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.
Yahya Sardari of Kookoo Restaurant
Hi my story in Washington DC started when I moved here in 2013, I was looking to open my own food business. I looked and looked and after a year of searching I found a Café to buy from the owner, I was so excited, after so many years of working for others, I finally had my own business. I purchased the Café in 2015 and owned it until 2021, we had our ups and downs during that time, especially the period after the pandemic, business was nonexistent, a year passed and the business was not much better, so I decided to close the café and I opened my lifelong dream of opening a Persian Restaurant at the same location as the café. After a year of permitting, inspections and construction, we opened the doors on August 22nd 2023. Read more>>
Amy Butowicz
The beginning is deciding to be an artist, this is when everything shifts mentally. However, I know it isn’t the same path for everyone as every individual’s career takes a different trajectory. The many years after obtaining my undergraduate degree were spent working in a corporate environment, traveling for business, and devoting the rest of my time to working with horses. I kept a dedicated space in my home for making and would pursue projects that I found interesting. However, making art wasn’t a priority. Instead, making art was a hobby. During those years I would not call myself an artist. If I were asked what I did, I would answer that I was both an Art Consultant and a competitive equestrian. However, as the years passed by, I began to feel a conflict growing within. When I reflected on this inner conflict, I realized that at the root was my unfulfilled dreams of obtaining my Master of Fine Art, a step I felt was paramount to being able to have a successful career as an artist. Once I realized this, I began to explicitly question how I was choosing to spend my free time. Read more>>
Anthony Misiano’s Story
My dream was always to just be an actor (I’m still holding onto this silly dream), but time and time again I get some wild hair up my ass and decide to create a project of my own. In the past, when the time came to delegate duties and hire people, I simply couldn’t afford to properly compensate working professionals, so I wore multiple hats. Others would see the final product and ask about one aspect or another, possibly “who did the sound design?” to which I would uncomfortably confess, “me”, and shortly thereafter I’d be hired to do whatever particular thing had caught their attention. Read more>>
Pedro Lavin’s Story
I was born and raised in Mexico City. I spent the first 18 years of my life there and developed a large part of my identity and aesthetic sense based on the cultures of Mexico. I left my country in 2009, at 18 years old, to study graphic design at the California Institute of the Arts. Following my graduation I moved to New York to work at Psyop, a studio specialized in high end animation for the advertising and film industries, for 7 years. I completed my education there. CalArts provided the basics of my craft: an understanding of visual language and design; while Psyop gave me a comprehensive education in narrative storytelling and cinematic vocabulary. Being a part of Psyop’s creative team also allowed me to understand the process behind VFX, and the power post production has to bring unreal worlds to life. Read more>>
Elizabeth Mcalpin
I started making art as a teenager exploring ways to be creative but my artistic path really started postgraduate when I moved to New Mexico to develop traditional drawing and painting skills with specific mentors. I continue to pull from this educational experience when needed despite the abstract work that dominates my portfolio today. Read more>>
Salme Dahlstrom
When in 2008 The Wall Street Journal dubbed me a “savvy singer” and “music licensing queen” after I managed to license every track from my debut album “The Acid Cowgirl Audio Trade” to various corporations and television programs I had no idea what an impact that would have on my career, or the rest of my life. I was getting noticed – a lot. Suddenly ad agencies were calling asking for my services, licensing companies were handing out awards and I went from being a struggling indie artist to having a full time job making music. Read more>>
Sheri Stevens’s Story
I grew up in a home with brothers who were severely allergic to animals and so I was not allowed to have pets, despite having a deep love of animals. I would often read all I could about horses and dogs – finding large reference books in our local libraries and book fairs about these subjects. We couldn’t have pets, but my grandpa and grandma had a beautiful Irish Setter named Meg. She was a lot of fun – and it wasn’t until later in life that I found out that the fun building we used to play in on their property was where my grandpa bred and raised hunting dogs and Roller Pigeons.
