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.

Caleb C-mo Morris

My journey into music has been a fairly lengthy one, it began about three, almost four years ago with poetry. When I write poems, they often come to me while listening to music. In 2023, I moved back to Washington from LA after trying out a new place for one year. When I returned, I got invited to play volleyball, and this chance invitation is pretty foundational in hindsight. I met a whole group of new friends and some of them made music. Looking back, about five or six of the people there make music now. One of them, Chivan Lim, had a show coming up which he invited me to. This show was the 2023 South Sound Block Party, and was my reintroduction to Winehouse (the band). He told me about the after party, and this is the part where I became super inspired to get into music. Read more>>

Iimani Mcknight of SOFT STUDIO

I’m a proud graduate of North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, where I majored in Sports/Recreation Management and Marketing. My time at NCCU was pivotal in shaping my passions for storytelling, leadership, and community organizing. I actively participated in extracurriculars like writing for the school newspaper, joining student government, and taking part in scholarship pageants—experiences that deepened my interest in storytelling, especially from a community-focused perspective. Read more>>

Francis Holmes of Decentralised life and Avatar health and wellness

Chronologically speaking, a large part of my teens and all of my 20s were spent in quite unusual way, through a bazar set of circumstances, from age 16 until 30 I was essentially a slave in every sense of the word, physically and to a large degree mentally enslaved. my first real experiences of free adult life started at 30 years old, But briefly, before this long and hard part of my life I had wanted to be what I thought was an entrepreneur with an interest in investing although I didn’t quite understand what these things were at the time as an early teen I briefly had a small business doing gardening and landscape design, and then my life took a turn for a very long time until I reached 30 years old. Read more>>

Nancy Junkin

I am is a visual artist whose work involves bold color stories.. Having studied under a variety of artists from across the US, I continue to believe color influences both mood and identity. Thirty years ago, a reoccurring dream pushed me to pick up a paintbrush. Ever since, I’ve used painting as a mode of therapy and discovery- both for myself and for my clients. My paintings, which draw on abstract and realist practices, is represented by the Howell Gallery in Oklahoma City. Read more>>

Black Box Ned

My name is Ned, and I created a YouTube channel called “Black Box Online Radio.” From then on I have been known as Black Box Ned. I focus on Unsolved Mysteries and Criminal Psychology. The cases that I follow the most closely are the Zodiac Killer, Jack the Ripper, and D.B. Cooper. One day we will have the truth. Read more>>

Victoria Fricke

Hi! I’m Vic, owner of Vic’s Vacations. A luxury travel agency with a focus on Caribbean and European travel. We take the planning out of your hands giving you the freedom to decide on what type of trip you want to take, when you want to take it, the budget and the rest is on us! We curate the perfect trip with all components planned then you can eliminate the stress of planning and just go on the trip! Read more>>

Anthony Cicali’s Story

Anthony “Eatahoagie” Cicali’s journey into professional streaming began in 2015 when he emerged as one of New Jersey’s pioneering online poker streamers on Twitch. Leveraging the state’s legalization of online gambling, he expanded his content to include online casino games, becoming one of the first regular casino streamers in New Jersey. Beyond streaming, Anthony is a professional East Coast poker player and a freelance writer, contributing to platforms like PlayNJ, Pennlive, and PlayPennsylvania, where he covers poker and casino-related topics. His multifaceted career reflects a deep passion for the gaming industry and a commitment to engaging with the community through various media. Read more>>

Lai Xu’s Story

I’m going to be so unenthusiastic, I’ve just been doing what feels right to me. I started rapping as a hobby in college (a medical college) and did a few songs and realized I was doing pretty well, then I kept doing rap for a few years, went on China’s biggest rap TV show, then found out that I don’t like making music in the Chinese, so i went to London and studied experimental and electronic music. Last year I started studying at Berklee College of Music in NYC, now I’m starting to grow my music in New York, playing shows. Read more>>

Nidia Temple

A first generation Mexican-American with roots in Spain and Portugal, I spent most of my childhood in Texas. Becoming the first university graduate in my family tree was a big deal since my parents migration into this country was solely focused on survival & family preservation. Two years after my college graduation with my BA in Journalism and minor in Art History, I landed a PR associate job at Ogilvy Adams & Rinehart in NYC, so my move to New York was justifiable as my early teenage years stored a dream in my memory of my wish to live in New York City! Read more>>

Taylor Utley

I was working in a corporate job and suffering from severe burnout. I realized I was spending my free time trying to “escape” from my life. I decided that I needed a creative hobby to help me discover what I actually enjoyed doing. I made a list of things I enjoyed doing and at the top of the list was “Have interesting, outside of the box conversations with new people” so I decided to create a podcast. This was 6 months ago when I was doing a lot of profound healing work and I wanted to share my mental health journey to inspire others. I decided to find other people who had overcame a lot of adversity, so that they could share their stories as well. I found that I really enjoyed talking to people and identifying with their experiences. As my personal perspective has evolved, so has the podcast. When I first began this project, I was focused on my healing, but was still carrying a lot of anger and resentment about the things that had happened to me. As I have reached new levels of peace, I wanted to share the stories of the healers and coaches that helped me along my way. Season Two of Unplugged With Taylor started in November 2024 and has shifted focus from the “story” to the next chapter. I want more people to understand what it means to heal you mind, body, and spirit, the three parts that work together to make us who we are. Read more>>

