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.

Kelly-Jayne Portillo

The fight that I always seem to be fighting in one way or another is proving to the world that the intangible and impractical things have just as much place and value as the tangible and pragmatic. Yes, the world needs bridges and roads and science and logic. But what would life be without beauty, without art, without love, without emotions? Read more>>

Myles Jenkins

We all come from different backgrounds and passion can be a difficult journey. For me, fashion was the outlet that allowed me to express myself and find my voice. I turned to fashion because it allowed me to communicate who I am and what I stand for without having to say anything. Fashion gave me the confidence to be myself even when others tried to put me down. It was my way of standing out and making a statement. Read more>>

Tara Coyote

I am a Equine Facilitated Learning Instructor, which means I work with humans in a healing capacity with horses. I also have written two books that revolve around the healing power of horses. One of my books is my own personal memoir, ‘Grace, Grit & Gratitude: A Cancer Thriver’s Journey from Hospice to Full Recovery with the Healing Power of Horses’ sharing how my horses have helped me heal from stage 4 cancer. Read more>>

Connor Parkhurst

Hoop House Creative is the result of Connor’s passion for film and the impact it has had on him. The moment he realized the power of film and the story it brings, it changed him forever. He wanted to create and he wanted to inspire. He owes his creative spark to his cousin and best friend, Michael. He took his own life in 2014 and Connor dedicated his company, Hoop House Creative, in honor of him. Read more>>

Keivan Cross

At the heart of our mission is a desire to transport peoples taste buds to the vibrant and soulful world of Cajun cuisine. We are passionate about sharing the unique flavors and rich cultural heritage of our community with the world. For us, it’s not just about food – it’s about preserving a way of life and honoring traditions that have been passed down for generations. Read more>>

Bill Briggs

Close to twenty years ago, my ol’ cowboy grandfather came to me one day with a crisis. He was in his mid eighties at the time and his hand tooled leather belt was worn to the point that it was about to break in half. He had worn this belt every day for at least twenty years. He was really upset because, as he explained to me, he had been searching for over a year, to no avail, for someone to build him a new hand tooled belt. In all my life growing up around this man, I had never seen him without a leather belt on; Read more>>

Lisa Pachence

I grew up in a very privileged family. I was/am deeply loved by my parents, I was afforded a wonderful education, and I’ve had so many opportunities to travel, grow, and create career options that combined income and impact. And yet, even with this loving family, the education and opportunity, I suffered from high-functioning depression and anxiety most of my young adult life. In looking back, I can now recognize that this struggle was caused by a gaping chasm in our society of teaching emotional intelligence, encouraging authentic connection, and healing generational traumas. Read more>>

Vernica Williams, MSW

ReClaiming Your Voice began two years ago. As a believer of Jesus Christ, I heard God’s voice saying to me, ”Come out of your comfort zone.” Immediately, childhood insecurities flooded my mind so I asked, “How do I do that?” He said,” Get on camera.” “Come out of your comfort zone”, spoke directly to the childhood insecurity about my voice, the tone of my voice and my “accent.” Hearing “get on camera” confused and scared me. So, what I am supposed to do, show the world my insecurities, ugh! Lol. Read more>>

Brian Sicurella

Since I was unhoused I used photography to distract my self from my situation and to capture moments of beauty and interest in my surroundings. It gave me a sense of purpose and allowed me to express myself creatively. Photography also provided a way for me to document my experiences and memories during that difficult time. By focusing on the moments I captured through my lens, I was able to find some peace and clarity amidst the chaos of homelessness. Read more>>

Edwige Gilbert

My mission started when I was a child, although I didn’t know it at the time. At age 3, I was suddenly and shockingly left in the care of a person who I perceived to be a stranger…I learned later that she was a nanny…and placed under her protection on a cruise ship bound for France while my parents decided to stay in America and seek their fortune. Understandably, I ended up suffering from deep abandonment issues and a fear of the unknown. Upon arriving in France, I was placed under the care of my grandmother. Read more>>

Omor Obanor

Our mission is not just a statement; it is the driving force behind everything we do. Our deep passion for supporting African designers and promoting contemporary African fashion fuels our endeavor beyond the business aspect. The story behind our mission is rooted in a profound appreciation for the richness, diversity, and creativity of African fashion. We have witnessed firsthand the incredible talent and craftsmanship displayed by African designers, and we believe they deserve recognition and global reach. Read more>>