Ryan Kimball’s Story
Howdy, I’m Ry and I grew up in Hood River, Oregon which is a tiny town tucked away between two snow capped volcanoes. Hood River prides itself on all things outdoors. I grew up mountain biking, skiing, backpacking, hiking, camping, kite boarding and rock climbing. I believe having a childhood where I spent the majority of my time outside shaped who I am today. I currently live full time in a truck camper with my two dogs. We travel down to Baja for the winters and come home to the Pacific Northwest for the summers. I moved into the camper so that I can spend my days outside with my dogs. The idea of being in a house felt too claustrophobic. I knew I needed to see the world and I was going to bring my dogs with me. I tried the traditional lifestyle, working a 9-5 while living in apartment and I knew I wasn’t built that way. I needed the freedom and lack of schedule. Plus, I wanted to give my dogs the best life they deserve. Read more>>
Aisha White
Well funny story. I was about 28 working as a server at a local restaurant in my town. When a girl came up to me and said I work for Mac cosmetics and I like your look, we are hiring currently and you should apply! I was floored. Like no way. Those women are so glamorous. I told her thank you and that I definitely would. Which I did not plan on it all. Well she came back about 2-3 days later and asked if I applied. I said no not yet(with zero intention of applying) she insisted. So I did and about 3 months later I was offered a full time position. Dream came true. Read more>>
Taylor Elajas of EBNTV, Inc.
My journey to being a creative entrepreneur began in 2011 when I made my first YouTube channel and became entrenched in the digital age. I spent countless hours watching my favorite YouTubers and syndicated television shows, fast forward to 2024 I rarely watch TV anymore. The concept of being a consumer more than being a producer always bothered me, so I eventually knew I wanted to shift my lifestyle. In 2015, my friends and I started a sports blog covering basketball and football, writing about current events and providing commentary on the world of sports at that time. I enrolled in a collegiate university to study Sports Journalism, but that didn’t last very long as I realized that’s not what I wanted to do. Sports Journalism was quickly transitioning into Sports Entertainment and the credibility of journalists began to dwindle in my eyes. The cherry on top was that these major television corporations started to lean heavily on former athletes rather than upcoming journalists to be analysts or commentators. Read more>>
Janie Kruse Garnett’s Story
In 2013, I felt jewelry was lacking substance and staying power, so I started designing pieces that I thought might survive at least one decade, if not six. I daydreamed of grandchildren fighting over various JKG rings and cheese knives at will readings in 2082. Then I couldn’t quite find an eco friendly candle that didn’t *look* eco-friendly – don’t get me wrong, I want to be as environmentally conscious as possible but I staunchly oppose the granola aesthetic. Then I sort of pootled towards silk accessories, having absconded with my mother’s considerable scarf collection in 1995ish for the purpose of creating what we would now call “glamping” tents for my Breyer horses. My first collection had maps of Rome, Paris, and London, with elegant bugs over all my favorite stores and bars, inspired obviously by the paratrooper silk maps of WWII and also my famously zero sense of direction which is noticeable when trying to find the aforementioned stores and bars, so I thought it would be *the* most useful accessory, and it was! For myself. Read more>>
Kylie Montigney of Empower Girls
Kylie Montigney, a multi-talented individual from Scranton, Pennsylvania, is involved in hosting, founding, blogging, public speaking, and advocacy work. During her upbringing, Kylie drew inspiration from her two cousins who worked at a local news station in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Their conversations about the stories they covered and people they interviewed motivated Kylie to pursue a similar career path. In April 2021, she launched her own podcast, which can be accessed on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or wherever listeners access podcasts. Notably, she has had the opportunity to interview prominent figures such as Madison Watkins, Caitlin Wachs, Brianne Davis, Gilles Marini, Gabrielle Stone, and many others. Read more>>
Megan Bernard of Goodness Gracious LLC
I was born and raised in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana, though I moved around a bit during my adolescent years. My journey into the world of creativity and entrepreneurship began when I got my first publication in Intake Magazine out of Indianapolis. I was captivated by the collaboration involved, photographers, wardrobe stylists, the lights, and the excitement of being in front of the camera. It was more than just a passion, I saw it as a way to make a living. At 17, I began working for Hooters of Louisiana and seized every opportunity they offered, from the Hooters International pageant to the calendar features. My modeling career expanded to working with Maxim magazine, Dekt Skateboards, Bro Bible, All Pro Science and American Honey, where I was one of a select group of girls who traveled across the States promoting American Honey Wild Turkey Whiskey. This career allowed me to collaborate with both established and up-and-coming photographers, build my name, and earn an income that I used wisely to secure a beautiful apartment in downtown New Orleans, where I’ve lived for 15 years. Read more>>
James Quinn
I started acting early in grade school with some school plays. I didn’t really get the bug for film acting until after high school. I started doing background work for Hollywood productions, and commercials which led to me doing some work shops and taking classes. I really began to find my groove with the rise of independent film. That’s where I have really cut my teeth, and made my name. I have been in both Hollywood, & Independent productions for quite a few years now. I love walking in both worlds as it allows me to stay fresh, and make any necessary adjustments to my craft. Read more>>