Eunji Lim

My name is Eunji, acting, teaching, and loving arts. I was a child who always dreamed big, that I still do, was a passionate and beloved first kid in our family. Whenever I visited my grandfather and grandmother, I always sang a song and told some stories in front of the whole family. I auditioned to be a singer in different agencies and realized I need to decide my future specifically. I was thinking, I could sing and I love acting, then what if I become an actor working in musicals or films? (Eureka) I studied acting in my undergraduate and it nourished me to grow. After the graduation, I taught students acting in different acting academies. I learned that I love teaching too and I think, through teaching, I also enlightened myself what acting really is. My dream became more vivid, “Being an international actor and artist who also educates people who dream through what I love.” Read more>>

Neri Diomedi

When I was a kid I was always into cars because I grew up in an automotive household and I loved the design of cars. I originally wanted to be a car designer so I could shape and sculpt the body lines of exotic cars like the ones I admired. In high school I decided to try out photography and discovered that I really like capturing the beauty that is a car. Diving deeper into that I dedicated most of my young adult life to automotive photography and then went to school to get a fine arts degree focused in photography. From there just doing more freelance photography until I landed a contract job at Turn 10 Studios, a game studio that makes the AAA game franchise of Forza. I finished out my contract there as a capture artist recently and am now diving into the freelance world again hoping to keep pursuing my dream and expression my passion in automotive photography. Read more>>

Clare Watt’s Story

For the past year I’ve been working and living in New York. Working at a commercial gallery in Chelsea, in addition to managing exhibitions and installs, I’ve continued my art practice on the side. I’ve successfully curated and exhibited in a number of shows in the city and in Upstate New York, and more recently I’ve just completed my first artist residency at ChaNorth. Read more>>

Dan West

I started doing standup comedy about 3 weeks after I got out of the Army. I was a medical discharge after being hurt in Iraq, and feeling very alone and abandoned by the institution and family I’d spent the last several years supporting and being supported by. I went to an open mic in Champaign, Illinois at the now-closed Memphis on Main just to be in the audience. Afterwards, I was joking around with one of the comedians and sharing some stories and he encouraged me to get onstage the following week. It did NOT go well. It turns out unloading my trauma on strangers while not having any real sense of comedic timing or joke writing isn’t going to be well received. But, I did get one good laugh and that felt so good that I almost had to keep going. Thankfully, I’ve gotten a lot better at writing and delivering jokes, and sometimes I wonder if that first audience ever remembers me. I hope they do, and I hope they get the chance to come see me perform and how much I’ve improved. Read more>>

Connor Gates

Film and photography were intimidating concepts for me growing up but as time went on and opportunities came my way to dedicate my time to them everything started to click. Taking photos with my sisters point and shoots one day, the next with stealing my mom’s panasonic camcorder taught me a medium with so many possibilities was here and ready to be explored. YouTube was the first dream job with coming into my passion, however, the environment wasn’t for me. College came next and the knowledge expanded beyond cameras. I learned how to light a scene, record audio for an interview, and direct not only on-screen talent but a whole crew. It was during my college years, photography came back up and I started taking it way more seriously. I did my first portrait shoots and the value immediately was apparent to me. I love to guide people into seeing how essential they are to themselves. Now with a few film production jobs under my belt and doing photography as my part-time gig, I happily let both guide me where to go next with my talents in the midwest. Read more>>

Javier Madrazo

I started playing the guitar when I was 10 years old inspired by the music of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd and Genesis that they were all albums that my father had at our house. By 13 I had a shift from Blues to Jazz and was fully commited to studing the second when I discovered Wes Montgomery. I had private tutoring until when I was 19 I entered to the prestigeous Manuel De Falla conservatory passing the three admission tests at the age of 18 years old. After that I started building a relationship with renowkned figures of the argentine jazz community such as Ernesto Jodos, Pepi Taveira, Mariano Loiacono and Juan Cruz de Urquiza. After graduating my bachelor I recorded two albums, Interior (2021) and Caminos (2022). Both albums were acclaimed by the national press and I was able to tour my music in Argentina in Magna Jazz at La Pampa and play in well renowkned jazz clubs such as Bebop Club, Prez and Virasoro Bar. After that I moved to New York to pursue my Master in Jazz Performance at Queens College and recieved the prestigeous Louis Armstrong ASCAP award for my writing and composing. Nowadays I am an active member on the New York scene playing from 3 to 6 or more times a week with different musicians and different settings and styles. Read more>>

Andrew Kgorane

On July 15, 2024, as I stood in the scorching heat of Times Square, New York City, I found myself pondering the same question I had asked six years earlier in Seattle: “How did I get here?” In both moments, I was in the United States as part of prestigious U.S. State Department-sponsored programs: the Study of U.S. Institutes and the Mandela Washington Fellowship, designed to cultivate leadership and civic engagement among young Africans. These programs aim to empower emerging leaders who are making a difference in their communities, providing them with the tools and mentorship needed to scale their impact. Read more>>

Bailey Renée’s Story

Bailey Renée began as a way for me to reconnect with creativity and mindfulness. I attended fashion school and worked briefly in New York’s fashion industry, where the fast-paced environment left me feeling disconnected from the artistry I loved. When COVID-19 struck, I turned to meditation—a practice I’d been exploring for years—and natural dyeing as a way to ground myself. What started as a meditative practice blossomed into a creative business. Each collection is produced in small batches by a women-owned sewing studio in India and dyed naturally using plants. Through this process, I’ve built a brand rooted in ease, fluidity, and timeless design, guided by my love for nature and sustainability. Read more>>

