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.

Sofia Arroyo

I grew up in Western Massachusetts, and come from a large Latino family. Everyone has significant others and kids; a family so big you know people are piled out the door when we celebrate holidays together. Growing up, my family was that family that would always find the perfect excuse to throw a party! And these family celebrations were some of my best memories. My childhood was spent looking forward to the next life mile-stone and sharing it with the ones I loved most. Read more>>

Greg Moylan

From a young age I grew up around construction and multifamily real estate income properties. For a time I was partnered on several income properties, I’ve bought, fixed and rented several of my own duplexes and more. I have also been a part of larger apartment complexes. I was not in control of these assets and they were stripped away from me unexpectedly. I then set out to reinvent myself, the one thing I knew I needed to create was cash flow, enough cash flow to create future opportunities. Read more>>

Jessica Ramirez

We were archaeologists traveling to different sites to save its historical significance. We enjoy the history i of chocolate and that is what mainly intrigued us to it, and now we are we are chocolate makers that travel to source for great beans to create an amazing chocolate while preserving the integrity of cacao and its harvesters. Read more>>

Cat Chiappa

It only takes one story to change the world. Imagine what yours could do. Children are natural born storytellers filled with wonder, boldly following their curiosity without fear of failure or judgement. But, the journey to adulthood is filled with twists and turns, and it can be easy to lose sight of the stories that we once held so dear. Read more>>

Tracy Dawson

The Lucky One Agency was founded with the simple goal of uplifting and empowering fellow entrepreneurs.  The journey of the Lucky One Agency Legacy draws wisdom from numerous individuals from unique walks of life and various calibers of businesses.  Lucky One has used that knowledge to achieve success in consulting, project management, networking and promoting others. Read more>>

Pamela Coe

I’d worked as a creative director in the corporate marketing space for about fifteen years. I had the chance to work with huge companies on some amazing campaigns, but I was woefully burnt out. I think I was clocking 80-hour weeks or something in that ballpark. My Mom had just passed away a few months prior, so it was a stressful period. In late July 2019, I started having these intense headaches that really rocked me. Read more>>

Justine Grace Garcia

My mission is simple: to document and preserve special memories that last generations. Why is this important to me? Because my parents lived twenty-five years of their marriage without a single wedding photo. And because life is too short to let memories fade away with time. My parents eloped twenty six years ago and not a single photo was captured to document the special moment! Growing up, I would hear their amazing story of how they met and how they eloped. Read more>>

Omega Stallworth

My mission is to absolve the negative stigmas of the gym and fitness. I want people to know that exercise can be fun, rewarding, and something you look forward to each day with the right mindset and proper coaching. I provide people with the mentality and physical tools they need to be successfully in their fitness journey and life. Read more>>

Damien Davis

(The Rise )A King is being crown out of all the madness you will miss what good God is doing. God have chosen me to be the shepherd of his people Israel/ King Damien. My duties as a King and High Priest/ Kings are called to fight the battles of the people’s. / Priest is a mediator between God and man. Read more>>

Elizabeth Stampfli

When it comes to a wedding photographer you may think it’s about taking pretty photos, which is not wrong but that’s not the only thing. It is about creating and curating an experience that is specific to your couple and their needs. My goal is to make all of my couples feel valued and loved and to provide them with a positive experience that they never forget, and of course, deliver photos that capture memories that last a lifetime. Read more>>

Dan Millice

My mission statement is “Serve the Song”. As a mastering engineer, I deliver the song in its final form. Mastering is the final phase of the music production process, prior to public release. I focus on serving the song by doing what I believe is best for the composition and the production. My clients can then serve their finished song to their fans. Read more>>

Paola Hernandez

The story behind my mission is that I went from depressed to thriving, and I help other women do the same. When I was depressed in my mid 20s, I spent two years struggling to get myself out of it. I was able to overcome depression by changing my diet, being consistent with movement, taking vitamins and listening to positive music. I also developed self awareness, overcame my limiting beliefs, set boundaries, built consistent healthy habits, and discovered my authentic self. Read more>>

