labyrinth, The Wiz, and The Wizard of Oz. Read more>>

Alena Lane’s Story

As a new mom in 2019 while out on maternity leave I was constantly scheming new ways to not leave my brand new miracle and return to my job as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nurse at our local Children’s Hospital. I loved my job, my coworkers and the work I had the privilege of providing for my patients and families. However, Mama was my new favorite title. One evening while putting together our outfits for family photos, I thought to myself, where do I go to shop for my daughter? My only options were big box stores and they did not quite hit the mark. I envisioned one store, where I could find a cute outfit, find a fun new toy and maybe an accessory or two. As a new parent, life was busy and I wished I had one spot to find goodies and help me save time. That’s when it hit me, I wanted to create that store, the one I wished I could shop at. After two years back at work in the PICU, during the Covid pandemic, I decided to retire my stethoscope. It was a difficult decision, but work after I was a mama was forever changed. Too much came home with me, anxiety started growing around each shift, a new thing for me. My patients and families deserved the very best, as every day they were there was the worst day of their life. Read more>>

John Sauchelli

This is a great story actually! Austin and I met through a mutual friend in high school. We immediately hit it off and became close friends quickly. As time progressed and our opposite work schedules and family life took hold, we lost touch. Then one day his wife Melissa reached out to me on social media looking to reconnect. We met up to discover he was growing peppers, tomatoes, etc and we began making a hot sauce recipe I had been tinkering with together. The kicker is that Austin and Melissa met at a party at my house when we were teenagers. He met her by being at my house and it was her that reconnected us after some years had passed. Funny how things work out:) Read more>>

Nia Bailey of Byrd Cancer Education and Advocacy Foundation

Of course! Here’s a revised version of your post: My story begins in a small town called Enoree, South Carolina, where my great grandparents, Jurell Byrd, Sr. and Marie Pryor, raised 12 children, including my grandmother, Loraine Byrd Fields-Latham, fondly known as Smiley. At 18, Smiley moved to Philadelphia and had 4 children, one of whom is my mother, Narda Joan Fields. In 1984, my mother gave birth to my best friend, my brother Jarrod, and in 1992, I entered the world. I have been incredibly blessed to be raised by my loving family, including my mom, brother, and my father, Curry J. Bailey III. Their sacrifices and love have shaped me into the person I am today. I am grateful for the guidance and support they have provided, and I attribute my success to both my family and my faith in Jesus Christ. Read more>>

Tehran “slick Da King” Johnson

I had a background in Acting and Writing, but I had given up and embarked on a more traditional journey and focused on 9-5 positions. However, once I moved to Atlanta, GA, the massive entertainment scene, there, called me. I began blogging about reality television, focusing on the Atlanta-based shows. I started landing interviews with top reality TV stars from Bravo, VH1, lifetime, WEtv and more. I, also, began to cover high profile red-carpet events. This inspired me to try my hand at acting again. And I landed roles on Tyler Perry productions, Star, American Soul, The Resident, Black Lightning and tons of other TV shows and films such as: Shaft, Thunder Force and more. Having so many crazy behind the scenes experiences, I felt compelled to weave some of them into my debut novel, The Secret Lives of Atlanta. Read more>>

Ke’asia Johnson-bell of Queenz with Brands

When I first began this journey, it was simply to make ends meet. I was homeless. grieving my father who had just died, carrying my first child, and trying to finish my degree. COVID caused a huge shut-down and no one wanted to hire a woman who was going into labor soon. It seemed like there were no opportunities available for someone like me, so I created one for myself. I’ve always been tech-savvy, and my degree was in business and marketing, so I decided to combine all my talents and create a business that would support other businesses. What I didn’t expect was the people it led me to meet and along the way. They completely reshaped my vision for the business. I’ve always had a passion for being of service to others, but I wanted to do more. I wanted my business to not just represent me, but also other women like me. I wanted it to be able to support them, their families, their communities and their dreams in the same way that it has done mine. Read more>>

Jeannette Gogetter Jea Chapman of Gogetter Enterprises

I started my business out of passion the desire to make reading and writing cool and profitable while being able to provide and be home with my children. I wanted to create a community for girls who looked like me and wanted to read and write. I worked consistently over the years and continued to show up and pivot as needed while still staying true to myself. In 2018 my hard work and consistency began to pay off and I started to see the community that had been created, so I just continued my path, offering more services to a broader audience and even started to tour and expand my business. Read more>>