Massimo Bianco of Conejo Valley Online

I started Conejo Valley Online because I saw a gap in how local businesses connect with their customers online. I’ve always been passionate about supporting small businesses and wanted to create a service that makes digital marketing less overwhelming and more effective for them. It started as a small project, but over time, I’ve worked with amazing local businesses, learned what works (and what doesn’t), and built a service that genuinely helps businesses grow. Today, I’m proud to be a part of helping our community thrive, one business at a time. Read more>>

Jodi Levitan

My story has many chapters- circus clown, mime, performer, stage manger, wife, mom. All of this brought me to where I am now proffesionally- a screenwriter. It’s pretty great. All of my screenplays are female forward – character driven stories with strong female protagonists. Recently I’ve been persuring historiclal figures- women who have led in science, culture, the arts- and have not been recognised. I’m very interested in bringing the stories of these women to light, Read more>>

Valari Westeren’s Story

I’d wanted to be a novelist since I was nine years old. As an adult, of course, I did realize I’d have to pursue a different line of work to pay the bills, even though I wasn’t about to give up my dream career. In my junior year of college, I took an editing internship for a nonprofit and discovered I really enjoyed the work. So while browsing Facebook in my senior year, all it took was one ad for a freelance proofreading course for me to decide proofreading was the route I wanted to go. Read more>>

Elle Gillette

I started my ‘arts’ career by drawing characters from online forums in exchange for digital currencies. I set up ‘shops’ that charged users based on how much of their character I’d draw (e.g., a bust, headshot, or full body). I was about 9 or 10 when I started this. My parents gave me a Wacom tablet one Christmas, and then I moved on from scanning drawings to digital drawings. I went to uni for animation, and then my masters program for fine arts. I’ve always been drawn to the arts ever since I was little I would write in my “what I want to be when I’m older” as an artist. It’s all I’ve ever really wanted to be. Now I’m in a transitionary space in my career where I have started my business Flush, and am applying for a PhD to continue my research based practice. Read more>>

Accasia Hanson

I’ve been singing my entire life, and in pursuit of a career in the music industry, I began working in promotions. This experience led me to qualify as a marketing specialist, with expertise in various marketing industries, including digital and social media marketing. Today, I work as an online marketer, freelancing for clients and running my own marketing company. Additionally, I continue to pursue my passion for music as a singer, podcast host, and radio presenter. Read more>>

Ty Little of BlueRobin

I started out in marketing within the music industry while in college at Norfolk State University. I ended up transferring to Delaware State University and finished with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. I came in second place at a Deloitte case competition in Atlanta and ended up spending some time working at Johannes Leonardo which is a pretty prestigious agency in New York. From those experiences, I knew for sure I had what it takes to compete in the business world. I started to see opportunities working with brands and corporations and I knew I was good at solving problems creatively so I founded BlueRobin. It’s a creative agency dedicated to pushing culture forward through bold, innovative ideas. Read more>>

Rasheeda Johnson

My journey as an artist started around 7 years old with a scholarship to Saturday Art classes at the Carnegie Museum of Art in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Though these classes were a safe haven for me with all I was experiencing in my family life, I never imagined I would grow up to be an artist. I actually never thought about it until moving to NYC at 19 to transfer to FIT since the narrative I was always fed growing up was “go-to-school-and-get-a-good-job”. 1997 was the first time I really saw people making a living as artists, and it became my subconscious mission to do the same. Read more>>

Rodrick Howard

My journey as an artist started rather early in life. In grade school, I perpetually carried my sketchbook in my hand, and would draw things throughout the day. I began taking art more seriously when I reached high school. In my ninth grade year, I was initially a marching band kid, but afterwards, I decided to focus more on visual art. My great high school art teacher, Mrs. Bass, really challenged me in the multiple Advanced Placement art classes offered, like AP Drawing and 2-D Art and Design. In tenth grade, Mrs. Bass helped me enter my artwork into the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and I won a few Silver Key awards. My art was then shown at the Brooks Museum of Art in Memphis, Tennessee. Seeing my art in a museum setting really awakened something within me. I knew I wanted to continue to create and share my work. Read more>>

Borui Jiang

New York is a bustling city, and having nothing to do here can feel terrible. During the initial period after I moved from Detroit to New York in July, I had almost no social connections and was also in between jobs. It left me feeling a bit down and pressured. However, one day, while scrolling through a social app, I came across an eye-catching fashion design. Eager to start working on something interesting, I reached out to the designer, and we eventually arranged to meet at a café one afternoon in September. Read more>>

Tanja Aelbrecht of Chunky Squirrel Services

I started my entrepreneurial journey as a physiotherapist in Belgium. When I moved to Vancouver Canada, I became a wedding photographer together with my partner. The pandemic brought that business to a halt and made us reevaluate our lives. That’s how we started Chunky Squirrel, where I could use my talents in SEO and my partner his as a web developer. In 2024 an awesome graphic designer joined our team so now we can offer fantastic websites to our clients. Read more>>

Vincent John

My story is all about family. Without each other, we wouldn’t be where we are today – which is having one of the most successful residencies in Las Vegas with our show “The Bronx Wanderers” The show is comprised of my father, my younger brother, and my two high school classmates. The show takes you on a comedic and heartfelt journey through our lives. We use stories, music, videos, comedy, and everything in between. Every day, I get to do the one thing I love with the people I love most. And I’m blessed to say it’s my only job and I don’t even consider it that. Read more>>