Emily Franklin Krystle Pacay

As best friends, we always knew we wanted to do something together since college. We just had no idea we would end up creating Phatty Girl Spreads. Read more>>

Shanaz Ikonne

My mission is personal and grounded in service to others. My role as a therapist is providing individuals a safe, inclusive space to heal. My own experiences as a mother shaped my clinical speciality in women’s mental health and maternal wellness. My private practice launched full time in August 2022 and is focused on reducing stigma in the community by breaking barriers around going to therapy, finding quality mental health, providing resources, access to care and ending generational trauma. Read more>>

Latoya Brown

THE STORY BEHING MY MISSION IS I GOT TIRED OF WORKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE. I WANTED TO CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR MY FAMILY. I ALSO WANTED TO HELP OTHERS AND CREATE A LANE SO THEY CAN HELP OTHERS. MY GOALS ARE STILL BECOMING MY REALITY AND IM STILL NOT DONE. Read more>>

Kerry Scott

The story behind my mission is bringing the world’s treasures of fabrics to your wardrobe. Through my husband job, I’ve had the opportunity to live through out Asia and Africa. With this experience, I’ve immersed in both cultures. With my profession as a Make up artist I’ve used my knowledge of make up to see and use colors, textures and translated that into marrying unconventional fabrics. Kapemono (cape + kimono) is the love story of fabrics. These fabrics are unique acquiring their vibrant and bold prints from Africa and Asia. Read more>>

Kesha Brown

I’ve been thinking a lot about my mission and value proposition and what sets me and my team apart. I went into real estate because unlike most sales jobs, there is a service component to it. Somedays I feel like a financial advisor, others an interior designer, an inspector, a therapist, or a friend. We wear a lot of different hats as agents, but my favorite is being able to protect my clients and act in their best interest. Helping someone find 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 and navigate an exciting and also stressful part of their life is what it all boils down to. Read more>>

Marly Hanson

Growing up both of my parents owned or worked at small businesses so I have always had a special place in my heart for the success of a small business. Especially as I got older and realized how much the success of those businesses was directly related to the income my parents brought home! Supporting small businesses goes way beyond just the service or product you receive as a buyer but directly relates to the kind of life the owners can provide for themselves and their families. Read more>>

Helena Montesino

My husband and I, funded the company, making us perfect for the job, being both actors and comedians, The idea is to provide not only entertainment but to make the special event a memorable one, each event is a special for us, because it means something to a specific person, we strive to bring happiness, laughter, to that special someone. Read more>>

Erica Priscilla Sandoval, LCSW

My mission is to empower 1,000,000 matriarchs to elevate their family system narratives. I provide tools, resources and knowledge to empower the next generation of narratives. Read more>>

Nisa Brooks

Ever since I was a little girl I loved to make art but in the beginning, I never imagined myself being a photographer or videographer. As I got older I became aware of the huge lack in black creatives in my community. It was incredibly disheartening but I knew it was necessary to make a change and create a space that would allow for our self-expression. A lot of family photographs or commercial images I saw growing up didn’t capture people of color properly. Read more>>

stelly tchana

Our purpose is to generalize a new form of modernized African fashion through unique creations. Imagined by ambitious women and then made by small local hands from high-end fabrics, each collection is the combination of elegant, trendy and bold pieces. Read more>>

Veronica Fiallos

It was a crazy decision for me to become a makeup artist but my love for it has gotten me here. When I started as a makeup artist I focused my career on Bridal hair and makeup styling. I am a forever romantic and love the wedding space so much. I was pretty good at both hair and makeup so from the beginning immersed myself in both. At the time this was my weekend fun job and I worked a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley as my full time gig. Read more>>

