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.
Judy Sabah, MCC
At the age of 6, my world underwent a drastic change as my parents’ marriage came to an end. It was February when my mother and I left Colorado and began a new chapter by moving to Kansas to live with my maternal grandparents. I enjoyed spending time with my grandparents and cultivating new relationships with them. I distinctly recall that night; the date was June 3rd, a moment forever etched in my memory, when I was awakened by noises coming from downstairs. I was curious about the noise and went down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I asked the person, what happened that created all the noise. The response I received was curt, instructing me to return to bed with this explanation, “You don’t need to know.” Little did I know the impact of those words, the gravity of the situation became apparent soon after – my Grandmother had passed away. Read more>>
Ryan Wilson
I have a disability, and grew up in the middle of cornfields in central Illinois. I was and still am a big Shaquille O’Neal fan. I watched as many basketball games with Shaq as possible, and I followed him from one team to the next. As I watched his games, I saw many commercials with kids who looked like me — in a wheelchair, of a shorter stature — in hospitals. These kids never looked happy. They were always wrapped in bandages like a mummy, surrounded by friends and family, and stuck in beds. While these commercials can be helpful, they did not fuel my inner desire to achieve big things. Read more>>
Antoine Ward
Growing up black and queer in Baltimore, MD, my struggles were unique, to say the least, not to mention my mom passed away when I was nineteen, forcing me to step in and step up to help provide for and raise my siblings (I am 1 of 4 and the oldest.) Not knowing then that all of this was given specifically to me to use. I grew up restricted and limited because the map to survival was not yet illustrated for me to do so. The generation that had come before me had a late start and wasn’t able to provide in the ways a young black future creative director needed. But there was something in me that couldn’t allow that to stop me, so I stepped out on my own. Read more>>
Scott Stevens
Our Mission: “The Hero Workshop is here to provide youth with a safe, fun place to gather together to play tabletop role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. We believe that there are many benefits to playing tabletop games, and are excited to introduce new heroes to the hobby as well as provide high quality narrative experiences for newcomers and veteran players alike. The Hero Workshop is dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaged community around our shared hobby. Read more>>
Ali Gilbertson
The mission of my secondhand shop “Happy Hours” is to create a welcoming & easy-going environment where customers can find (or just enjoy perusing) special treasures that have otherwise been outgrown, discarded or forgotten. Whether it’s clothing, art, or a weird little knick-knack that makes you laugh, I believe that STUFF can play such an important part in our lives and our memories, made even better if this stuff has history and a story! There’s so much out there. Happy Hours is filled with used things that caught my eye or spoke to me one way or another. I collect my wares by driving cross country— stopping at random little thrift shops coast to coast, going HAM at an estate sale, helping someone downsize before a move or after losing a loved one, or digging through trunks of my dad’s clothes from the 70s/80s in the folks’ attic. Read more>>
Rikki Brockett
Our mission stems from a need. A need to be heard, to be understood and listened to by others. To hold space for a person in their time of need and listen to their concerns is a privilege, one that we hold in the highest regard. Creating a holistic atmosphere within the beauty industry means treating people not just as a client, but as an individual and creating a custom experience for the mind, body & soul. Read more>>
Natalia Merienne
My business is Avocado Queen, and we are produce importers. We bring fruits and vegetables into the U.S. Our main costumers are super markets that buys wholesale produce from us. I am a latina woman owner of a produce business and a full-time mom. I am founder and sales director of my own business. I wanted to be in a business that promotes eating healthy, I previously owned a Juice Bar in downtown San Diego, my leap into the produce business was just that: a leap. Read more>>
Koya Murphy
Growing up with such a unique name as Shakoya, was challenging to say the least. With people constantly mispronouncing, misspelling my name, etc. Not to mention, my name could almost NEVER be found on the cute lunchboxes or pencil sets found in stores. When I got older, I made it my mission to focus on individuals who also shared this common experience with their name. Specializing in custom jewelry is amazing because I get to make personalized items with unique names just like mine. It brings me great joy to see the smiles on my customers’ faces when they see their name on jewelry, especially if it is their first time seeing such a thing. Read more>>
Brittany Fraanse (Hicks)
From my early college days, I was drawn to love stories, spending countless hours watching weddings and proposals on YouTube in my apartment, analyzing the videos, and being mesmerized by the storytelling aspect. My passion for storytelling led me to a new realm of creativity: Wedding and Event Content Creation. My journey took flight from the inspiration garnered during my days as a successful YouTuber and Influencer. My my vibrant channel, I connected with a diverse audience, learning to engage with individuals on a personal level and understanding what it truly takes to capture hearts with a visual tale. Read more>>
Dayonna Embry