Marc Lainhart’s Story

“Gone in the body…forever present in energy, thought, memories, and love.” -The Intuitive Prospector™ Through my career and much interaction with death and dying, including my own Near Death Experience (NDE) in a river accident, being present and holding my grandma’s hand at the actual time of her passing, and the tragic loss of both my younger brother, my older brother, and my father-in-law, I have been given a front row seat to what society calls death. For those of us who work in spirit, we call this “discarnate” or existing without a physical body or “passing,” which implies the movement from one state to another. Both professionally and along with my personal experiences with death, the discarnate and those who have passed on have created, conditioned, and enhanced my passion to not only be in service to spirit but to “Explore & Discover through Body, Mind, and Spirit,” of what is unknown or unseen and be the best messenger of spirit I can be, with the time I have left. I know and feel that this life is not the end, but it is just one leg of an extraordinary journey and a true Soul Adventure! “You had a purpose before anyone had an opinion!” -Marc Lainhart Read more>>

Matt Coltrin

Roll Cajun’s story began during my time on active duty, where making boudin started as a personal hobby. It became a way to connect with my Cajun roots and share a piece of Louisiana with those around me. Upon retiring from the military, my family and I moved to Alabama. The decision was based on what was best for us, as I had secured a job in the area. The original vision was simple: cook and sell boudin on Sundays. Being close enough to Louisiana, I was confident there would be a market for authentic Cajun flavors. Read more>>

Brownstone Boys

Almost eight years ago, we purchased our first home together, a brownstone in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvescent, just seven months into dating. We started blogging about our experience, and soon, we had thousands of people reading our blog, inquiring about our processes, and asking us to renovate their homes. Neither of us was a full-time designer to start–Barry was working in software sales & Jordan was managing marketing for an icecream company–but we quickly realized we could turn this into a career, and so, we did. Since then, we’ve renovated nearly 30 homes in New York, launched bespoke design collaborations, and built out a digital media business. Read more>>

Lou Blackmon

I began freelancing in 2010 when I landed an internship with a small production company in Atlanta working as a camera production assistant – I was still a college sophomore at the time. After graduating from Ithaca College I moved with my best friend to Brooklyn, NY in the summer of 2013. Even though I had graduated with a B.S. in business administration I always knew that I wanted to work in the film industry and work my way up to being a director. Once I moved to the NYC I immediately began contacting any NYC-based film production company that was either hiring or offering internships to recent graduates. In probably the first 5-6 months of moving to the city I had heard a resounding “No.” from at least two dozen prominent film companies – I wasn’t deterred yet, but I did begin to worry a bit as I watched my monthly grocery budget begin to shrink. Like many fortunate moments in life, mine came when I was least expecting it. Read more>>

Tyler Wallach

I grew up in a family of almost all artists; I experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it means to be surrounded by a lot of artists. That environment, no doubt, shaped me, and influenced my passion for the arts and I am incredibly lucky and grateful. I was eight when I started making my own films. Flash forward to 35 and I’m still doing that but in between producing and directing a wide variety of videos! For all sorts of clients. And yet! Even as I’ve gotten older and finding time to make my own films has gotten more difficult, the excitement of making them is something I can’t imagine living without. Read more>>

Kwame Morningstar

I grew up in Brooklyn New York. As a quiet, happy kid until I felt disrespected. Growing up following my older brother around is part of the reason I’m not wrapped to tight and can be quick to react on certain things. My brother JR taught me that love is love and that people that ain’t your family can definitely be family. Growing up in Flatbush can get you caught up if you around the wrong people and the wrong type of love but my older brother always made sure I was in the right spaces surrounded by the right people. Until this day, I follow what my brother taught me which is to love every one but also watch everyone. I keep a smile on my face and live a simple life with a small circle. understanding that big circles bring to much attention and can kill a lot of dreams, got me where I am today. Working on things that has meaning and with people I trust has gotten me far and I wish to go even further. I never cared for clout, only progress and being successful. I enjoy people not knowing my name and what I’ve accomplished. It keeps the fake love at a minimum. Read more>>

Emily Chalk

“Fail hard and Fail fast” – I heard that recently and I think it is such great advice. Don’t be afraid to try things and be willing to fail. It’s taken me a long time to realise that it’s ok for ideas to fail, I always learn something and it’s the quickest way to move forward. Where I am today is a product of reacting to my experiences good and bad and being open to new ones. I think that is key to being successful is being able to adapt and grow with the industry. I am always looking for what’s changing in the world around me, questioning how I feel about it, learning as much as I can and considering the influence it will have on my work. Read more>>

Pasakorn Nontananandh

My journey began as a university student majoring in interior architecture. During my first year, I helped a friend from the communication design program with his motion graphics class assignment. That experience turned out to be a pivotal moment in my life. By the time we finished, I knew I wanted to create my own work within this medium. Now, a decade later, I’ve traveled deeply into the worlds of motion design and new media art. Over the years, I’ve developed a style that merges the two, bringing out the best elements of each discipline. This approach not only expands the expressive potential of my work but also allows me to create multi-faceted, immersive pieces that bridge art and experiential design. Read more>>

Yashi Carrington

It was a cold Saturday night when I was born…just kidding. Like many of us, the circumstances under which I was born and how I was raised have really shaped the person I have become, both positively and not-so-positively. My mom was 21 when she had me. She lived a sheltered life, and as the eldest daughter who never did anything wrong, you could imagine the shame and judgement she felt when she became pregnant. To this day, it is hard for her to speak on that time. Nevertheless, she persevered and was determined to have me. Of course, she was unmarried, now starting out in life, and my biological father was not on the scene, so I was essentially raised by my grandparents. I grew up calling my mom by her “home name” and calling my grandma “Ma”. In fact, I still live in my grandparents’ home, my grandmother turned 87 in November 2024 and my grandfather passed away in June 2023.  Read more>>

