Over the years as we connected with incredible from folks from almost every imaginable industry we realized that every nook and cranny of our economy is full of small business owners, artists and creatives who live and breathe what they do – and their stories are nothing short of heroic. It’s the immigrant parents who overcame the odds and kept their small business alive for decades allowing their next generation to thrive and the artisans who pour their passion into every piece and refuse to let even the most common items remain mundane that make our communities come alive. The stories below will inspire you and we hope you’ll take the time to read and connect with these incredible folks.

Nick Ray

Consistently perfecting my craft. Since I was 9 years old, I learned guitar, bass, drums and recording. I started out teaching myself production on a 8 track recorder along with songwriting. Read more>>

FLOWBOY DUCE

The story behind FlowBoyDuce’s critically acclaimed 2022 EP Stranger In My Own Hood began long before the Bronx, New York native could even fathom a career as an artist. While he has always been around music, his company Flow Time Entertainment was born out of his love, passion and talent for dance. After studying through his later middle school years, Duce was assisting his teachers by the age of 12. “At the time, I didn’t really see rapping as an option,” he recalls. “But I studied artists like Jay-Z and I was always inspired by the way dope sonics move people and connect people together. That was something I always wanted to be a part of.” Read more>>

Brittany Frompovich

I started out learning guitar in middle school, then kept on playing and developing by joining a high school garage band. That band covered everything from the Ramones and the Cure to Joe Satriani, Van Halen, and Extreme. But we also had a tendency… almost a preference… to write and create our own material, so we did a lot of songwriting in that band. And we did a lot of ear training as a group because we couldn’t always find the sheet music for the songs we wanted to play. Read more>>

Samantha Carroll

My mother used to call me a diplomat; I was always on a path to see all sides of an issue and find common ground. My diplomatic tendencies have paired nicely with my particular intrigue in personal interest stories – stories that unfold, opening up the possibility for a deeper connection to the individual. Read more>>

Gray Pham

I initially went to college with the intention of pursuing a career in graphic design, eager to create and express my own style. However, I quickly realized that the structured nature of the field stifled my creativity, making it difficult to fully express myself in my work. After two years of struggling to find my place, I made the tough decision to drop out of college. My path took a dramatic turn when I met my mentor, who was also my tattoo artist at the time. His guidance and the artistry I saw in his work inspired me to pursue tattooing, a journey that was both challenging and transformative. It took years of hard work, self-doubt, and growth, but eventually, I found my true calling as a tattoo artist, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the path I’ve walked. Read more>>

Julia Dèng Hànzú

I was born in Chongqing, China, and my creative journey began with my early training in traditional Chinese plucked-string instruments such as the pipa, guzheng, and ruan. These instruments rooted me deeply in traditional music and gave me the foundation to explore creativity through sound. Read more>>

Jenny Roth

I was a young mom to three little kids ages four and under!! As my girls got older, I had more time in my day to focus on other things and I would find myself cleaning or scrolling Facebook and I had this moment where I thought:

Even if I have just one hour to myself a day, I have to find something to do with it that matters.

So, I made a list. This ‘thing’ I did for myself had to … Read more>>

Brittany Ford

My journey into photography started back in middle school when I first picked up a camera and became fascinated with capturing moments. I officially started photographing weddings in 2012, but at the time, I saw it as more of a creative passion than a full-time career. After graduating college, I moved to New York City and worked in the fashion industry at Kenneth Cole Productions, later transitioning to The RealReal in New Jersey. While I gained valuable experience, I quickly realized that the corporate world wasn’t where I truly belonged. Read more>>

Angela Wolf Quaintance

My name is Angela, and I’m the owner of Angela Wolf Video. We create brand videos for small to midsize businesses. Based in Philadelphia, we work with clients along the East Coast. In February 2024, we opened our very first studio space in South Philadelphia. I had always loved videos and storytelling. My mother likes to tell the story of a time when I was four years old. She walked into my bedroom to find me sitting on the floor, in the dark, with all of my stuffed animals lined up in a row. She asked me what I was doing. I explained, “I’m telling them a movie!” It was hardly a surprise that I went to film school, graduating from Temple University with a degree in Film and Media Arts. My first few jobs out of college was working as an internal videographer and video editor for several different companies. Read more>>