Burger The Monster’s Story
My career started in 2017, when I began performing with the Puppet Shakespeare Players in NYC. As a “player,” I appeared Off-Off-Broadway in productions of Puppet Macbeth, Puppet Romeo & Juliet, Puppet Hamlet, and Puppet Julius Caesar. While the group is no longer around, I am grateful for the awesome memories and wonderful friends that I made. Fast-forward to 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic was here and we were all in lockdown. I knew that I needed to continue to bring joy and laughter to the world somehow. But how? The answer was TikTok. With the help of my pal Spencer Cohen, I joined TikTok in March 2020. Since then, I have gained over 10.5K followers, and two of my videos have gone viral. Thanks to this amazing platform, my work has been shared by brands and celebrities such as WWE and Singer-Songwriter Melissa Etheridge. Read more>>
Juliana Frangella
I have been singing since I can remember and playing guitar since fourth grade. I’ve always liked to make up songs, though I consider sixth grade to be the year I started to write “real” ones. Sometimes my art makes more sense to me at one time more than another for whatever reason, and that makes it easier or harder to talk about. Right now, it’s very classically an emotional outlet. It is almost as if I am using it as a means to tie up the loose ends in my mind, though it also very much about the music from a more external point of view as well. I’ve always been rather intense when it comes to my emotions, and my writing has become a means of dealing with that. I put out my debut album in the Spring of last year, my senior year of high school. I had been writing the songs that went on that record since my sophomore year. Being able to make that record affirmed all that I had hoped about making music and it is by far my greatest achievement yet. Read more>>
Fer Da Silva’s Story
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been passionate about art. I always knew that art was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, because I’ve always been singing and acting as well. Painting has always been a part of my life through many moments. It wasn’t until I was older that I decided to fully focus on it and pursue it professionally. Over the years, I’ve experimented with different techniques and mediums, always seeking new ways to express myself. A key moment was when I decided to incorporate hearts into my work, which has since become something of a personal signature. Read more>>
Cara Achterberg
I’ve always been a writer, ever since my mom gave me a tiny pink diary with a key when I was in first grade. Writing has seen me through every kind of adventure, trauma, and love story (which could be both adventure and trauma). It has been a big part of nearly every job I’ve held, but it has not been my primary job until 2015, when I got my first book deal. Since then it hasn’t paid the bills, but it has inspired my life. Writing articles for magazines and newsletters graduated to writing a blog and teaching classes, which morphed into writing novels. Fostering dogs led to writing about dog rescue, which resulted in my first memoir, Another Good Dog. Touring with that book took me to the animal shelters and a real turning point in my life. Read more>>
L’erin Gaines’s Story
Certainly! My journey began with a deep passion for connecting with people and sharing meaningful experiences. I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling and personal growth, which led me to explore various forms of communication and self-expression. I started my professional journey as a self-published author. My first book, My Inspirations Volume 1: Deliberation, was a collection of my quotes, themes, and scriptures. The positive reception to my book fueled my desire to reach a broader audience and share more of my insights on self-love, personal development, and overcoming self-doubt. In 2020, during the pandemic quarantine movement, I launched my first podcast series, 411 Podcast – Disc 1: Deliberation, on Instagram Live. The series quickly gained traction and expanded to multiple platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, DLIVE, Twitch, and DailyMotion. The podcast’s success opened the door to creating more series, including Disc 2: Transformation and Disc 3: Evolution. Read more>>
Shara Ruffin, Lcsw of Journey To Licensure
My journey began with a deep-seated passion for helping others and a commitment to the field of social work. I pursued my education at Temple University, earning my Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. This foundational education equipped me with the essential skills and knowledge to embark on my professional journey. After completing my undergraduate studies, I advanced to Howard University, where I obtained my Master’s degree in Social Work. This advanced education provided me with a robust framework for understanding complex social issues and developing effective interventions. My professional career began in the mental health field, where I worked extensively in psychiatric hospitals and community mental health settings. These roles allowed me to gain firsthand experience in crisis intervention, therapy, and support services for individuals dealing with severe mental health challenges. Read more>>
Kelsey Hayes
Imagine a 16-year-old high school girl battling hormonal acne and frizzy hair, lacking in confidence, yearning to feel beautiful. Her father forbade her from wearing makeup or dyeing her hair, worried it would draw the opposite sex’s attention, allowing it only on Halloween. Craving a daily dose of glamour, she cleverly decided to join the theater—a place where makeup and hairstyles were part of the act, and her father couldn’t object, because after all, “It’s for school!”. Skip to three years later and now graduated from high school, our young girl is now a young woman working in her dream field – she is a makeup artist for off Broadway and Opera shows. Read more>>
Morgan O. Smith of The name of my business is Yinnergy Technologies, and I am also a co-founder of the KeMor Centre for Innovative Development.
