Our stories are often hard to understand until folks understand our true motivations, our true drivers and the stories behind why our mission or purpose truly matters to us. We’ve asked some inspiring folks from the community to talk to us about why they do what they do and have shared some of our favorite responses below.

Ryon Gross

When I was in my twenties, I worked for a few different companies and realized they all needed help with marketing. Marketing was not part of my job description, but I always tried to help out whenever I could. Luckily, I worked with some really great people along the way who were willing to listen and take a chance on some new ideas. It was during this time that I found my passion for marketing. Read more>>

Collin Brackin

When I first started out making content my whole goal was based off 3 words, “Be An Impact” was 3 words I wrote down, and knew something was there. Read more>>

Katie Hendrickson

As a parent of a child with mental health symptoms I faced many barriers getting him the care he needed. We were told he was too young by numerous providers despite his symptoms having a significant impact on all aspects of his life. Read more>>

Justin Kase

After being heavily involved with the entertainment industry since 1996, my freshman year of high school, 16 years off and on the radio and beating addiction, it was time to take control of my life again. Read more>>

Kerri Danner

With all the negativity you hear and see in the world today, I wanted to promote positivity. I wanted to be the reason someone smiles or cry tears of joy! This is why I decided to start my business. I am able to customize a variety of items with so much love that the recipient is able to feel it when he or she receives it. Read more>>

Tonya Cummings

Patsy’s Daughters Moved Abroad Tonya Cummings & Nicole Katie Cummings After closing Katie’s Cakes in December 2021, we created our final product called “Katie’s Cakes Master Class”. Afterwards we decided to move to Merida Mexico. Read more>>

Nicole Shan

I decided to take a “leap of faith” and quit my job in February 2019. I always dreamt of exploring the world while learning about all various natural ingredients. Right after quitting, I traveled to Honduras, Columbia, India, Africa & China. Read more>>

Krystal Bennett

Rivière’s mission is to provide high quality jewelry at an affordable price. My main focus has been finding the perfect materials and mediums that suited the unique branding I want to cultivate. Read more>>

Brett Foraker

For me the goal has always been to find ways to represent the emotional experience of living by magnifying details and moments that others might not notice. These might be beautiful or horrifying or both. Read more>>

Nora Harris

My social media presence, Nora Zaneta, seeks to empower women to build their glam lives- achieving their dreams and living confidently, faithfully and glamorously. On my platform (Youtube/ Instagram/ Tik Tok/ Facebook etc), I discuss beauty for black women, plus size fashion, faith and my glam lifestyle. Read more>>

Karen Ouzts

I don’t know where to begin, is there even a beginning- or has it always just been something in my mind and heart? I have this vivid memory of when I was 18 years old. I was laying on a blanket in the backyard, it was sunset, and I was looking through a collage catalog. Read more>>

Clint Richardson

The Auburn Uniform Database is dedicated to documenting the aesthetic history of Auburn University athletics. It started during the summer after my freshman year at Auburn. I had seen many photos of Auburn Men’s Basketball players wearing radically different uniforms than anything I had ever seen before. Read more>>

Brandy Hinskton

I’m from Denver Colorado. I was working full time, and got a great job opportunity in Las Vegas. I had every intention on moving my kids and I to start fresh. I received a call from my mother who lived in Maryland stating her health was declining. She was having issues with home health nurses taking care of her and she was in and out of the hospital. I haven’t seen my mother in years not to mention due to an estranged relationship. Read more>>

Erica D’Aurora

I founded my music blog Musical Notes Global as a way to shine the spotlight on artists from all over the world. Growing up in an immigrant family in the United States, and before platforms like Spotify came into existence, I always found it hard to discover new music from the country I was so connected to and from other countries around the world. Read more>>

Katie Kirkpatrick

In the early to mid 2000s I never knew a soul who had a brazilian wax. The only type of body and brazilian waxing I knew about was on The 40 Year Old Virgin, and on America’s Next Top Model. Both of those scenes seemed extreme and scary! Read more>>