Shadi Ireifej of VetTriage

When I was in 11th and 12th grade, I was inspired by my biology teachers. I wanted to find a career that would allow me to learn more about the natural world and animals, but also have a positive impact on them. I eventually landed on veterinary medicine. From there, I was able to attend the Cornell University — School of Veterinary Medicine and I graduated in 2006. I decided to pursue certification in small animal surgery. After I graduated veterinary school, I attended Long Island Veterinary Specialists (LIVS) as a surgical intern followed by a surgical residency. During my surgical training at LIVS, I had realize that the receptionist were taking on 100 phone calls a day at this 24 hour facility, with clients having the same question of whether or not they should seek emergency care with their sick or injured pet. Because the receptionists are not medically trained personnel, they are unable to make a judgment call on this and have to give the client the same generic advice of “if you are concerned, come in”. Read more>>

Rashad Ali

Biography – name Rashad K. Ali Kentucky Native, from West Louisville Occupation – Podcast Host/DJ/Rapper/Actor and Content Creator.Appeared in multiple magazines of interviews and full biography stories “40 Sports Magazine” , “Ebony Lifestyle Magazine” “Grinderz Magazine” “Canvas Rebel Magazine” “Hype Magazine” “Atlas Entertainment Magazine. Rashad Ali has interviewed over 321 guests for over 5yrs well-known artists “Raheem DeVaughn” “After 7” “Kenny Lattimore” “The Whispers” “Christian Keyes” “Special Generation” and so many others. Read more>>

Luis Escarret

Hello my name is Luis and I am the Founder of RBA Fitness. RBA was able to grow because of pure discipline. Starting a business is the equivalent of taking a test with no study guide, nothing promised, and feeling as if the world is against you. Besides standing in the ring; starting a business is a consistent reflection of mind shifts and mood swings and emotional discipline. It was 2020 and I had just began my personal journey as a fitness influencer in my community. Thanks to a supplement brand I partnered with “1st Phorm” they were running a program to become affiliated with them. I followed everything they asked which at the time made me uncomfortable. I wasn’t use to talking on camera or posting on IG. however I knew I wanted a different life so I did what I had to do. Read more>>

Eric Garcia

The major event that inspired me to publish my books was my first daughter Lilian Grace coming into the world, living for 103 days, and departing this earth so early. I started posting journal entries in CaringBridge to update family, friends, and supporters all over the world. My intention wasn’t to turn it all into a four book series, yet here I am today working on the final book in the Journals from a Warrior’s Mother. Plus, I am working on study guides for each book. I was lucky enough to have my other two daughters, Piper and Daphne, join the team as Junior Illustrators for book three. They will be participating in the inside art for book four, as well, helping with my twelve children books that will be coming on the next several years. It all takes time. Read more>>

Domitrz of The Center for Respect Inc

Decades before sexual assault cases were on the cover of every major media publication, Mike Domitrz was being brought in by middle schools, high schools, universities and the U.S. military to help them pursue a new standard of consent and respect. With Mike being the author of 3 books and an award-winning DVD for parents, he is one of the world’s leading influencers and thought-leaders on respect, bystander intervention, survivor support, and consent. You may have seen Mike on Dateline NBC’s “My Kid Would Never Do That” as a featured subject matter expert or being quoted in international news publications such as Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. He continues to be sought out for his proven track record of helping people shift their paradigm on respect and consent. Read more>>

Ke’nyzjah Ferebee

I started baking in the summer of 2020. I was out of school, and didn’t go many places due to quarantine. One night, I was bored and craving cake, so I decided to try baking one. I instantly fell in love with the art of baking. Then, I began to bake from scratch. I have always had a love for entrepreneurship, so as soon as I perfected my craft in baking, I started my business! In the beginning, family and friends were my only customers, but they really helped me start up my company. At first, I was just offering simple baked goods, but then I decided to try my hand at cake decorating. Once I felt comfortable enough with my skills, I began to promote my business to others(social media, vendor events, etc.) Today, I have a very large clientele, I have been featured in multiple newspapers and magazines, and I have made over 300 cakes! Read more>>

Rachal Duggan

I got my start by first attending art school in Chicago at Columbia College. After getting more into the practice of illustration, I worked full-time jobs while also freelancing as an Illustrator. Read more>>