My spiritual journey began in the early 2000s. Initially, I was deeply involved in the entertainment industry as a comedian and TV show creator. However, I faced significant anxiety, especially during auditions, which led me to explore hypnotherapy and brainwave entrainment technology using light and sound machines. These technologies had a profound effect on my creativity and personal well-being, sparking my interest in deeper meditation practices. In 2002, I started meditating with brainwave entrainment using a program I found online. The daily practice brought significant changes to my life, including improved emotional states, bliss, lucid dreams, and natural highs. These experiences motivated me to transition from my career in comedy to working with marginalized youth and families in the non-profit sector. Read more>>
Emmanuelle Glazier
My name is Emmanuelle Glazier, and I am a visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY, originally from Bucks County, PA. I’m interested in creating thought-provoking, conceptual imagery through art direction, photography, video, drawing, and painting. The themes that interest me most center around femininity, family attachment, emotional tension, perceived ideals, hope, rebirth, beauty, and strength. I draw on my experiences as a woman, raised within Orthodox Judaism, a Moroccan-American, a lesbian, and integrating frictional elements of my identity. Aesthetically, I’m influenced most by classical arts. Read more>>
Sean Ebony Coleman
I started advocacy work by looking for what I needed when I was younger and by just coming out. My goal was to raise awareness about the unique needs of our community by telling stories that had the greatest impact. I wanted to connect the dots and show the intersections of multiple communities and issues. I wanted people to understand how unemployment and underemployment were directly linked to individuals facing housing instability, or how poor health outcomes were related to the lack of access to adequate food sources, such as grocery stores or food markets. I also needed people to understand that we, as a community, needed more than just the bare minimum. Through being a member of the house and ballroom community, I leveraged my connections to start working with community members, which allowed me to capture data from a largely ignored community. Read more>>
Tim Blackley’s Story
Sure! I am a career changer, so my first job out of college was for a startup company doing sales. One day, I remember having an epiphany and realizing that this was not what I wanted the next 40 years of my life to look like. I knew I had to make a change. I decided to take the leap, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. After that, my first job was as a personal trainer since I always had a passion for science and athletics. I got a job at a local Equinox and did that for a few months before realizing that I could do it better on my own. I made a few profiles on independent trainer websites and began booking my first few clients. While doing this, I got into a Master’s program in Sports Science with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning. This program was my first introduction to a formal education in the space I am in today. Read more>>
Felicia Liang
My art practice started as a way to create work that reflected my lived experiences and to make the art that I wanted to see more of in the world. It is a constant exploration of identity and emotions, and how the communities and cultures I’m around uniquely shape them. I was working full time in corporate after graduating in 2010, and started making art on the side in 2015. I self-published a book about growing up Asian American in 2016, which turned into a solo show at New York’s Pearl River Mart in 2017. I actually drew a lot as a kid through high school, but this art show planted the seed that I could maybe make art an actual career. I continued to build my portfolio while picking up a few client projects along the way, and took the leap into freelance illustration and selling my prints online October 2019. Read more>>
Nikenya Hall of Achieving Balance Counseling & Holistic Center, LLC
It started when I entered Earthside on June 29th, no I kid. I was early in my career, when I began to realize the limitations in the therapeutic model. My Black and Brown clientele would reference their spiritual beliefs and how that was a foundational component in their perceptions, thoughts and behaviors. It made me wonder what a holistic approach could support someone’s journey in healing. In a beautiful dance of parallelism, I began my own spiritual journey. I eventually released the religion I was raised in – Christianity and found myself searching for a more spiritual open construct. First I took an energy healing course, than Therapeutic Touch, Intuition & Psychic Development and finally a ministerial program in Spiritualism, Read more>>
Rob Wellz
I’ve been rapping for most of my life. Me & my brothers got our first microphone and studio equipment in 2011 and have been recording ever since. 2 years later after getting comfortable within the music environment, I had designed and created our first prototypes of 40 Star Apparel Read more>>
Rory Alvarez’s Story