Alexander Coleman

Hello! My name is Alexander Coleman, and I’m a writer, producer, and YouTube personality with a passion for storytelling and entertainment. My journey began in 2021 when I launched my own podcast, #NoFilter W/ King Lex, a platform for raw and unfiltered conversations.  Read more>>

Isaiah Santiago

I Guess my story really begins in the church. From a young age I’ve been involved in productions from pantomimes, to skits, to full on easter and Christmas productions. My passion for Theater and music only grew as I started to get involved with productions in high school learning all aspects of theater, from Acting, to playwrighting , to costuming, set building, tech and even Directing. Bronx theater High school was truly a catalyst in my journey. Surprisingly enough I did not attend College for anything theater related, rather I graduated with my bachelors in business admin and marketing from the College of Westchester and started my career working in the non-profit world shortly after. many years, a marriage and 2 kids later my family and I moved to Connecticut during the height of Covid to escape the only city I’ve ever known, NYC, and start a new journey. Read more>>

Justin Murta

I am a professional DJ. I think that I ended up being a DJ because of my love of music and my parents encouraging me to learn an instrument. My grandparents gave me a family violin and studied and learned throughout Elementary, Middle and High School. This lead to my career as a professional musician, first as a rapper and later as a song writer and producer. My entire career I have created my own opportunities, promoting my own shows, creating a company called the HipHop Handbook and finally relocating to Asia. Economically, it made the most sense to focus on DJing and when I returned to the United States, I found lots of opportunities and I am considered one of the top DJ’s on the West Coast of the United States. Read more>>

Fabio Marinho

My journey as an artist has deep roots, starting from my early childhood in Brazil. I’ve always been drawn to art, with my first memory being at just 3 or 4 years old, trying to copy characters from comic books. That fascination with shapes, colors, and creativity became a constant in my life, even though I only pursued it professionally years later. Read more>>

Una The Mermaid

Shello! My name is Una and I am a professional mermaid. I began mermaiding as a hobby in 2011, and over-time evolved my part-time passion into a professional career. I have always had a deep affinity for the Ocean and swimming. Born and raised in Hawaii during early my childhood years really helped shape my love and connection to water. I began mermaiding professionally in 2016, and 2019 completed the initial build of my traveling 900 galloon mermaid tank. The tank has been both an investment and a labor of love. It has also allowed me more freedom to perform and mermaid in the Pacific NW (where I now live) regardless of the weather. In addition to being a professional mermaid, I am also an event producer and organizer. Read more>>

Jaime Coast

I started my business in 2017 as a creative outlet. I was working in marketing for a major media company and wanted an excuse to paint more. I knew receiving regular assignments in the form of commissioned work would help me stay accountable. Read more>>

Nolcha Fox

I started writing as a toddler, using poop on the walls. I tried writing on my face and hair with my mother’s red lipstick. Then it was crayons on the walls (I had lots to say). I also wrote in page margins of books a foretelling of where writing would take me. Read more>>

TEDF

I was knowingly exposed to printmaking at the age of 13 during my high school years in Jamaica. Initially, I wanted to specialize in painting and mixed media and graphic design; my teacher at the time told me how awful I was at graphic design and had urged me to pursue printmaking. My teacher was right of course but I was too hard headed to listen. I hated the tedium of the process, the thinking backwards of it all felt needlessly complicated. I did not like the look of the lino tool either, It’s snub-nosed screw on top and bulbous handle filled with small blades struck a persona more akin to that of a maraca or baby rattle than that of a tool befitting an artiste. At first glance it did not carry the seriousness associated the paintbrush, hammer and chisel or even a pencil. Read more>>