Jackie Willock

As a child, I never had a mentor to help me to figure out important things, such as college readiness, etc. information and I had to figure out a lot those things on my own. Read more>>

Rosa LePelch

Answered in the next question. Read more>>

Tracey Lyn Gapol

The mission has always been to add value. How can I make a difference in someone’s life? Now it’s really deep and personal and it became time to be transparent with everyone. I mean, if we’re not here to share my journey with you and be able to help or inspire someone else, then our journey has no worth. Read more>>

Zayna Lorraine

Answered on next slide. Read more>>

Savannah & Greg Herr

Too many couples are stressed out planning a big wedding that ends up being more about the guests than the couple. They end up with a day that doesn’t feel in alignment with their interests and desires, because they didn’t know it was possible to plan anything different than what is traditional. Read more>>

Alexis Bennett

Vacations have always been an important part of our lives. Family vacations bring everyone together and make relaxing and conversation come easy. A 2020 vacation brought some of the best conversations and problem solving we have experienced. Read more>>

Keelie Armstrong

Millie’s Treats is an all natural dog treat business where we make dog treats that have no preservatives, no chemicals, and no artificial flavoring. Our ingredients are, of course, all natural – but not only that, they are dog SAFE and BENEFICIAL. Read more>>

Celisia Stanton

In the Fall of 2020, I hired a financial advisor to help me reach my financial goals. Like many Black folks in the U.S., I don’t have the privilege of generational wealth to fall back on, and have had to take a lot of my own initiative to learn about finances in order to build this wealth for me and my family. Read more>>

Sharda Jolayemi

Photography was not on my radar at all. I was just okay taking photos with my iPhone and posting to Instagram. It wasn’t until a friend and I met for coffee to go over our goals for the new year. Read more>>

Sandra Epps

After surviving three near death experiences due to lupus I had turned to art and dolls for comfort. Little did I know at the time I was practicing art and emotional therapy. I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus at the age of 14. It would be years of struggle living with a chronic illness. Read more>>

Greg Miller

As a child I was never the favored grand child, nephew, or cousin. I was small, ignored, abused, but wise beyond my years. I am blessed to think differently and outside of my circumstances. Noticing those around me and the lifestyle they was living was something i did not want to duplicate. Read more>>

Foxie Silver

My mission as a model is to be able to uplift women to their highest potential. Growing up, I never had the confidence to break out of the conservative mindset and show the world who I really am. In my years of Modeling I have been able to take control and own my body. Read more>>

LaKeena Little

I started my boutique to encourage people to be their own unique selves. I think so many of us struggle with being comfortable in our own skin and doing our own thing. I want to encourage people to embrace their uniqueness and what makes them different from everybody else. Read more>>

Ashley Avery

I started Connecting The Dots Services with the idea of making a company that will take care of myself and it’s employees but most importantly create generational wealth. My goal is to build a company in which my son, nieces and nephew can work and learn valuable life skills at a business that will help provide for them and their families. Read more>>

Gina Carrillo

I’m a Spoken Word Artist from Franklin, TN. I write about getting through deaths, beating cancer and surviving domestic violence! I hope through my experiences I can help to inspire & motivate others! Read more>>

Aarav and Arsh Parekh

Aarav: “Arsh and I created this podcast at the start of the pandemic to create an outlet for kids our age. After listening to Skip and Shannon and ESPN Talk Shows every day, we thought we could do a show with each other about sports topics and interview guest athletes, all from our perspective as teens.” Read more>>

Xavier Chambers

My mission has always been to provide phenomenal service to people from all walks of life. Surrounding myself in the hospitality & service industry is the best way I can do that. Bringing to life an experience that involves togetherness while also providing delicious food has been a dream of mine that is becoming a beautiful reality. Read more>>

Jaykwon Hosey

I think the story didn’t necessarily carve out my mission, but it helped it become more vivid in my sight. I’ve been a writer for 7 years almost, but experiencing tragedy in 2020 pushed me into my passion more than it ever has. Read more>>