Tolis Keivani

Like every new company we want to stabilize our brand on the market and after that will take over the boxing gear industry.Since the first day that we start building the brand we had a bigger vision which is bigger than boxing and every sport,We want to build gyms for kids that they are on the streets or that their families cant afford to pay the memberships,We believe that boxing can save a lot of peoples lifes and put the kids in the right direction. Read more>>

Antonio Ng

The mission of EMWRAPS is not just about providing high-quality vinyl wraps, but it’s also about making a difference in the industry and creating meaningful relationships with our clients. The satisfaction of our clients is what drives us, and seeing the joy on their faces when they see their vehicle transformed is what makes our work meaningful. Read more>>

Anastasia Mouzina

I am an immigrant from Greece. I have lived in the USA only for the last five years. My background is in mental health, NLP, and I have a Bachelor’s in Metaphysical Psychology and women’s empowerment along with interior design, which I have had since I was a kid. Living in a beautiful space as a kid could lift much of my young turbulences, and I felt a sense of belonging and sanctuary. Read more>>

Joshua Yakes

I was born with a rare genetic visual disability called Achromatopsia and in my mid twenties I began to experience random bouts of complete blindness. At the time, I was not healthy or fit, but was trying to change my lifestyle and body to match the mental image of myself that I yearned for. Unfortunately, no one would help me because of my physical appearance and visual disability. Even personal trainers at gyms I attended wouldn’t give me the time of day because of how I looked. Read more>>

Zyaire Rober

I’ve always had a passion for music, and the art of creating. I have been playing the drums since I was 2 years old, and as far back as I can remember it was one of the major percussion instruments, that ultimately kickstarted my musical journey. Over the years, I stared to perfect the drums, playing at churches, and practicing on my free time, along with messing around with the piano over the years, became all I was interested in doing. Read more>>

Susannah Cutler

I am fueled by a desire to uncover what feels true for me in order for other people to feel seen through my music as well. We are all guarded and protecting ourselves in one way or another, and art plays a vital role of facilitating connection beyond those boundaries of self-protection and self-denial. Read more>>

Susan Bennett

From early on, I have known that I have wanted to be of service to others, which led me to the field of mental health counseling. I’ve pursued two graduate degrees to get me to the place where I could create a safe space to help others heal. Feeling more and more drawn to the energetic and spiritual sides of life, I pursued my training in Reiki healing, Mediumship work at Arthur Findlay College, and Gabrielle Bernsteins’ Spirit Junkie Masterclasses. Read more>>

Guzel Khos

I have a very unique and meaningful approach to photography! As a therapeutic photographer, I have the ability to use my skills to help people rediscover their self-worth and beauty. My mission is to help those who are struggling with depression and those who may have forgotten how special they are. Read more>>

Marissa Hope

The mission of The Kosmetics Kafé is to honor the beauty of Black Women and also, to create a brand that caters to the myriad of skin complexions that Black Women come in. Yes, anyone -no matter their identity- is more than welcome to wear The Kosmetics Kafé and will look beautiful while doing so, but my goal is to maintain a brand of cosmetics that is centered on the diversity of Black Women. Read more>>

Mireille Liong

As most Black girls in Suriname where I grew up, I started to relax (chemically straighten) my hair when I was in my teens. The process was so normal that no hair on my head even considered that it could be damaging to my hair or scalp. The burning was just part of the process. Then in my early 20’s as an IT student in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, my hair started to break severely. I had no clue why. Read more>>

JoLynn Henke

Our purpose is to create fewer products that do more. Skincare brands have on average 20-50 different formulas. Are all of these SKUs really necessary to achieve optimal skin health? No, and as a result, 70% of beauty consumers feel overwhelmed by too many beauty product choices. I felt this firsthand when helping my mother with her self-care rituals after she was diagnosed with ALS. My now business partner experienced the same paint point working as a model when he was looking for an effective and simple head-to-toe skincare regimen. Read more>>

Adela Lampl

Our mission is to make people in Miami Beach and beyond aware of the benefits of the Lagree Fitness Method. We hear it every day; knee pain, lower back pain, recovering from injuries. No matter if young or older a big part of our clients come to our studio to improve their current state, to get stronger, healtier or to get back to their “normal” life. Miami is a fitness city, it´s residents are very fit, love to do sport and work on their fitness level. If you are use to be active and all of the sudden your movements are limited due to an injury, it can have not only a physichal but also mental impact. Read more>>