Kim

I started my journey in the family business, though, to be honest, it wasn’t part of my original plan. I had dreams of becoming a fashion designer and attending Ryerson University in Toronto to pursue that passion. However, life had other plans, and I knew my parents needed my help in the business. Read more>>

Spencer Ragland

SpreadLoveMedia originally began as SpreadLove Photos, focusing primarily on photography. However, with the guidance of my father, I decided to expand beyond just photography, recognizing that my passion and involvement extended into merchandise, music, and other creative media. Rebranding as SpreadLoveMedia allowed me to build a more versatile and dynamic brand, incorporating various aspects of media while staying true to my artistic vision. With a self-taught background in photography and a keen eye for artistic expression, I have been able to cultivate a platform that not only showcases visual storytelling but also embraces a broader spectrum of creative endeavors. Read more>>

Julius McClarin-Davis

I started Paper Chasin Route Entertainment as a way to expand my musical career building a brand from influences such as the late great Nipsey Hussle (The Marathon Clothing) and Young Dolph (Paper Route Empire). Read more>>

Richard Oliver Jr.

Richard Oliver Jr. is a multi-talented award winning actor, producer, filmmaker, humanitarian, and two time White House letter Recipient. Richard has been featured in various press articles with NBC, Fox, CBS, Top Shelf, Voyage ATL, Canvas Rebel, Daily Music Spin, African Hype and Certified Bop online magazines just to name a few. His award winning music and short film projects include: Hero, My Mother, When The Fire Comes and These Sad Times. Over 43 award wins, nominations and honorable mentions respectively to his credits. Read more>>

Aisha Makara

I am Aisha Makara I am artist, author, entrepreneur. my story started when i was around 2 years old and discover all world is for me to play. I dont have parents and it was a great because the adults I was surrounded by didnt care about my wellbeing or of me as human. so i grow up wild and free. i started to create my own ideas of what I want to do with my day and what I want to play today. I love nature and play outdoors. I love to learn about everything I was a kid with open heart and curiosity. I love to explore and I love to do things on my own. Read more>>

Bella Mfon

I’m Bella Mfon, a self-taught visual artist from Abuja, Nigeria, with five years of experience working with acrylics and textures. I began my artistic journey to express emotions I couldn’t verbalize, and over time, it evolved into a mission to create relatable pieces that connect with others on a deeper level. Read more>>

Jorah Saint James

My name is Jorah Saint James and I am a writer, model, chef, and baker based in Brooklyn, NY. I’ve been writing poetry for almost two decades, cooking and baking for just as long, and modeling for three. I am also a transgender man who began his transition at the age of twenty. Read more>>

Kellie Tardif

I have always been a creative person. I started getting interested in sewing and fashion when I was 12 years old. I learned how to sew from my Home Economics teacher and watching my Mother. In middle school I would go to the thrift store and buy some pieces then go home and refashion or alter them. One of my favorite refashions was making a purse from a belt, suede skirt and cotton shirt. I still have that purse. My great-grandmother used to sew and make clothes as well, it’s in my blood. I went to college for graphic design and have used those skills in my business. As the years went by I knew I wanted to design and make clothing, especially from recycling fabric and from my own fabric design patterns in limited quantities. Read more>>

Victoria Evelyn

I previously worked as a corporate professional but I always knew I wanted to be my own boss and turn “being myself” into a career. I was able to begin working as a freelance creator about 5 years ago primarily doing travel, tourism and hospitality content. During the pandemic this was obviously halted and I thought about branching out but I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do – I felt really passionless. I worked out of Las Vegas for a while and naturally began gravitating towards food + beverage content purely because I love to eat! This has evolved into content creation focused on my life in the PNW including food, beverage, beauty, travel, crafting, home & garden – a little bit of everything! Read more>>

Ben Schenkman

Sometimes it feels like complete random chance, but I know that’s not true. I hadn’t actually set out at any specific point and said “I’d like to be an author.”