Pamela Green

Part of my story begins in 1981 when I first visited a Montessori Children’s House, or an environment for children from ages 2.5 – 6 years. I was visiting this school as part of my University studies, with my major in Early Childhood education. I had not been familiar with Dr. Maria Montessori or her life, yet as I entered this environment I was immersed in a place centered on the child and the principles of Montessori. In essence, I discovered through this visit an answer to a longing I had been holding and hoping for, which was to find a place that expressed respect for the child and the adult, as individuals with personalities that were revealing themselves through their exploration and discovery. Read more>>

Kachelle Roark of Chelle’s Haute Seat®

After graduating from high school, I went to college, as is often encouraged for young people. Although I did well in college, I felt an aching void inside, knowing that I wasn’t supposed to be there. One day, while I was crying, I asked the Lord to reveal to me what I was supposed to be doing because I knew I was meant for something else. A few weeks later, I started becoming more interested in hair. Shortly after, I decided to finish out the rest of the school year and go to cosmetology school. Once I made that decision, doors began to open for me. I entered cosmetology school in 2014 and finished in 10 months. I gained experience in three different states over the span of ten years. Read more>>

Raven Herschel

I came into this world with a fascination about makeup! I was actually visiting family in California recently and my beloved Grandma told me a story of when I was five years old, I got a hold of someone’s lipstick and was secretly applying it to some friends in the bathroom! My inner child definitely knew what she was meant to be doing from an early age. As I grew up I really didn’t love my features.. my nose in particular and I wished my eyes were bigger. Growing into my teen years I really used makeup as my outlet for this frustration. I had a lot of growth and work to do before I could help women feel beautiful; as I really was the one needing help with this at the time. I mention this as my start, because it really is the internal work that has brought me to where I am today as an Artist and how I help women because I have been there and we never truly recognize our beauty. Read more>>

Candy Hoehn

I have a loving husband, two beautiful boys, and a baby girl. They fill my life with love and joy and my passion for photography arose because of them. While researching wedding photography, I was so enthralled by the images online and so captivated by the emotions in them that I decided to invest in my first Canon 40D. After my son was born, my love of photography grew as I was able to capture his moments growing up. Looking back on those pictures, it brings me such joy as memories of him when he was a baby came flooding back. Read more>>

 Joy Edwards’s Story

Sweet Surrender began as a result of a “bad day” at the beauty shop. For years I wore my hair permed to make styling and manageability easier. As a teenager, I found a stylist that I really loved and she became the only person I trusted with the health and growth of my hair. Back in the day, some stylists were known to find any excuse to cut your hair when it started getting long, so to find a stylist who wasn’t scissor-happy was a blessing and I remained a loyal client for well over a decade. My stylist was truly talented and always in high demand, so long wait times and her working on two or three clients simultaneously was not uncommon. Unfortunately, that day she was busy and left the perm in my hair for a bit too long. Although I told her it was starting to burn, the few extra moments it took for her to get to me and wash it out was all it took for me to receive what I’m sure were second-degree burns on my scalp. Read more>>

Ernestine Hopkins of Ernestine Hopkins Consulting

As a proud former educator, my journey began while teaching middle school English, where I encountered students facing significant challenges such as low self-esteem, abuse, depression, having parents in prison, gang involvement, drug abuse, or coming from broken homes. Seeing these struggles firsthand, I was inspired to provide hope and support. This led me to write the book, “Saving Myself From Me” and to facilitate the Girls Who Conquer conference, which aimed to offer hope to teens across San Antonio, TX. Read more>>

Monica Compton

I started as an intern for a North American concert promoter and producer. I asked them for a job when I graduated from college and I remember my boss asking me why he should give me one. I wasn’t sure how to answer and he said he’d give me one because no matter what he asked me to do, I always smiled. Before I knew it, I was running large outdoor festivals, managing food vendors and working with local and regional bands. I learned how to run a box office and work with the production crew. They showed me what a soundboard was and how to adjust the volume, a skill I still use today for corporate events. Read more>>

Toni Horn

After years of disappointment with “all natural hair care” that really wasn’t all natural; I decided to cultivate one specifically for my family and I. What I didn’t know, was that it would become a product line created for the world. Read more>>