Diane Haar

I originally wanted to become an attorney, because in my heart, even as a small child, I wanted justice for people like my disabled sister. Others did not always know I was watching when I saw them bully her or take advantage of her, and she could not defend herself. There was no money for me for school, and I had no safety net, so to get through school, I worked in law firms, kept my grades up to maintain my academic scholarships, and even worked at the security desk for my law school to make ends meet. It was really tight, and I ended up with over $140,000 in student loans, but I made it. Read more>>

John Noel

As a Hip-Hop artist, there are a lot of preconceived notions regarding what I represent and what I do. My goal unlike the mainstream version of my occupation is to truly inspire anyone looking for inspiration to do what they love. I aim to encourage others to create opportunities for themselves and always continue seeking education. The idea of educating yourself and applying what you’ve learned to reach new levels is the Politics as Usual Brand in a nutshell. Read more>>

Derek Lonzo Starr” Allen”

Konkret Comics is a 2x Glyph Award Winning Publishing Company launched in 2019 by creator and writer Derek ‘Lonzo Starr’ Allen. Konkret Comics is a collective of artists, creators, and writers with a passion to create stories through a diverse lens that appeals to all audiences of all ages. There is a lack of diversity in the comic book industry and Konkret Comics plans to fill that void. We strive to break boundaries and stereotypes, giving a voice to creators from diverse backgrounds and telling our own stories. Read more>>

Dr. Shadaria Allison

Married2theMission Mission Statement: Lady advocates united as one; in the promotion of the reconstruction of faith-based organizations, in order to serve REAL communal needs. Married2theMission was founded in 2014 and established in my unfurnished living room in the deep south in 2015. Its shapeless form was just a safe place for women to meet, be encouraged, and connect with God, monthly. Read more>>

Elise Hassall

Growing up with an alcoholic and abusive father had a profound impact on my life. It left me with low self-esteem and a constant need to find the beauty in every situation. However, my love for photography provided an escape from the harsh reality of my childhood and helped me see the world in a new light. Read more>>

Susan Scandlon

I would have to say that the story behind my mission of writing and publishing a children’s book about youth wrestling, has a few parts. To begin, there are not enough books about youth wrestling that encompass the sport as a whole. I wanted my book to be exciting, detailed, and educational. I wanted my book to get the reader’s attention, and give them a desire to either further their wrestling experience, or spark an interest in wrestling. Read more>>

Kymberlee Helmuth

Well let’s just say I didn’t want to be like everyone else… ​ I knew at a very early age I was going to STAND OUT. I knew that I wanted to be a leader and really motivate other people. From my first experience as a 7th grade cheerleader to trying out for the Chicago Bulls LuvABulls – I was a driven competitor and loved the spotlight. Read more>>

Charles J. Martin

Literati Press Comics & Novels formed to give a platform for unique storytellers telling innovative stories in one of the most overlooked markets in the country. I grew up in Oklahoma and always thought I would have to leave to have any success as a writer, yet fate intervened. I had children right after college and family ties held me inside the state long enough for me to finally realize the potential of my home state. Read more>>

Marie-Marcelle Millien

I’ve always been very empathetic and artsy. I started writing poetry when I was 8 or 9 and I kept a journal from then until now. Writing was my way to process a lot of my feelings and how I exercised my imagination. Toward the end of my twenties I hit an emotional wall where I felt lost and I could see how this was impacting my role as a mother. I then decided to shift my physical health, which led me to want to also address my mental and spiritual health. This started a 12 year journey of discovering and healing myself, which also brought me to a passion to help people with their own journey. Read more>>

Dallas Pryor

In the beginning, I really had no idea that I wanted, or had the option to sing country music for a living. My thinking was that the people at the top of the business were so far away, they didn’t even seem real. And from my experiences, I didn’t see anything in the middle. Like where I feel I am now. I’m not entirely sure if we even have a mission, but from the beginning to present went something like this. Read more>>

CARL J. BANKS JR.

My mission is ending racism! The reason why it is a meaningful mission is because, there is too much hatred in our society as it selates to race! Since i have been discriminated against for many years for being black, i have a passion for ending racism! Read more>>