We’ve highlighted responses from some of the brightest and most talented artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs in the community below.

Sabrina Kumal

For me, my hero(s) are my parents and there are many reasons for that. For one, they have been there for me since the beginning of time and continue to be there for me through and through. I am very fortunate to have been given the many wonders of life through their hard work and sacrifices. They have always treated me with the utmost love and care; the kind that is the perfect fertilizer to help one’s child grow substantially. My parents never made me fit a “mold”. They always gave freedom for creativity and self-exploration; to let me discover what my truest passions are in this world full of endless possibilities. And with that, I found my way into the Beauty and Education realm. Read more>>

Michelle Kirby

My husband and I are very fortunate to have had amazing parents that showed us what work ethic and love looked like inside a family. We have taken those values that we have learned at a young age and put them into our business. We are fortunate to have family members that work with us and valued long-time employees who show the same work ethic which is why our business has been so successful and continued to grow over the past 11 years. I don’t think we would be where we are today with the support of our family, our employees and more importantly our customers. Read more>>

Lauren Donahue

My hero is my grandfather, Raleigh E. Lackey—affectionately known as “Lucky Luke.” He was more than just my grandfather; he was my mentor, coach, teacher, friend, father figure, and the most impactful person I’ve ever known. His wisdom shaped my life in every way, and I attribute much of my success to his guidance, love, and unwavering belief in me. Raleigh had a gift for pouring into people, always offering wisdom, humor, and encouragement. Whether he was at Cowtown, in a classroom, on a basketball court, or simply sitting at the kitchen table, he was sharing lessons that made people better. Read more>>

Jewell Baraka

I have always been riveted by the freedom fighters from MLK to Mandela and the physical fighters like Bruce Lee. I even trained in an MMA gym based on Bruce Lee’s techniques and philosophy. I revere clear thinkers like Immanuel Kant, Karl Jaspers, and Rene Descartes and poets from Sylvia Plath to Dylan Thomas to Maya Angelou. I admire all of them and each are heroic to me in their own ways, but in my story I have become my own hero and I don’t say that lightly. It took a hell of a fight for me to finally see myself as a hero in my story. Read more>>