Jamil Rivers

At age 39, I experienced a cough that would not go away. Working unsuccessfully with my doctors, I eventually insisted on undergoing a chest x-ray. The radiographs revealed a shadow on my lung. After additional imaging, my doctors diagnosed me with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer — denovo, meaning that the cancer had already spread through my body, in my case to liver, lungs, and other locations, at the time my doctors finally detected it. Read more>>

Dierdre Barnes of FLY Girl Candles

My story begins with me looking out of an office window thinking there has to be more than this. I always wanted to have my own business but did not know what it would be. I ended up getting fired from my corporate job and that’s where the adventure began. I started working at Shipt by delivering groceries and personal training to bring income. During this time I began working on myself, journaling, listening to podcasts, reading more, walking, and finding out what I love. I had a friend tell me about candle making and in Dec 2019 I felt crafty, I bought my first candle kit. I got the DELUXE kit so everything came with it. Watching the soy wax melt, waiting for the right temperature to add the fragrance oil in, stirring it until it dissolves in the wax, getting the tin jars ready to pour in the wax, then coming back to a candle in which I gifted to my friends felt so good. It was very therapeutic. Of course my friends, being amazing, said I should start selling candles. After that I dove in, watched youtube videos, got into Facebook groups and created within 6 months the candles that you now see today F.L.Y. Girl Candles. Read more>>

Ashleigh Abney

I created a children’s book company called, Empower Books, to encourage children to know they have inner POWER! Within this company, I have published my own books called, “Girls Can!” and, “Mindful Me.” Each book offers a set of empowering actions, messages and tools that children can use to accomplish their dreams or return to calm. Since the start of the company in 2022, I have also started to help others publish their books as well. This is also fulfilling to me as I’m able to help others accomplish what might be a lifetime goal and publish their own book that will be part of their own personal legacy. As a mother of two young children, I see how adaptable, talented and amazing children are every day. I want each child to know they are strong and capable and that is why I created Empower Books. We are just getting started yet we have so much more to come! Read more>>

Cabell Rhode

Well my story for condensed purposes will start in my early teens. Prior to that I had listened to music as a young kid and been a poet for a while in my early years. I submitted my poetry to the National Poetry Society, around age 12, but my family could not afford to send me to their conference at the time. Around age 15 or 16, I started in a garage band. We would get together in my basement. We loved Disturbed at the time, as Down With The Sickness was huge. During the same time frame, we were just discovering Nirvana as well. They were a band that would have influence on my sound and writing for years to come. I still wrote poetry on the side, when I had free time. Throughout my teens and twenties, I studied with various college guitar instructors. They helped me to learn the fretboard and smooth guitar skills. I recorded several projects from this period, most of which are released on sound cloud under different artist names. I did not know at that time about distribution or the other elements of the music business. Read more>>

Jeremy Poley of Blunt Style Incorporated

Blunt Style started as a pipe dream. Our founder, a Veteran and Purple Heart recipient created a parody company based on much larger and well-established clothing brand. Inside the doors of a retail cannabis store in the State of Washington, a part-time budtender with a veteran customer base had discussions about the lack of veteran representation in the cannabis industry. After doing some research, our founder felt the moment was right to create his own business. He got the appropriate business licenses, applied for a trademark, created a website, and established a social media presence. The plan was to either give it 10 years or 10 million dollars. Read more>>

Joe Fee

I started playing music from a young age, about 7 years old. From that time until now, I’ve been a percussionist, guitarist, and electric bass player. I had the great fortune of playing a wide variety of styles of music from rock/pop to blues, bluegrass, and eventually classical and world music – starting in New York and traveling around the country. Performing at music festivals from an early age had a deep impact on me. As I got older, I gravitated toward work that combined music with dance, theater, film, etc. I had the opportunity to perform Harry Partch’s theater works in the ensemble, Newband, from 2007 -2014, which was an incredible experience. Partch’s microtonal work and theories have had a profound effect on me and I have used some of his tuning practices in my original compositions. Read more>>

Ian Bristow

My journey with art began at age 5. I loved to color and would spend a lot of time with markers and pencils. My fascination with drawing developed through my childhood and teen years, but it was never something I saw myself doing for a living. It was a passion. Fast-forward to the early 2010’s, when I was in my mid-late twenties. It was around this time that I began receiving interest from potential clients, and the idea I could actually get somewhere as a freelance artist was born. Since then I have worked tirelessly to improve and refine my work and my process, as well as broaden the range of work I’m capable of producing. In short, passion and hard work are the ingredients which have lead me to where I am in life. Read more>>