Dr. Calvina Ellerbe

Dr. Calvina Ellerbe is an award-winning college Professor and the founder of Ellerbe Essentials. She has earned two Bachelor’s Degrees in Sociology and Psychology, her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Sociology and a Ph.D. minor in Counseling Psychology. While studying family academically, she recognized an overwhelming lack of support for families that she felt driven to fill. The desire to fill this need was the catalyst for Ellerbe Essentials. Read more>>

Tameria Leatrice

According to The Century Foundation, In 2020, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, with 861 known deaths due to maternal causes. Not to mention the Cesarean rates sitting at 31.8%, with African American women and babies leading with the highest percentage of 35.8%. Not considering the affects of mental health complications surrounding PMADs, which affects 1 of 5 birthing people during and after pregnancy. These statistic alone proves that there has been a major fall in the Maternal Healthcare system. There’s a saying, ” You dont realize how something affects you, until it does”. Read more>>

Jay Stone

My story ties in with my legacy and what I believe is my life’s purpose: an artist who helped changed the landscape of the Art world for Black Artists and usher in a New Black Arts movement. As someone with a platform I feel as though its my duty to serve and create opportunities for those who look like me, who may not have the support or push they need to continue to believe in themselves. Even if I don’t accomplish every goal I set forth I believe I will have planted the seed for the next young black boy or girl who wants to become an artist who changes the perception of black art and artists especially in Western culture. Read more>>

Jacqueline Carrington

People of Color is a non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free nail polish brand made to complement the various shades of brown skin as the first thought, not an afterthought. The brand was launched in May 2019, after I was inspired by my daughter’s interest in nail polish. It rekindled my interest as well, which made me think back to her childhood, where I skipped wearing nail polish due to playing basketball and never seeing the colors shown on brown hands (particularly in marketing and advertising). Read more>>

Enjoli Lauderdale

This mission started from a place of self-discovery. I had to go on a long journey with myself in order to get to where I am today. I was broken down by a lot of personal hardships and I desperately needed that validation that I was still capable of being a strong, successful woman who could achieve big things. I needed to prove it to myself. And once I did, I thought I could do the same for other women who wanted to think big about their business dreams. I wanted to create a space where other women could get the love, acceptance and sisterhood that I needed those years ago. Now we are continuing that mission with our podcasts, events and soon, a non-profit organization. Read more>>

Chanelle Barnes

Real estate is as vast as it is small and throughout my career I’ve worked with clients from the largest of corporations, first time home buyers to first time renters. Yet I’ve witnessed a repetitive miss; understanding how to simply transact and live within it real estate. The stories we hear of being house poor, buyer’s remorse, terrible landlords, etc, share a commonality —the lack of understanding how to conduct and construct within real estate. Read more>>

Hiywet Girma

YESAET is a story about creating positive impact on people and the planet whilst offering style rooted in a sustainable and ethical means of production. It is a story about connections..about giving back, about looking into your roots to go forward with prosperity, ..about celebrating and empowering artisans, makers who are not necessarily seen but whose work connects us all, at a time when connecting with each other is more important than ever. Read more>>

Sophie Cohen

As someone who started their Real Estate Career right out of college working in the title business and then in national level Real Estate brokerages, I was always bothered by the idea of quotas. In the process of trying to meet numbers by the end of the month or year, the quality of customer service and personal connection to the client diminished. I am a strong believer in relationships. We all have a story, and it’s important to me that at Valley Realty, we take the time to hear our clients’ stories so that we help them achieve their goals. Read more>>

Jennifer Cook

The story behind my mission of consistently building class, confidence and courage comes distinctly from my personal journey of becoming a mother and entrepreneur. Read more>>

Alexandrea Dendy

Sunflower Bookkeeping was founded after the fall of my first step into entrepreneurship. I started an online fashion boutique during the peak of COVID and quickly realized how the handling of finances could be a huge stressor on small business owners. From setting up the accounting software to learning tax requirements, I spent a lot of time worrying if my books were in order instead of focusing on how I could provide the best online experience for my customer base. This is a struggle new business owners know all too well. Read more>>