Sven Kennedy

Well I have wanted to work in the film and television world since I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark around 7 years old. After competing in track and field for the Junior Olympics at 9 years old, my father moved my family to a secluded mountain in middle Tennessee. A very beautiful and mysterious wild area, home to mountain witches, rednecks, farmers and friendly Amish-mennonites. An interesting childhood to say the least. I finally made my move into the film industry in 2012 ,near the end of my 8 years as a Cavalry Scout in the US Army and after two combat tours in Iraq. Around 2013 I was able to start working as a featured extra and double in Nashville and Atlanta , as well as beginning my stand-up comedy. Everything seemed to be going great but in the fall of 2021 while on vacation, I was in a horrible explosion and fire severely burned my face and arms as well as giving me post traumatic amnesia, fracturing and erasing some memories, names, faces and places. It’s definitely been interesting and difficult at times healing and recuperating. Read more>>

Rebecca Bahmani

My journey began when I realized how challenging it was to dress my kids sustainably as they grew, especially when transitioning clothing between genders. The constant cycle of outgrown clothes inspired me to rethink how parents shop for their children’s wardrobes. That’s how Prelove You was born—a platform designed to promote circular fashion for kids, where families can swap, shop, and upcycle clothing while reducing waste. Read more>>

Tiffany Burling of Toronto Micro Weddings

My name is Tiffany Burling and I am a self taught Toronto based Artist, Creative Director and Entrepreneur. Together with my husband, mother and brother I run several businesses. TCE on Sterling is our West End Events Venue specializing in weddings and creative event curation. This is the home of our second business, Toronto Micro Weddings…an affordable, luxury, all inclusive micro wedding service. We also run a Toronto based Micro Coffee Roastery called Baby Sweet Coffee that not only services our own venue’s coffee service/wedding favour needs but also has an online store open to the public. Baby Sweet Coffee will have it’s first brick and mortar cafe opening this spring in the new Mirvish Village Project. Read more>>

Lynn Whitbeck of Petite2Queen

I discovered my joy of sales when I was only 11 years old in Girl Scouts. My fellow scout and best friend Judy and I were on a mission to earn the coveted cookie badge and set records. The mission started with a little red wagon full of cookies and a lot of doors to knock on. We traveled door to door…. knowing we had to sell a truckload of cookies to earn that badge. I quickly discovered selling cookies door to door was not easy. Challenge #1: Not everyone was home or bought. Challenge #2: Hauling my little red wagon was time-consuming. Challenge #3: My best friend Judy was so shy and introverted, she refused to leave the wagon at the sidewalk. Read more>>

Matai Steen

My journey toward helping others began when I was around 11 or 12 years old. I witnessed firsthand how the system was failing both my family and me, while many people around me struggled to understand the challenges we faced. There were times when food was scarce, and financial resources were limited. Many nights, I went without a hot meal, but I was determined to support my mother and my community however I could. As I grew older, I developed an entrepreneurial spirit. I started selling snacks from the dollar store and homemade brownies at school to help supplement my mom’s income. While I always had a passion for cooking, I wasn’t yet sure how to use that skill to serve my community. After graduating high school, I believed that my desire to help others would naturally lead me to a career in nursing. However, after not being accepted into the nursing program at the University of Louisville, I had to quickly reassess my path. I chose to pursue social work instead, which opened numerous doors for me. It gave me a deeper understanding of community dynamics and how I could contribute to building one of my own. Read more>>

Destinee Rosemurgy of Destinee Design

I’m Destinee, the owner of Destinee Design, a design studio dedicated to creating timeless and elegant brand + web design for beauty, wellness, and creative brands. My path to where I am today wasn’t the one I initially envisioned—it’s been a mix of unexpected turns, challenges, and deeply rewarding moments that shaped the business I’ve built. I originally started college with the intention of entering the medical field. I needed an extra credit and decided to take a graphic design class—without really knowing what it was. That’s where I discovered the combination of creativity and problem-solving – it just felt right. Design became my way of blending the two passions I didn’t know could coexist. Read more>>

Xylo Aria of Music Production For Women

I started off as a singer-songwriter who was always reliant on others to produce her music. Unfortunately I had some not so great experiences working with other music producers and realised that the only way for me to continue was to start producing for myself. This journey was very lonely and I often felt like the odd person out in forums around music production as I didn’t see anyone in the room that looked like me. When I eventually started producing music and releasing my self produced music however, I was wondering where this skill had been all my life and wish I had started years earlier! At this point I started to reflect on my journey into music production and all of the things that would have helped me to start this journey earlier. This planted the seed for Music Mroduction for Women which has now been running for almost six years. Read more>>

Joseph Mcgee

Reflecting on my story, it’s been a journey of growth and learning, My career began with 20 years of service in the U.S. Army, where I gained firsthand experience with the world beyond my bubble. From there, I decided to pursue my passions by starting a Bitcoin Consulting Company, Sovreign, with my business partner, Daniel Frank. Transitioning from military service to entrepreneurship wasn’t without its challenges. I initially faced a steep learning curve when navigating the world of business. However, with the support of my co-founder, Daniel, and an incredible team, I embraced those challenges as opportunities to grow. We envisioned Sovreign as more than just a consulting company; we saw it as a movement to empower small business owners, entrepreneurs, and communities to achieve financial sovereignty through Bitcoin. Read more>>