Typhani Russo

Despite being shy, I spent most of my time growing up performing. My mom owned her own dance and twirling studio called Music in Motion Arts Center. I remember spending most days at her studio watching her students learn choreography and practice routines for an upcoming recital. I always loved being among them and often got a chance to perform with the older kids. Being able to look back at those memories we caught on VHS reminds me of my happy childhood and how fortunate I was. Read more>>

Brandy Miller

My path to becoming the co-founder of Path To Connections, a division of Path To Publishing, meanders as much as you would expect from someone who travels a lot. I’m a creative person with a diverse set of interests, but one thing I can remember wanting to be from my teenage years was a bestselling author. It wasn’t until I was 29 that I wrote my first book, though, and I didn’t publish my first book until I was 34. Read more>>

Clancy Jones

I had my first official show in 2013 in Galveston, Texas. From 2014 to 2016, I was between California and Texas working as an industrial mechanic. I recorded my first work in 2016, built a website, released music, and quit the oil & gas industry for good. That’s why I say officially seven years. Why the jump? There’s a lot of risk involved when starting over in your career. I was making great money and traveling 6-8 months out of the year. It’s hard to give up stability and a healthy paycheck. But the ember inside of me was burning to do music full-time. With the great support from my wife, we gave it a go, and it’s been building ever since. It was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Read more>>

Angie May of Kairos Koaching

My name is Angie May and I started my journey with getting my masters in counseling. While it was unknown to me at the time what I wanted to do with this degree, I knew this was the first step. After graduating and getting certified in the Enneagram Personality Assessment, I quickly realized there was a need for leadership development in the professional sector. The desire to meet that need prompted me to start Kairos Koaching. Read more>>

Adairius Curry of invinSHeble Self-Defense

Believe it or not, my story begins in elementary school! My parents signed me up for karate class to learn how to defend myself. I ended up staying in the class for years and earned my 1st degree Black belt! Fast forward to 2018…I read an article about a mom out shopping with her children, and how she noticed some men obviously following her. She described the fear of trying to figure out how to get out of the store safely with her children. This article resonated so deeply with me because I was a new mom at the time, and just the thought of facing a situation like that bothered me so badly! I vowed that day to always be aware and prepared in order to protect myself and my daughter. I also vowed that if I could do something to help other people protect themselves against predators and bad situations…from this, invinSHEble Self-Defense was born! Read more>>

Gabriela Henriquez’s Story

Our story began when I quit my job at 8 months pregnant, my husband and I decided I would stay home with our baby ,that was soon to be born, so I was getting prepared to be a stay at home mom. I am of the mindset that an entrepreneur will find a way no matter the surroundings. I started my first side hustle when my daughter was a few months old, by buying open boxed baby monitors on Amazon, and reselling them on Facebook market place and eBay! I realized I could still be in the game while having babies and started crafting to turn a profit on Etsy, which is what ultimately started us into sewing and embroidery! Read more>>

Moneek Pines’s Story

During a girls’ day out, my best friend, cousin, and I attended a painting class, but it wasn’t what we expected. Despite our disappointment, the experience sparked my inspiration. Though I’ve been a artist all my life, there was something about the atmosphere and social setting that captivated me—I was in my element. When my best friend and cousin turned to me and said, “Moneek, you should be doing this!” I wholeheartedly agreed. Without a concrete plan, my vision was crystal clear. That very night, I returned home, ordered a plethora of art supplies, and ARTrageous Brush & Flow was born! Read more>>

Marzmade Tattoos of Marzmade Studios

After being injured during my military service, I was forced into early retirement. This pushed me to find a way to support my growing family and express myself for the sake of my mental health. Since I’ve always loved art, I decided to try my hand at tattooing. This endeavor not only allowed me to express myself through my art, but also enabled me to connect and share my story with other veterans. While this was incredibly beneficial for me, I discovered that being a supportive listener and pillar for my fellow veterans was my true calling, giving me a sense of purpose. Read more>>

Jahmeir Reed’s Story

A few years ago, I attended an open mic where my friend performed some songs he had been working on. The show went great; he did well, and I met new and talented artists. Almost everyone asked me the same question: “What do you do?” I sat there, twiddling my thumbs, unable to give them an answer. I didn’t do anything creative, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. At the time, I was studying the artist Andy Warhol and noticed how he always carried his film camera with him. Growing up I was always fascinated with taking pictures although I never used a camera. So I made the conscious decision to try photography, I even picked up a photography class that fall semester to learn as much as possible. Read more>>