My name is Rory alvarez and I’m a NYC based multidisciplinary artist. I’ve always loved things that stimulate my senses ;fashion, food , animals,music landscapes ANIME !! I have a family that was very supportive of my artistic thirst as a kid so it was very easy for me to realize that I wanted to create. My grandpa used to make me draw a lot when he had to babysit me, so I guess I can say that’s where it started. Then as a young teenager I fell in love with fashion. Makeup ,malls ,hello kitty and sailor moon. My first encounter with fashion was at 17, styling for a friend that was in college for photography. Read more>>
Sebastian Cosme’s Story
I started The Loud Spot with Sebastian purely based of fun. It was in the middle of COVID, and at the time, I had lost my company and even myself. In a way to get back to going back to my “roots”, I thought it would be fun to start a podcast and talk about music I listened to in my late teens and early 20’s. I had no clue that almost 4 years later, several cohost changes, and changes to the overall production and quality, I would still be doing this. Our audience keeps growing, and that is something I am proud of. I owe a lot of how far we have come to my producer Sam McIntosh. He has definitely helped out the show more than I would have ever thought possible. Read more>>
Marisa Avelar
I’m Marisa Avelar, a graphic designer and mixed media artist based in Brooklyn, New York. I started out as a student of art and design. I loved to draw and sketch growing up and was always doing something creative. I was fortunate to have parents who supported my interest in the arts. I studied piano as a kid and also took drawing classes. I have always been very drawn to music and visual art. I got my start in design interning with a very talented illustrator in Houston named Chris Lockwood who gave me great advice and allowed me to work on pieces to refine my portfolio while connecting me with the Houston arts scene and wonderful organizations like the Aurora Picture Show. Shortly after that I got my first job working in design. I have been steadily doing graphic design as a profession ever since and have been fortunate enough to work at great cultural institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Smithsonian, and design agencies. I also love to work on my fine art and mixed media work. I also have an Etsy where I love showing my small handmade and decorative creations. It’s been very rewarding to see people go home happy with pieces that have become parts of their annual traditions and I have gotten to connect with so many wonderful people all over the country who have been so kind. Read more>>
Jillian White’s Story
I have always had a passion for standing out and expressing myself. Art and design have always been an outlet for my creativity and emotion, and through slowly finding my art and design style, I’m able to find myself more and more. I grew up in Parkland, Florida, where I began establishing my art brand through shows, online selling, and commission work. Then, after receiving my cosmetology license and Associates degree, I moved to New York where I currently study fashion design at FIT. Even though I now share my time with sewing, art will always have a permanent residence in my life. Read more>>
Will Focus
As a child I fell heavily into the realm of illustration after watching my mother draw images of me and my cousins in our dining room. A simple #2 pencil and a sheet of loose leaf paper was all that was needed to pull me in. Little did I know at the time, that my other obsession for photography would be cultivated due to my mother’s consistent use of her Nikon SLR. As I got older, I eventually went to college on a full scholarship. My field was mechanical engineering, but after 3 years, I grew tired of engineering and shifted to computer science. Although this was a bit more intriguing as it was more of an instance gratification of creation, I eventually left the coding world of computer science and finished getting my degree in Graphic Design. This world was the one I heavily sought after. Read more>>
Tiffany Jeans
My journey is one of resilience, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity. It all started when I was 16 years old, and my life changed dramatically within a single month. I found out I was pregnant, got married, and moved away from home, all in rapid succession. I had no time to process these monumental changes and lacked the skills to navigate them healthfully. During my 15-year marriage, I gave birth to three wonderful children who are the light of my life, but I also endured a relationship that constantly challenged my mental and emotional well-being. Read more>>
Matthew Cahill of Percipio Company
Where do you draw the line? Formation of the business? Move from Michigan to California? Graduate School? Traveling Abroad? Graduate School the first time? Traveling nationally? Graduating from college? Nearly not making it through high school? Some narratives simply require more time to unpack. There list of questions above plant seeds that will likely leave you wanting more. That is how I got to be where I am today. Consistently leaving people wanting more. Read more>>
Tyler Mcmaster