Alexandrea LaFata

I see the nightmare of the animal agriculture industry up close because I sing lullabies & give water to animals at slaughterhouses. I have been to live markets, slaughterhouses, auctions & rodeos. VEGAN MUSE & Garden of Venus were both created with the mission to create divine plant-based food while raising funds for non-profits that advocate for animals. My businesses are the product of merging my hospitality career with my activism. Read more>>

Natima Sheree

Healing and helping others heal has become a relentless mission of mine. What’s unique about my mission, however, is the method and conduit I have leveraged to accomplish this. Read more>>

Madison Green

This business is focused on Fashion and Lifestyle Photography. Madison Jewel Photography seeks beauty and always finds it. It’s a business based on bringing visions to life, making individuals feel beautiful (emphasis on this), capturing culture, and fashion evolution. Madison Jewel Photography sprouted in 2017 and has been growing since. The intention behind Madison Jewel Photography is to work with clients to help bring their visions to fruition. Read more>>

Atlese Robinson

I began Ambiance Theatre in November of 2018 because I desired a space for Black theatre artists, writers especially, to have their work reach a Black audience. It wasn’t to say that non-Black people could not come to see an Ambiance production, but simply, that Black audiences are underrepresented in Minnesota. I was tired of performing or seeing a brilliant performance be used to “you’re so articulate” or some other micro-aggressive comment that ignored the depth and quality of the work presented. Read more>>

Catherine Landis

I am Catherine Landis, the founder of Oat What Fun. I have a M.S. degree in Education, taught middle school reading, and was a preschool educator and director. I am a mom of three children and through all of my personal experiences, I have become a natural living expert who is passionate about helping families create healthier homes. Read more>>

Jasmine Phinex

My name is Jasmine Phinex, an educator, wife, mother, and entrepreneur. I co-founded Serenity Nail Polish along with my husband James Phinex the summer of 2020. As we all faced the global pandemic of 2020, I was able to spend more time with my daughter, Serenity. I began to take notice of my three-year-old’s love for getting her nails painted. During a time of uncertainty and fear, I was confident that the time spent with my daughter as we painted each other’s nails were all priceless moments. Read more>>

Greta Sieglock

After a decade of working on the marketing and communications side of specialty food and restaurants, I made the career switch from one way of building community to another. I traded in my tastings for tours, prix fixe menus for property contracts, and food for real estate. Read more>>

Raeshetta Thompson

As a young girl I use to play hairdresser with my baby dolls. I eventually went to a career tech high school where they offered cosmetology, I honestly was terrible at hairstyling my first year of school. I went on through 3 years of cosmetology and a lot of messed up hairstyles but I finally graduated with a cosmetology license and that’s how it all started. I then set off for my career of hairstyling. Read more>>

Deron Hollis

Growing up in the small town of Monroe, Louisiana we weren’t provided knowledge on Entrepreneurship, Credit, or How to create Cashflow from Investments. So, I saw many struggle and work tirelessly to survive day to day including some members of my family. After seeing that I decided I wanted better for me, my family, & the people around me and this is where my company “Authentic Wealth Keys” was born. Read more>>

Sharon Arrindell

In 1999 life shifted for me when hurricane Floyd hit Rockland County, New York, where I lived with my family. I literally swam out of the home through muddy water with my two children to safety. However, the house and practically everything we owned was destroyed. Immediately after that event a divorce left me as a single mother with two children to raise. After cringing on the floor in the fetal position for what seemed like a lifetime, while living in two rooms with my children, a friend reminded me that this would not kill me. Read more>>

Nicole DiTommaso

Our vision is to create a lifestyle brand that empowers people to think boldly and take action boldly towards their goals. We’re more than a condiment, we’re living proof that confidence will lead you to extraordinary places. To us, each flavor represents a chance we took on ourselves.
So, whatever it is you’ve been dreaming of, we’re betting on you to take the first step. Read more>>