Jennifer Mcmurrain’s Story

When I’m asked how long I’ve been writing, the short answer is all my life. My mother is a writer, so storytelling has always come naturally. For the longer answer, about 13 years ago, when I had our daughter I decided it was time to make writing my full-time job. Thankfully, I had good friends in the business who took me under their wings and walked me through the publication of my first book, Quail Crossings. Once I made writing my job, all the pieces fell together. Quail Crossings hit number one on the Amazon bestselling list and my second novel, Winter Song, was a 3rd round finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. I knew I was finally doing what I was meant to do all along and it came full circle when I was able to help my mother get published, as well. Read more>>

Eliza Biglete

Basketball has always been my sanctuary, a constant thread weaving through the fabric of my life. However, my journey into sports photography has revealed a broader canvas of possibilities, leading me to explore diverse niches beyond the basketball court. Growing up, basketball was more than just a game—it was a shared passion, a language spoken between friends and family. From shooting hoops in grade school to bonding over televised games with my brother and dad, basketball was ingrained in my upbringing. Read more>>

Eric Edwards of Iron Valley Real Estate Hampton Roads

I grew up in Margate, Florida in the 90’s. It was a place that was easy to get buried in a life that most wouldn’t be very proud of. Most of my friends would end up in and out of jails for various crimes and I wasn’t immune to it either. I grew up in a middle class neighborhood that was mixed with people from all over. No one was from an affluent family and most struggled but everyone was in the same position so we didn’t know anything different. One thing I will say, the music, food, culture, and energy of South Florida is second to none. I learned a lot and experienced a lot very quickly at a young age. Then the world changed in 2001 in front of everyone’s eyes. For me, it sparked something inside but didn’t realize what. Read more>>

Piper Ferrari

My name is Piper, I’m 24, and I’ve been a freelance designer for the past four(ish) years. Design is something I sort of stumbled into, and was never necessarily a part of my immediate plan. I come from a pretty big family (oldest of 6) with young parents. Growing up in a chaotic environment like that led me to do whatever I could to hustle and move out as soon as possible. I was always pretty creative as a kid, so naturally I was super drawn to the idea of making money doing creative stuff as soon as I learned that was on option. Read more>>

Tiandra Robinson of T. Marie Consulting

Louisville, 2009. Fresh out of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and armed with a Master of Arts in Marketing Communications from Webster University, I was ready to take the world by storm. But, oh boy, did the job market have other plans! After facing some initial hurdles in landing the dream job, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Leaning on my background in public relations, I dove headfirst into the freelance world, scoring gigs in the entertainment industry. And that’s where the magic began. Read more>>

Cari Woodward

I graduated with a manicurist certificate from a small beauty college in Indiana when I was 21 years old and I sure made the most of it! After 7 years at an Aveda concept salon and 2 years being a traveling OPI educator, I saved enough money to move to Las Vegas in 1999 for a fresh new start. I became the resident rock chick in the Rock Spa at the Hard Rock Hotel and later, the “manicurist in the window” at the now defunct Beauty Bar on Fremont St. (I have a lot of stories to tell!) I realized early on that I had a knack for listening to people and a lot of wisdom to share so I recently decided to get a life coaching certification to help my credibility and so I could feel that I was doing right by my clients. I’ve been 100% self employed for over 20 years by making people feel good about themselves and I am humbled by this privilege . Read more>>

Chimakwanibawii Stone

I had dropped out of Art School and had given up on any sort of Career as a working Artist for 16 years when just before pandemic hit, I decided I needed to Paint again. I had a show with almost no turn out due to the aforementioned pandemic, and I thought I would have to hang it up again. However , I sold more artwork and was contracted for commissioned paintings. I continued to grow my business and did work for other company’s as well. I continue working into the future as my next exhibition is in Oct. And I am participating in a Local Art Crawl in August Read more>>

Dylan West

The book Salamandastron, by Brian Jacques, turned me into a reader and writer when I was in the 8th grade. This was the first book I read purely for fun, not for a grade. That summer, I wrote a 400 page novel on wide-ruled notebook paper with a number 2 pencil. And though the book was terrible, it gave me valuable experience, which led me to write another novel I wouldn’t publish. But novel number three was Scribes’ Descent, my first published work. Read more>>