Ben Roseland

My journey as an artist has been anything but linear, and it’s shaped me into who I am today. I graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts from the Columbus College of Art & Design in 2005, but my love for art began long before that. As a child, I was always drawn to art and creativity, and this passion fueled my dream of becoming an artist. After college, I spent nearly two decades honing my skills and exploring complementary trades, such as conservation picture framing, which deepened my appreciation for craftsmanship and precision. Yet, painting has always been my true calling. Over the years, I developed a distinctive style influenced by impressionists like Monet, Van Gogh, and Seurat, but with my own contemporary twist. My signature block paintings, characterized by vibrant colors, bold brushstrokes, and three-dimensional elements, have become the cornerstone of my work. Read more>>

Xavaire Parker

I got started in January 2024 after watching some of my closet friends produce and make music. I thought I could give it a try after watching them make and create their own music. Now I am able to produce my own music and collaborate with different artists. Read more>>

Darcie Fuqua

Nine years ago, after the birth of my first son, I experienced a rapid onset of postpartum psychosis. I was thrown into the chaotic world of mental health care and fought my way through a dark season of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. After overcoming my mental health battle, I felt the call to use my pain for a purpose. Mental illness is still heavily stigmatized, especially in the Christian community. People who are uninformed about mental illness may say things that are more hurtful than helpful, even when their message is well-intentioned. Christians have told me that God would miraculously heal me if I had more faith or read the Bible. People seem to quickly forget the Bible has numerous stories of faithful characters experiencing mental illness, and God often used them for great purposes.  I wanted to let others know that mental illness or taking medication does not determine the size or strength of their faith and that they are completely loved and adored by Him.  Read more>>

Samantha Kelly’s Story

Its always hard to choose which story I want to share with people – life is anything but ordinary! I grew up with very little resources, money, or support. I was often on my own when it came to growing up, however, I think this all shaped who I am today. I would often help my parents with small odd jobs to keep the finances and the family a float. As soon as I was 15, I secured my first official job at CVS where I stayed for 7 years working up to a management position. I executed a variety of responsibilities, often helping multiple stores. When I was 18 I had started nannying in addition to maintaining my other role. As I navigated college with 2 jobs, and began to explore the marketing world, I grew increasingly fond of small businesses and entrepreneurs. It was always habit of mine to see things from different perspectives and ponder how I would have done things, better. As I came across gig jobs in my industry, I learned the value of getting uncomfortable and jumping into things I had no preparation for or background in. I took a ton of random jobs, from surveying customers in the chickfila drive through for a market research company to managing VIP hotel transfers from a Philadelphia Hotel to the local recording studios – I did it all! Read more>>

 

Chicho Lorenzo’s Story

I’ve been doing art all my life. Is a good way for me to process life, It happens that people usually identify deeply with it, so I consider it fair to share my art with all. Read more>>

Steve Alpert

I worked alone in a studio for 15 years. That was my only option at the time. It was isolating and I felt I was always looking up a sheer granite wall with no hand hold in terms of feeling there was no community to even be a part. But, I never stopped, just kept going. And along the way found that I have a serious connection with men and women who serve on the US Armed Forces. So, I began making paintings that told their story. And then I found these paintings could raise funds for veterans organizations and their families. That changed my life. I became a part of a compelling community, Fellow Traveler if you will which gives me great purpose and a sense of belonging. My paintings have raised more than half a million dollars to various veteran oriented non-profits, most notably, Children of Fallen Patriots. Would I say all this has been easy? No. Smooth, definitely not. Which makes any successes along the way that more satisfying. he icing on the cake is that for the past eight years leading a painting workshop at Fordham University for veterans who are painters. Read more>>

Nisha Ladlee

In 2020, the pandemic hit the world and I was working a corporate job as a Vice President when we were told we had to work from home. Little did I know how life changing that would be for me. I’ve always loved reading but my corporate life didn’t allow much time for it. The pandemic allowed me to slow down and and rekindled my passion for reading. All genres interest me, from horror, to thriller, and historical, but I really gravitated toward romance books during this time. There was something about the feel good of a happily ever after during a time of chaos in the world that brought me comfort. I soon found there was an entire community of romance readers when I stumbled on the hashtag #bookstagram. A short time later, I created a #bookstagram account myself so that I could keep track of what I’d read and write creative reviews and graphics to share with the community. I also shared different coffee recommendations and posted about life. Read more>>

Trisha Gianesin

About 14 months ago, my life changed forever. Before the pandemic, I was deeply fulfilled in my career in Human Resources—a path I had dedicated 20 years to. Unfortunately, complications and symptoms from Lupus forced me to retire. Lupus, an autoimmune disease, comes with a host of challenges, and one of the hardest for me was experiencing “lupus fog.” For those unfamiliar, lupus fog affects memory, focus, and cognitive processing. It’s like trying to think through a dense cloud, making even simple tasks feel monumental. Read more>>

Hannah Talbert

Photography started as a hobby for me—a way to capture the little moments that meant so much in my own life. Over time, I realized how much joy it brought me to preserve those fleeting, authentic emotions for others. What began as snapping photos for friends and family grew into a passion, then a business. Today, Hannah Talbert Photography is all about celebrating people’s stories, their milestones, and the connections that make their lives unique. I feel lucky to do what I love, especially in places like Hampton Roads and Charleston, SC, where the scenery and community inspire me daily. Along the way, I’ve learned the importance of embracing imperfection, capturing raw emotions, and balancing life as a business owner, a mom, and an artist. Read more>>

Bruce Orr

I started doing art as a kid and never stopped. I was always drawing, building and making up stories. I have made that my life’s work. As I got older, through school, teaching, working for non profits, hospitals, museums and libraries, my dedication to art deepened. I had moments where I learned anything was possible. The first time I read a zine, I saw that I could do this too. The same thing with the Spiral Q Puppet Theater in Philadelphia, who made giant puppets out of cardboard and paper mache. There were no barriers with art. So I started self publishing comics as Immersion Press. I created the Mudeye Puppet Company from a basement in Portland Oregon, staying up late making creatures out of trash, and then taking that lesson to the schools, and soon enough performing shows all over the city and beyond. Read more>>