Kiki Rouse

Being raised in the south, we’ve never had the best relationship with healthy food. In my early 20’s I begin to notice that younger people were developing food related diseases such as, hypertension, high cholesterol etc. the effects of our fast food system and lack of healthier food options. Read more>>

Seãn Johnson

It is my mission to expose people to the culture of cigars. Not just manufacturing brands and quality of the stick but, the history, the origin and the end user experience. Read more>>

Sarah Kraning

I was born with a fairly rare neurological trait called sound-to-color synesthesia, or chromesthesia. This means that when I hear sounds, my brain automatically processes them not only as noise — but also as moving colors, shapes, patterns, and textures. The experiences are quite vivid for me, particularly when I listen to music. Read more>>

Daniel & Chelsea Hunter

I read a quote on Pinterest by Dallas Clayton that said “Find something that makes you happy and use it to make others happy”. This quote really stood out to me because it is exactly how I feel with Board & Brush. Read more>>

Harrison Young

Next Rung Productions is here to support a Knoxville-area playwright for a year every year.. As a playwright for the past decade and a half, one thing that’s been clear is that it’s a lonely difficult process between writing your first words on a page and getting it presented to the public. Most opportunities for playwrights are for already-created scripts that seek being produced… Read more>>

Chuck Pfahler

Several years ago my wife and I took a short trip to Mexico City for no other reason than to just get away and have fun. While we were there, Oaxaca quickly became a recurring theme. We would meet people that had just traveled to Oaxaca and they would tell us how we needed to go. Read more>>

Taniece Reed

My company’s mission statement is simple. We use SMART goals to create safety plans, heighten Situational Awareness, teach children to “See something, say Something, teach adults how not to be ignorant or careless with their safety and movements and to promote someone saving their own life, having self confidence , understanding safe zones and so much more. Read more>>

Tiara Griffin

While studying in Miami at Florida International University, I discovered that being away from home took a toll on me mentally and emotionally in forms of anxiety, but quickly realized that working with my hands helped with my anxious thoughts. Read more>>

Ria Sandhu & Sarina Shah

Whip It Up’s mission is to provide traditional, fusion, and specialty bundt cakes (and beyond) to customers looking for indulgence in every bite. Our story began at birth, growing up as best friends who always looked to explore new ideas. In 2020 when the COVID pandemic caused us to be homebound for an extended amount of time, we would bake together virtually from our own homes and then show each other what we made. Read more>>

Taylor Herndon

Board to Beers started as an unimaginable dream until I truly realized how short our lives can be. In July 2019 I lost my dad to cancer. The more I share this story, I think maybe it will get easier this time. Every time I write it down or talk about it, surely it won’t be that strange or hard to say. Read more>>

Namia G. Vance

I began my career in a South Bronx community center in the heart of the Andrew Jackson housing development, where I grew up and spent my formative years. Our community center was populated by youngsters from impoverished, under-educated homes and employment opportunities were few. Read more>>

 Jen Fiore

My mission is to help others embrace a gluten-free lifestyle, get comfortable and enjoy their gluten-free creations, and help businesses service the gluten-free community. Read more>>

Keturah Holmes

We proud our self on the idea that we made a quality product from all natural Simple ingredients. Read more>>

Victoria Warfel

After being diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic Syncope at age 19, I reached out to service dog organizations and was told they could not help me. I ended up training my own dog as my service dog while in my mid-20s. People would come up to me when I had her out in public, asking me questions about their dog. When people started sending other people to me, my dog training career was started. Read more>>

Elisa Robin

I am a mom of 4, oldest of 4 siblings, raised by a single mom from West Baltimore. In my child life, I’ve witnessed my mom controlling her own narrative with working, being supportive in our schools, attending events and still having a “life”. Read more>>

Kenneth P. Garnier

The year was 1960, the place was Los Angeles, California; that’s when and where I was born. While growing up in a home where there was a healthy balance between academic achievement and artistic expression, I was encouraged to apply myself in school as well as expand creatively. Read more>>