Andi Willis

My business, Good Life Photo Solutions, is dedicated to helping families save and protect their precious memories for generations to come. The ideas of family, legacy, and heritage have been with me from a young age, so it makes sense that I created a business that is inherently built on those values. As a young child, I was intrigued by family history and discovering more about my family members who had lived generations before me. I also loved looking at old family photo albums. I came from a family that had started several small businesses so even at an early age, the seeds of entrepreneurship in the legacy field were sown. Read more>>

Abie Ekenezar of BabsEk Productions

I have been a creative most of my life. After I left the active duty in the Navy in 2008 and moved out to Washington State to being my active reserve duty, I’ve always wanted to get back into creative work. I started off as a background actress to get a feel of what production was like, especially more professional productions but eventually I wanted to do more. I started principle acting in 2016 and fell out of love for the extremely stereotypical roles that I would get cast in. Roles that had to do with drug addiction or gang banger, etc. I decided that I wanted to advance who I was as a creative and what it would be like to start writing in different projects. I had the opportunity to develop a world within the space of a show called Strowlers, and danced in a world where I was able to play create extremely compelling characters and see them brought to life. Read more>>

Yasmin S Brown

The sun was shining, but my sky was darkened by past trauma six years ago. With this adversity stirring up my thoughts I started to journal. As time passed, I would reflect and remind myself how far I had come. This led to me noticing a pattern in how I processed the emotions served by my past. Realizing I could face past transgressions and discover a new voice led me to believe this method came to help more than just myself. Through healing, I birthed my first book. I always had a dream to make women beautiful. First, it started as cosmetology, but I could no longer stand for extended periods due to unforeseen circumstances. As the saying goes “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream,” -C.S. Lewis. With the determination to be of service Power Her Forward Ltd, a proud sponsor of Yiry-Elements was born. Read more>>

Keith Barnes of Bainbridge Organic Distillers, Motive Marketing Group Inc.

I have been in brand marketing for CPG companies for 37 years. The company I’ve owned for the last 33 years, since 2004 known as Motive Marketing Group, specializes in beverage alcohol. We work brand marketing, specialty packaging and heavy retail below the line for the largest spirits companies in the US. The category is great, very recession resistant, and the people are top notch. I have an affinity for whisky brands. Their history, the stories of the founders. The people who made their life’s work bringing these great brands to life. It’s compelling on so many levels. Some spirit brands need to invent their story, their reason for being, but with a lot of whisky brands their history has written that story. It’s better than any fiction, there’s just never enough space to tell the whole thing. I’m privileged to be associated with all this. Read more>>

Dr. Josephine Harris of Calming Minds LLC

I started my journey as a psychotherapist with a strong fascination for human behavior and a desire to support individuals in overcoming their emotional and psychological struggles. After completing my undergraduate degree in psychology, I pursued a master’s degree in counseling psychology. During my graduate studies, I gained practical experience through internships at mental health clinics and counseling centers, where I worked under the supervision of experienced therapists. Read more>>

Andres Fragoso Jr

I created Spectrum Brews, an online coffee company because I want to create a passionate and inclusive online coffee shop that embraces diversity, celebrates individuality, and raises awareness for the Spectrum community. My vision is to build a place where every cup tells a story—a story of acceptance, unity, and love. From the moment you come online, you’re welcomed into a warm and inviting space where everyone is celebrated for exactly who they are. Read more>>

 

Malikah Harris

SEAMLESS NEW HOUSE BAND FOR RIVERS CASINO PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA Based out of Hampton Roads Virginia: Seamless is a band that is amazingly cohesive with bringing a quality sound to the many genres of music. SEAMLESS is a very diverse band as it can stand as a Duo, Trio, or Full Band. Founder Malikah Harris and Co – Founder Zach Bridges welcomed SEAMLESS DUO in 2019. The SEAMLESS DUO has been performing at 5-star restaurant Varia in the Hilton at the Main Norfolk, Virginia. 5-star lounge Raleigh Room at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Along with many of Hampton Roads Assistant Livings. With the sultry vocalist
Malikah Harris and creative pianist Zach Bridges, this Duo is bound to keep you enthralled. Read more>>