Hi! Thank you for having me. My name is Tyler McMaster and I am a singer/songwriter from Columbus, Ohio. I sing because it makes me happy and I always want to keep it in my life. In fact, music was always present in my life until it became a necessity in my life. At a young age, television talent show contestants inspired me with their bravery and vocal ability. My choir teachers encouraged me to never stop singing, so I didn’t. As my life’s story unfolded before my eyes, I was compelled to write it down. I journal to write down important moments in my life, but songs were a way to write down important emotions in my life. Songs help me understand emotions and how they evolve over time. I’m happy to be able to share these songs with the world in hopes that other people relate to them. Read more>>
Rodolfo Delgado
I began my journey in Monterrey, Mexico, where I earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Tecnológico de Monterrey. My passion for technology and innovation led me to pursue a Master’s in Management of Technology at New York University – Tandon School of Engineering. During my studies, I realized the potential of technology to revolutionize traditional industries, which ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. After moving to New York, I co-founded Replay Listings, a platform designed to bring transparency to the real estate market through unedited video content. The idea was born out of frustration with the lack of authenticity in real estate listings, which often left renters and buyers feeling misled. Replay Listings aimed to solve this by providing honest, unaltered video tours of properties, giving people a clearer and more trustworthy view of their potential homes. Read more>>
Ann Haley
The genesis of my artistic practice begins with my maternal grandmother. There are things we get told “run in our blood” when we are kids–often as a threat, sometimes as an honor. For me it was Irish heritage, addiction, twins, and the ~uncommon but still possible because my grandmother was~ artistry. She wasn’t who taught me how to paint, that was actually my nanny, but it was simply knowing that my grandmother was an artist and that we shared the same blood that validated my dreams to be one. I spent my adolescence in Atlanta as a closeted sporty art kid, and later received a BFA in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I then moved to New Orleans, where I have lived for ten years as an artist, gig worker, art educator, and simply a person trying to figure themself out. I joined The Front Artist Collective and Gallery in 2020 where I have since had numerous solo, collaborative, and curated exhibitions. Read more>>
Sam Blakeslee
My name is Sam Blakeslee and I am a trombonist, composer, and educator based out of Brooklyn, NY. I am originally from Columbus, OH, but also lived and studied in the Cleveland/Akron area before moving to New York in 2017. I am involved in several projects centered around my original music, but for the last few years I have been focusing a lot of energy on composing, recording, and performing with my jazz orchestra, the Sam Blakeslee Large Group. I’m lucky to perform with many artists and ensembles across different genres in NYC as well as continued collaborations with Ohio-based musicians, all of whom I deeply admire. As an educator, I am a faculty member at the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz in the Hartt School of Music at The University of Hartford, where I serve as the Director of the Jackie McLean Institute Big Band as well as Artist Teacher of Jazz Trombone. Read more>>
Lasha Marie
Serial Entrepreneur ~ Career Coach ~ Visionary ~ Leadership Speaker LaSha Marie has over 20 years experience consulting with progressive companies globally to identify top talent as a six-figure Talent Acquisition Manager. So, In her passion of helping career-driven individuals pull out their very best skill-set, LaSha’s next business endeavor turned “purpose” was a seamless transition. However, in 2018 LaSha Marie found herself displaced after being laid off in Atlanta, Georgia. Shortly afterwards she relocated to Auburn, Alabama with her family and $87.00 in her banking account. With that hardship and the pandemic to follow she decided to publish her first book; “The Secret That Gave Me Wings” which discusses her years of s*x abuse that she encountered from the ages of 2-12 years old. That single act of AUDACITY in becoming an Authorpreneur created multiple streams of income and opened spaces to dominate on stages nationwide alongside credible Speakers and Ministers. Read more>>
Klemntyna
My name is Klemntyna and I’m a NYC/London-based Pop/R&B music artist, as well as an entrepreneur within digital media and women empowerment. I was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland and left for NYC at the age of 19 to study at NYU. I have later moved to London to finish my college education at King’s College London. My story thus far has been defined by a lot of ups and down, as well as various challenges I’ve been learning to navigate and deal with. Ever since I was a child, I had a dream of doing extraordinary things – I wanted to pursue music, travel, and have a positive impact on the world. This is also why from a very young age, I decided I wanted to leave Warsaw and move to NYC, where I could truly pursue my artist project and my wildest dreams. I have been consistently working towards that goal at every stage of my life, from taking regular voice and dance classes since the age of 12, to studying hard throughout my entire education, to overcoming some of my biggest personal challenges, to learning to ask for what I want and going for it. Read more>>