At Refined & Aligned our mission is to push women towards purpose while providing luxury fashion. We are here to help young women refine their wardrobe and align their lives. As I’m transitioning into adulthood, I used to find myself shrinking who I am and how I express myself in order to appeal to others. Which is why I created Refined & Aligned, so young women and creatives could have a resource that inspires them to show up for the woman of their dreams. Being an R&A girl is not about perfection or “arriving” at some finish line that deems that you’ve made it. It is about being brave enough to love & express yourself at and in every personal evolution. Read more>>
Roger Hernandez
In 2019 I found myself in a position that I never thought I would be in. I had just recently been let go from a commercial real estate firm that I helped get off the ground. I helped the company grow from in 2014 from $1.4 million in revenue to $12 million in 2018 which little did I know would be my final year at that firm. Here I was trying to figure out what to do with myself. Should I start my own firm or go work for someone like I had in the past. Through the encouragement of my wife and daughter I decided to start my own firm in October of 2019. Read more>>
Denise Cormier Mahoney
As a visual artist, I consider my viewers when planning the visual impact of my work. It’s important to keep the viewer’s experience in mind when sharing my pictorial messages. This helps the observer connect and resonate from the emotional experience of the artwork. Read more>>
Samantha Powers
My mission behind SaveMeSomeHoney is to encourage others to love and accept themselves for who they are. When I was in ninth grade, I was diagnosed with panic disorder. That started a decade long struggle for me. I developed a very bad relationship with myself. I hated myself. I hated how I looked and I hated how anxious I was. I felt like there was something wrong with me. After years and years of working on myself I realize how important it is to be in your own corner. I realize how important it is to give yourself grace and space to grow. I realize how important loving yourself is. I had a dark cloud over me for so long and now I only want to spread light. Read more>>
Lauren Stone
My mission through my writing has always been to normalize the stigma around mental illness and to remind others who suffer that they’re not alone in the way they feel. I choose to openly share the realities of what it’s like to live with eating disorders, bipolar, and depression, but also provide a message of hope. I want others who come across my work to know that we’re all doing the best we can with what we have. That we can find a light through the darkened storm of life. Read more>>
Joline Mann
My personal life is inspired by my faith and a deep desire to lift up others who need help around me. Thus, I knew that if I wanted to pursue entrepreneurship and dedicate my entire life to a business then that business would have to possess a deeper purpose than simply profit. My original business idea was to create a brand of women’s jewelry and accessories that were sustainable, fair trade and supported communities facing extreme poverty in Ecuador and India, where my mother and father are from, respectively. Read more>>
Rob Wellz
Growing up, my best friend became my brother. And me and my brother had plenty of talent as well as a strong work ethic, good people skills, and a story to tell. With a passion for hip hop which is pretty much too distinct for words, we worked hard and got some money together to get our first microphone to start recording our raps after school. We were students to the game, and we were more than willing to not only learn about the lavish part of being rappers, but also the history and the business behind it. Once we started really devoting our time and energy fully into every aspect, along with our other brother, we started to really embody our thoughts, feelings, and rhymes into reality. And it became our whole lives. Read more>>
Krystal Phillipson
I have been an interior designer since 2007. I am passionate about helping people and creating a beautiful space for them. Over the years I have worked at different interior design jobs. This has taught me that I really am designing for the love of my passion. I want to work with any clients budget and give them the dream look they have always wanted. I can help my clients from new home construction to a small project. Every client is so different and I feel why not learn about them & let the design show who they are in the home. Read more>>
Jim Hinckley
The foundation of Jim Hinckley’s America has two primary components. Our tongue in cheek slogan is “Sharing America’s Story and Inspiring Road Trips By Telling People Where To Go.” My career as a writer kicked off in 1990 with the publication of an article entitled Myloe’s Marvelous Mechanical Menagerie. As it was published in Special Interest Autos the focus was on a wrecking yard in southern Arizona near the Mexican border that had been closed to the public since the 1960s. But it was Myloe’s fascinating story that captured peoples attention. Read more>>
Morgan Emmert
I’ve always loved creating and coming up with new ideas, pushing the limits to what is possible in the realm of design. This partnered with my appreciation and love for this country is how Liberty & Leather came about. With leather being so versatile and durable it was the clear choice of material to use. Giving my clients the “freedom to create” has become my biggest passion in life, bringing me so much joy to be able to turn dreams into realities in terms of leather bags and accessories. Seeing a void in the leather goods industry for fully custom designs I decided to use my pattern making skills and creative mind to provide services to those who are as excited about getting exactly what they want out of a handbag or accessory! Read more>>
Talia Boone