Ryder Klein

Music has always been something I’ve loved ever since I was little, but I never really considered it as a career until I was 15. I started out DJing just for fun, and then I began producing my own music during my sophomore year of high school. It definitely took time and dedication to get to where I am today. I’d say it took at least three years to become really skilled at making music and writing songs. I’m proud of myself for investing so much time and effort into turning this passion into a career. It’s funny to look back at my first songs compared to what I create now—the improvement is drastic in the best way. Read more>>

Alexander Hume

My obsession with A/V engineering began in my early years. The lore goes deep but here’s a fun little story: Equipped with a Firewire audio interface (who remembers Firewire here?) lent to me by my Dad, I spent countless hours recording my voice with an awful microphone and my guitar plugged directly into the interface, no amplifier. I also made lots of covers of electronic artists like Daft Punk and bands like System Of A Down who I was into at the time. Let’s just say this: Oof. I found a CD of some of my songs recently and I’m surprised my parents didn’t give me an intervention… Read more>>

Sylwia Vaclavek

Food photography became a hobby of mine a few years ago. Seeing all those drool-worthy, beautifully styled foods on social media, I wanted the same. Having some knowledge and experience in photographing wildlife and landscapes, I already knew I liked photography and just needed to learn about food photography. As a Pole living in the US, I miss authentic Polish food. Cooking traditional Polish food and sharing it on social media was a natural progression of my passion for food photography. Creating – My Omni Kitchen, a food blog, was the next project I took on. Read more>>

James Glenn of Glenn’s Transport and Assembly, LLC

My story is one of perseverance filled with twists and turns. I often chose the harder route in life, driven by the belief that I could always find a way. Though I faced many falls, I consistently got back up, dusted myself off, and kept pushing forward. I began my journey in the business world as a helper, thanks to my cousin Paul Glenn, who invited me to join him on various projects that ignited my passion. It wasn’t until years later, growing weary of dead-end jobs, that I decided to pursue my own path. I researched how to transform what I learned into a business, teaching myself every facet of running it and bravely making the leap. I had invaluable support from many people along the way, especially my mother and father, who were always there for me. Though it required immense trial and error as I navigated my business independently, my dedication and hard work ultimately led me to where I am now. Read more>>

Senovia Barral

I am a Vegas native , 31 year olds and vegan. I plan on healing the planet with my music and voice. Using it for those who don’t have one Read more>>

Zhané Fludd

My photography journey began just a year ago when I brought my first canon camera. I was initially drawn to photography as a way to express moments through photography. I started by taking photos of dogs and family. As I explored more, I discovered various photography styles and became particularly interested in vintage aesthetics. I loved the warmth and character that old photographs conveyed, so I began researching vintage photography techniques. Read more>>

Aaron Vaughn

I started skateboarding at 13 years old. I ended up taking it serious at about 15. Received my first sponsorship at 17 years old. I moved back and forth from Chicago to Indianapolis for years. When I turned 22, I made the decision to move to Los Angeles to pursue skateboarding further. Moved back home at 24 and worked at my local skateboard shop named RISE Skateboard Shop for a year and a half. Started my own skate shop with my friend at 26 years old. 6 years later, here we are! Read more>>

Tatiana Grant, Lpc, Ncc’s Story

I got started in the mental health field by accident, I originally wanted to be a pediatrician. I began my undergrad career as a Pre-Med Biology student. I’ve always struggled in Math and that was my Achilles Heel as a Pre-Med student. I then switched my major to Nursing, however I still was unfulfilled but knew I wanted to help others. While a Nursing student, I had to take a Psychology class. I instantly fell in love! I was able to fulfill my passion for helping others and I wasn’t continuously struggling within my Math classes! Read more>>

Thea Vaporis

Thea Vaporis Is a mom model and makeup artist. She currently works full-time as a model and shares her wellness and passion for clean beauty on social media. Her goal is to connect with like minded women in all stages of motherhood and highlight beauty and wellness from the inside out Read more>>

Ruby Joy Ketchum

My name is Ruby Joy – a double first name to fit a Southern clichè – I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee into a family in the country music business. I grew up having an affinity for music, writing and playing. I was always so infatuated with pop culture: movies, music, books, etc. I pursued writing and recording folk music as a career after graduating high school, but as the pandemic hit I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied career wise. It dawned on me after binging movie after movie in quarantine, how much I loved learning about how films were made, all of the magic that went into it. So in a strange twist of fate, I was inspired to up and move my life; I came to New York City and enrolled in an acting conservatory program to give it my best shot. And now I’ve been here for three years… somehow making that magic work. Read more>>

Garrett Ham of Weekender Management

My journey to where I am today has been anything but linear. After law school, I worked in real estate, starting my career at the Walmart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. During this time, I joined the Army National Guard, where I served as a JAG officer. This role eventually led me to the active-duty Air Force, where I continued to serve as a JAG officer for four more years. After completing my tour, I attended Yale University for graduate school, initially planning to earn a Ph.D. and pursue a career academia. However, in my final year, I pivoted toward business, when I started Weekender Management with my sister.. Read more>>