I wrote short stories as a kid, and always had creative pursuits like role-playing and acting. I think that eventually just turned into a desire to write a novel. In my last interview I talked about how I took a risk in self-publishing my book, but it’s really the culmination of a long road of small choices. Read more>>

Azure Zane

My name is Azure Zane, and I got my start as a singer by growing up in church. Since then, I have performed in talent shows and local open mics as a hobby. However, it wasn’t until Summer 2024 that I began to take songwriting and production seriously. I started to fully embrace my dream of being an acclaimed singer/songwriter. Each show gives me an experience that has helped me improve as an act overall. Read more>>

Ilona Seddik

My Journey: From the Arctic Circle to Empowering Entrepreneurs in the USA

My journey is nothing short of extraordinary. I was born in Latvia and raised near the Arctic Circle—one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth—a place that shaped my resilience and ambition from an early age. Over the years, I’ve built a multifaceted career spanning law, education, writing, entrepreneurship, and social impact, making it my mission to be a voice for women and immigrants around the world. Read more>>

Tania Chakraborty

It all began with a scroll through social media. I was drowning in a sea of posts about the “challenges” of parenthood – sleepless nights, tantrums, and the constant feeling of being overwhelmed. It was all very real, but it felt like everyone was focusing on the negative. I wanted to share a different perspective, one that embraced the humor and joy that comes with raising kids. Read more>>

Allison Villines

I started Alli Marie Marketing Agency off of a dream that I was almost too scared to dream. Being an entrepreneur has always been a dream of mine & I have always been a creative. The transition from being a marketing director in house for a company & turning into a CEO of a Full-Service Marketing agency is something I am so proud of. Read more>>

Francis Valentino

I was born and raised in the great state of New Jersey, which happens to have one of the most-vibrant and eclectic music scenes on the planet. At a relatively young age, I found my way into the immediate local scene that revolves around the town of Asbury Park, and each opportunity simply lead me to the next. After a solid ten years of playing locally, I found my way into some regional and national touring bands that introduced me to the much wider world of music and musical connections. As years went on, many of those connections would prove critical to my growth and development as a drummer. Read more>>

Kiera

I went to college to become an art educator, and worked for several years as a NYC public high school art teacher. However, after being diagnosed with an automimmune illness in my mid 20’s, I found a lot of relief in being a client of therapeutic massage. I also felt that I wanted a closer connection in my professional work, and I went back to school to become a massage therapist. I’ve been practicing massage therapy since 2008, and teaching massage since 2012. In 2023, I began to expand my private massage practice, MaMassage Brooklyn, by hiring other massage therapists, and now have a team of 8 therapists. Read more>>

Chloe Scout Nix

My name is Chloe Scout Nix and I am originally from Waxahachie Texas where I grew up homeschooled living on my family’s horse farm. We used to participate in competitive horse shows, dressage and what not, but then I started dancing and that took over the greater part of my childhood. I am a trained dancer, having focused most of my attention on performing and teaching tap dance. I attended Dallas County Community College then transferred to Southern Methodist University where I graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts and a Minor in Art History in 2019. In 2022 I moved to New York to attend graduate school at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn where I graduated with a Masters of Photography in 2024. Read more>>

Anya Shumskaya

I’ve been a social media content creator for just over a year now. I began this journey by sharing my experiences—walking my friends and anyone who would listen through my Accutane journey, which was my last resort in a 10-year battle with cystic, hormonal, and genetic acne. Today, my Instagram page, @annatheshum, boasts 50,800 followers, and my TikTok, also @annatheshum, has 9,500 followers. Read more>>

Anna Brinckmann

I got started running a record label back in 2021 when I launched Artichokes Are Yellow, a previous label of mine with a previous business partner. I ran this label for about 2-3 years before starting a new label on my own called “Quack Squawk Honk”. Over the years, I’ve learned valuable lessons, gained extensive knowledge, and developed resilience by navigating various challenges that come with being a business owner. As a self-taught entrepreneur, every lesson was a stepping stone. Read more>>