As the CEO and Founder of Postal Petals, my mission is for more people to understand how flower arranging can be a form of stress-relief, meditation and mindfulness practice. I was first introduced to arranging flowers several years ago. It began with me wanting fresh flowers in the house and being curious about what kind of arrangements I could create on my own. Almost immediately, I fell in love with it. It was so calming and relaxing that I started to look forward to the hour or two that I would get to arrange flowers and just decompress and quiet my mind. It became my go to form of self-care and a way to relieve stress. Read more>>
Hannah Manocchio
Snakes + Acey’s is a small female owned and operated screen printing shop in historic Little Italy of Cleveland, Ohio. We specialize in artwork, apparel, and merchandise that is drawn, designed, and printed by hand – in house. We wanted to make sure that anything we created hit a few core values: gender neutral, size inclusive, unique design, and a nod to issues that face our generation. Any piece of clothing we create, we make sure we offer sizes S-3X with an option for custom sizing available at no extra cost. There are no “mens and womens” styles or designs and we make sure that no matter what people look like, identify as, or feel comfortable in – we have something for everyone. Read more>>
Stacey Morin
In 2007, I was diagnosed with 2 auto-immune diseases that impacted my entire being and the way I was living. I went from a very active (high school athlete) to a body that was in constant pain and extreme exhaustion. This practice of yoga introduced a way to move my body a bit more gently, and truly met my body where it was at. But most importantly, it was able to lead me into trusting my body (and forgiving) where I had given up on it through this diagnosis. My mission in sharing this practice is to empower my students to lean in, to listen to what the wisdom of the body is telling them and to even become amazed and fall in love with all the power that the body innately holds. Read more>>
Tandrya Davis and Tiffany White
Greetings! Tenderheadz is a children salon located in college park , Ga. Our mission: To provide and promote stylish yet healthy hair care for children between the ages of 2-17. We originally started our business, so that we could provide a safe and kid friendly environment for children to receive hair services. Most stylist shy away from serving children as clients! We wanted to create a space just for them. Read more>>
Jill Bishop
I’ve always been fascinated by language: how people learn languages, how/when/why certain languages are passed down throughout the generations, what people do with and through language. Language learning, language teaching, and international travel were a focus of mine from the time I was a teenager, and my academic and professional focus always centered creating connections. In 2005 I launched a company with that exclusive focus: creating connections across language. Read more>>
Casie Fischer
Thistle Wynd Styling is a new arm of my business and was created to empower people to embrace their bodies where they are and to encourage growth, fun, and self-love through styling and fashion. I started my career in high-fashion, which when I was young was exciting. As I got older I yearned for more. I yearned for more access to stylish pieces at affordable prices, different types of bodies being celebrated, and clothing being made for them. Read more>>
Dale Baldwin
Baldwin’s Dream creates and sells hand-made craft items to the public. We believe in the quality of our products and guarantee the reliability and durability of our craft items. We also sell some products from a few vendors like Diamond Dotz, a creator of good quality diamond art kits and the Bower Studio who produces gift cards embedded with seeds that grow wild flowers or herbs. We feel that our customers come first beyond all else and try to make everyone feel welcome and at ease in our shop. Read more>>
Melissa Parker
Scisters Salon is San Diego’s first Zero Waste Salon, offering beauty products in bulk and various other supplies for living a zero waste, intentional lifestyle. An immense amount of thought is given to how the salon is operated, the services offered, and the options of products that are used and retailed. The team takes pride in finding and customizing products with easily recognized ingredients, eliminating toxins, and integrating wellness in your beauty routine. Read more>>
Claudine Cooper
30 years ago, I was deep in a state of grief and loss. My therapist told me to start exercising for at least one hour everyday. She said it would make me feel better. Reluctant but desperate, I took her advice and started doing aerobics on the VCR. I’d put in a VHS tape, mute the volume & turn on my favorite west coast rap music. Within weeks I felt better. Mentally & Physically. It wasn’t long before my friends and family began to join me for walks and talks and workouts. Back then, I had no idea that my pain would someday become my purpose, but here I am. 30 years later creating space for walks and talks and workouts. Read more>>
Adam Townsend
Leaving the journalism field and jumping into digital marketing showed me that old specializations like advertising, merchandising, copywriting, design, art direction, UX and campaign strategist weren’t useful anymore — brands need passionate advocates that are polymaths when it comes to marketing expertise. Content managment and production technology, along with platforms that connect freelancers with clients worldwide have changed the equation for marketing professionals. Read more>>
Jordan Taub
The WHY behind my mission is a drive to build community and foster growing creativity within adults. We so often transition from the classroom and enter the work force, leaving such little time for creative pursuits. I’m a believer in that we never stop evolving and learning. It has always been my passion to facilitate a safe space for people to come and be their most authentic selves through artistic expression. Read more>>
Diana Utley