Ciph Boogie
I started my journey in the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, NY. I split my time between my mother’s and my grandmother’s households, being raised both at my mother’s house on Gates Avenue and at my grandmother’s house in the Marcy Projects in Bedford-Stuyvesant when my mom was at work. My grandmother lived in the same building as Tyran “TY-Ty” Smith, Jay-Z’s best friend. My grandmother lived on the second floor, while TY-Ty’s family lived on the first floor. Being in such close proximity to the birth of the Roc-A-Fella empire had a profound impact on me. Read more>>
Darla Nelson of Darla Nelson-Life Coaching
I have been a Certified Life and Health Coach since 2017. Previously I was a financial advisor for over 10 years. Having gone through the down economy of 2008-2010 as an advisor and all the stress that that entailed, as well as my father passing away a few years later, I knew I was ready for a new career. I will never forget the day I made the decision to let all my state licensing go, to instead go back to school for life coaching. Best decision ever. In 2010-2011, I remember standing in the shower, half of my body was numb, I had seen many doctors and thankfully all the testing came back negative. And yet I knew something was wrong. After much prayer, thought, I realized my body was responding to stress. I knew I had to change my life. And so, in 2012 when I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, the doctor gave me a prescription and I quickly gave it right back to her, because I first wanted to see if I could change my life through nutrition, exercise, mindset. This became a passion for mine, and led to me attending the Health Coach Institute where I was dually certified for Life and Health. Thankfully, my lifestyle choices, and my focus of how our minds can influence our health, led me to this career that I just love. Read more>>
Seth Young
My mom was actually the one who first introduced me to drawing. I was just four years old at the time but it was like a light coming on in my head. I knew that art was what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life. Around ten years old I discovered comics which became my new obsession. I would constantly be drawing and creating them. Gradually I ended up getting in painting then digital illustration. Read more>>
Sinead And Mairead Atkinson
We are two sisters who love performing and making magic together! As veteran character performers of ten years and professional stage actors for well over a decade, we specialize in bringing it all: trained vocals, graceful dancing, and high engagement for guests of all ages! Not only have we been seen onstage and at events and parties across Long Island, we have performed in the greater New York area, New England, and even on national television! We got our start as character performers back in 2014 and haven’t looked back, even expanding our repertoire beyond the typical children’s “Princess” entertainment to include certified freediving mermaid performances, sword fighting, bubbleology, and fast-paced improvisation for weddings, high-end corporate events, Renaissance Faires, and more: we’re not just kids’ entertainers! Read more>>
Annetta Marion
My story has been the opposite of a straight and easy path! But it has been a fun one too. I loved art when I was growing up in Western Pennsylvania. I was obsessed with drawing (rock stars mostly, Jim Morrison was my favorite), and decorating all my school books. I assumed I would go to art school after high school. Then suddenly I was in high school, about to make some big decisions about college. I looked around at everyone that I knew, and thought maybe I should do something besides art where I could be more guaranteed to make money right out of college. The trouble was that I had no idea what that could be. Read more>>
Alton Weekes of CELLFUL
Sure! Cellful’s journey began during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, I was facing a personal health crisis that would forever change my life. I weighed 293 pounds and was grappling with multiple health issues, including sleep apnea, chronic pain, inflammation, borderline diabetes, and high cholesterol. A cardiac event was the wake-up call I needed to get me on a path of health & wellness. I was prescribed seven medications to take for the rest of my life, but that never resonated with me. I wanted to find a way to heal myself holistically. My quest for a natural solution led me to discover the incredible potential of plant medicine. I learned that fruits and vegetables, herbs, spices and barks contain information embedded in their DNA that corresponds to the needs of our cells on a molecular level. This revelation was a turning point for me. I began to understand how specific combinations of organic fruits and vegetables could target and alleviate various health issues, promoting healing and wellness from within. Read more>>