Susan Carmen-duffy

While I believe that art is a skill that you practice (and I do) I also believe there is something that drives us to choose a certain life path. For me, art has been an important part of who I am probably since I was able to sit up and hold a crayon. The act of creation not only gives me peace but also, feels completely natural. I have often referred to creating art as “my oxygen” and it is very apparent when I have not taken the time to create. Just as if I lacked oxygen, when I do not take time to be creative, my life is not as balanced or full. There is something dynamic about the desire to create. It inspires curiosity, passion, and tenacity. Being an artist, to express myself in this way, is a gift. Read more>>

Lauryn Menard

I started my career in fashion, captivated by the intersection of design, materiality, and culture. Over time, my focus shifted to the potential of sustainable materials, which became a guiding thread as I moved into footwear and furniture design. I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the world’s most innovative companies, including Adobe, Nike, Redbull, Coalesse, and Vitra, where I honed my ability to create meaningful, forward-thinking designs. Each experience reinforced my belief that materials and processes could do more than just serve a purpose—they could shape a better, more responsible future. Read more>>

Mai Benezra

Acting and the performing arts have always been a core part of my life. Growing up in Israel, I spent my childhood singing, dancing, writing, and acting. I began writing plays and performing for my family, and I also performed at community events and took acting classes from a young age. At 15, I performed in a production featured at Israel’s largest theaters, Habima and Cameri. From the very beginning, I knew this was the career I wanted to pursue, and nothing has changed that determination. Read more>>

Dario Spinelli

I was born on July 4, 1981, in Italy, in a small town near Milan, a city where tradition and creativity often intertwine. My journey has always been about blending the physical and digital, exploring the possibilities of technology to reshape how we experience the world. From the very start, my journey has been fueled by a fascination with technology and a love for blending the tangible with the digital. Whether it’s crafting something physical or shaping pixels into motion, I’ve always been drawn to the magic that happens when these two worlds collide. Read more>>

Melissa Bollero-ray

I began tufting in 2021 after searching for a creative outlet, and I took to it quickly. I became enthralled with the endless possibilities and directions you can take it. I started my business Melspace Creative shortly after, selling my rugs at local craft markets and pop ups. In 2024, I began teaching tufting workshops where students learn how to make their own rugs from start to finish. The workshops have been so rewarding and I love seeing what each student creates and how everyone’s brains work, creatively! I have continued to enjoy creating my own rugs to sell locally, as well as diving into creating portraits of pets for commission, and hope to continue to gain momentum with workshops as well as my personal tufting practice going into next year. Read more>>

Miko Kovacevic

I’ve been a makeup artist for over 10 years. My journey started as a hobby one evening, experimenting with makeup on friends and family, which sparked a passion I couldn’t ignore. I pursued a professional course in special effects and makeup for film and television in Australia, which was intensive and covered every aspect of makeup artistry, making me highly versatile. Initially, I juggled makeup with studying economics, eventually earning a master’s degree. However, I realized my true passion lay in creativity, so I devoted myself fully to makeup. After moving to Serbia during COVID-19, I focused on building my portfolio and showcasing my work on social media, which led to collaborations with small and later, prominent celebrities. Read more>>

Nina Hajian

About seven years ago, while living in New York, I fell very ill. After a long and challenging journey, I discovered that a food allergy was the culprit—I’m allergic to red dye! I used to buy watermelon from the bodega every morning, and it turns out some of it was injected with red dye for coloring. This wreaked havoc on my body. This experience sparked a deep interest in using food and spices as medicine. I began gravitating towards the flavors of my childhood, like cardamom, which I used to reduce inflammation. This obsession soon transformed into a way of life and ignited a passion for natural healing. Read more>>

Kenny Endo

My life’s work has been in music, specifically, taiko (Japanese drumming). In 1975, I started out in California with the Kinnara Taiko (based in Los Angeles at Senshin Buddhist Temple) and the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. Outside of Japan, kumi daiko (ensemble drumming) was just beginning . Wanting to learn about the roots of taiko (and the roots of my family), I went to Japan in 1980 and studied and was able to work with great teachers and musicians of Japanese instruments who were involved in contemporary music. In 1990, my wife, Chizuko, and our two children moved to Honolulu where I pursued a Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology at the University of Hawaii. We established the Taiko Center of the Pacific in 1994. Honolulu has become home. Read more>>

Corrine Smith of CorEats Mixes

My family’s health journey began years ago, driven by necessity. What started as a need to rethink food quickly evolved into a passion. I remember the frustration of reading food labels filled with ingredients I couldn’t even pronounce—and the so-called “healthy” options? They often tasted more like cardboard than food. As my family and I struggled to find truly delicious alternatives, I made it my mission to think outside the box, navigate around mainstream ingredients, and reclaim the freedom to enjoy eats and treats without compromise. Read more>>

Lauren Carly Shaw’s Story

As child, I often found myself lost in daydreams, more captivated by the beauty of picking wildflowers during little league games than by the game itself. I thrived in hands-on experiences, whether it was assisting my dad with home improvement projects or baking with my mom, creating delightful messes in the kitchen. Growing up in a family passionate about construction and design, my childhood was filled with the vibrant chaos of renovation, moving from one fixer-upper to the next, which deeply influenced my understanding of creativity and craftsmanship. Read more>>

Ghasan Alesayi

I started out in theatre school, primarily looking to be an actor. Filmmaking or even directing as a whole were completely out of my scope — I didn’t believe I had it in me to lead a project effectively. It was in my third and final year of theatre school where I volunteered to be one of four co-directors in our final year show. At the time, I did it as a way to escape the chaos of acting in our own written and directed show. What started out as escapism became a vehicle for guided collaboration and thoughtful discussions. When the show ended, I was surprised to learn that most (if not, all) of my classmates shared with the faculty how much they enjoyed me in a leadership position. Read more>>