My passion is giving an alternative to chemical, preservative pacted products for hair, skin and nails. When I was a little girl my Mother Carrie, would come up with solutions for skin hair, and nail conditions. If I had dry skin, dull hair or was stinky she would go into the kitchen. Her products were pure and simple. My Mother Carrie made lotions, soothing balms, sugar scrubs and body wash. Read more>>
MP Rabie
Our mission is simple: to help South Africans explore and flourish in the exciting realms of Film, Animation, and Visual Effects (VFX). We’re achieving this by building connections between South Africa and Los Angeles. This has opened up incredible opportunities for many talented South Africans to contribute to major Hollywood productions that might have otherwise felt out of reach. This cause holds personal significance for me. When I was younger, I dreamt of a serious career in VFX. However, the discouragement I faced from teachers, friends, and even family dampened that enthusiasm. Read more>>
Halima Saadia
Halima Saadia is a professional makeup artist, community advocate, and influencer whose passion for art teaches, inspires, and provides confidence to women of all walks of life. Her mission: to show that regardless of one’s background, there is beauty inside you ready to bloom….it just needs a little light and love. Being a Black Muslimah, Halima have been able to address many issues that she faces that may be swept under the rug while providing a platform of love and light. A shining light and voice for the community, Halima is known for providing a Serene Experience in and out of the industry. Having to start her journey to makeup through self expression with art due to a challenged filled childhood; makeup gave Halima a voice. Read more>>
DJ Frai
The mission of DJ Frai Fitness has evolved over the years. The company is just shy of 2 years old, however this is not my first run at starting a coaching business. In the beginning, my mission was to share my fitness journey of losing 95 lbs, and I hoped to inspire others to begin their journey as well. At the time, I was more set on my own personal journey and did not have the head space to help others in the way I should be. Actually, in looking back now, there was so much more that I needed to learn. Read more>>
Dominique Walker
My personal mission revolves around empowering women of color to shape the lives they aspire to lead. Through facilitating access to affordable and effective mental health services, I am dedicated to aiding and supporting women of color in forging the lives they yearn for. My vision entails witnessing women experience happiness, wellness, confidence, and success as individuals, without the notion that they must endure the unthinkable to attain it. Read more>>
Sarah Fischer
My Why. I have been photographing humans and love for the past 3 years, I always say I have the best “job” in the world because it has hardly felt like work. Every person I’ve been able to meet on the other side of my camera has changed me for the better in one way or another, and I only hope I do that for them too. I prioritize experience over everything. At the end of the day most any photographer can deliver good photos, but I want to give more than that – I want to hold space for you to show up completely yourself with hearts wide open. Forget the poses & expectations of what photos “should” be, let’s create something beautiful together that authentically preserves this milestone of your life, no matter how big or small. Read more>>
Melissa Kreisa
In August of 2019 I opened an art gallery in Capitola with a business partner. When retail shops were shuttered in March of 2020 I worked hard to keep our gallery concept afloat and looked for vacant storefronts across town to showcase artwork in the windows. I reached out to 12 commercial realtors who posted availability on loopnet. I received a response from only one – Lee Slaff. Lee represented the 4,600 square foot vacant store on Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz. I offered to set up a temporary / pop up gallery in her space with a profit share model vs. rent. Read more>>
Laura Waldorf Reiss
I first conceptualized what Kindness Matters 365 (KM365) is today in 2008. I had three young daughters and noticed something was missing in their formal education. There was a need to guide kids in discovering how to best care for themselves, each other, and our world. I wanted my children to be in a community where kind people and kindness surrounded them. I went to our local elementary school and asked if I could start a free afterschool program where I shared with the children the importance of taking care of themselves, each other and giving back; contributing where they wanted to and where they could. Read more>>
Janice Pratt
Both of my businesses have been a journey born from my passion for helping children by providing the tools they need to become their best selves. What feels like years ago in 2005, I moved to Colorado and worked in Manitou Springs at the public library. I had been attending yoga classes for a while by this time and found a lovely studio in Manitou and went 2 or 3 times a week. Here, the teacher Joy, really focused on the meat of yoga. Each class delved into some element of the philosophy so when she mentioned that they were doing a teacher training that would dive even deeper into this topic I was all in. Read more>>
Michael Loretta
I started a clothing brand, Faith & Based. The brand was a response to a lot of negative messages I’ve seen come into the market. I noticed a lot of clothing and messages targeted towards kids that have cool looking designs represent symbols of evil. So I wanted to do the opposite and create good messaging with a modern aesthetic. The name of the brand is Faith & Based, a play on the phrase “faith-based”. Faith meaning the faith in God and based which is the internet/youth way of saying something is “cool” or very itself without concern about societal backlash. Read more>>