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.

Troy Pearson

In California, every tenant is entitled to a rental unit that is safe and habitable. Often times, my firm sees “slumlords” not doing the necessary maintenance and upkeep of the property. As a result of the deteriorating conditions and lack of pest control, issues such as mold, cockroach and mice infestations begin. The tenants are left to suffer while paying rent in full. Many have complained to the deaf ears of their property managers or landlord. If the tenant complains, often they are retaliated against (harassment, evictions etc.). My office helps those tenants in need and protects them from any harassment or retaliation. We pursue compensation for these tenants; for the stress caused by the conditions and the back rent paid. Read more>>

Jeanice Parker

At FOUR CEES, our mission is to share a philosophy that tangible products should embody more than surface-level allure. We believe that products should be designed to reflect an individual’s intellectual, moral, and spiritual orientation. The story behind our mission came to life over time. As the Founder of FOUR CEES, I began to live out what the FOUR C’s actually stood for; Creating a Clean Clear Conscious. As I proclaimed this statement to be our mission, I began to form a new identity within myself. An identity that spoke to the embodiment of who I was as a whole.  Read more>>

Nicole F. Smith, M.Ed.

Within my organization, self-awareness is the cornerstone of personal growth and professional success. Our mission is to empower you with the tools and insights needed to transform your life and career by developing and facilitating a deeper understanding of the connection between behavior, emotions, and leadership effectiveness. The story behind the mission was realized when I was an adult dealing with the uncertainty of marriage, kids, and a corporate job. Read more>>

Leda Beatriz Dubbs

Photography is one of my hobbies. All started when a friend who is a entrepreneur advice me to print my photos, I started looking for something more original than Canvas or Metal printing, I saw the Laser Engraving option, I taught myself how to do it and give it a try. The same friend asked me for Father Days items to sell at her shop, I made some, she got sold out, I made more, and started to grow. A customer in tat shop asked to customized one of those items, I did and when the customer received it she gracefully smiled. Read more>>

Qian WanI graduated from Calarts in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak. All industries are at a standstill mood. People seem to be isolating at home. After three month, I decided to return to my country to reunite with my family. Soon I found my first job after graduation. During more than a year of working in this company, I participated in the Winter Olympics Torch Relay Project, Beijing New Year Countdown Celebration, etc. Read more>>

Becky Nesel

As a science communicator, my mission is to make my science – geoscience – more accessible and interesting to all. Geology is one of those sciences that not many people know much about or may have some misconceptions about, and I like to show others how fascinating it is and how much it shows up in our daily life. I am very passionate about this science, but also just learning and curiosity in general. My mission is to share that curiosity, excitement, and passion for learning and hope that it rubs off on everyone who consumes the content I create. Read more>>

Melissa Laughlin

The Blessed Home Project was created to be a blessing to others. We provide hope & encouragement, as well as providing a necessary physical need such as a clean home. We believe everyone deserves a space to recover, rest & heal. Our mission is so important to me because I know what it’s like to go through challenging times where it’s difficult to keep up, especially on the cleanliness of the house. When someone else steps in to that space to help you and also listen to what you are going through, it means so much. Read more>>

Dorothy Nathan

My business Styled by Destiny forever has gone with the the slogan “Her hair is her crown” I never had a mission going into starting to do hair until this phrase came into my head and made me think about hair differently. Theres so much more to ones hair. Your hair is almost like your identity, it signifies stories, and tells the truths of who you are, it places a glory on you and gives you this feeling of confidence when you step out of the house after having a new style done. Girls, ladies, women, we all go through a certain kind of stage in life where we are learning to identify ourselves. Sometimes that stage never fully ends. Read more>>

Emily John-Belingy

At a very young age, I realized life is so much more than achievements for me. it’s about what we as individuals give to ourselves and others. There’s so much more we can give, for example, our time, empathy, listening ear, connection , kindness, compliments, etc . With this realization, i studied social work, and when I decided to be a salon owner /hairstylist, I wanted to bridge the gap and not just offer a service to consumers but an avenue also experience. Read more>>

Mario Hernandez

The Desert United Luncheons started in 2007 when I noticed the housing market crash and the economic downturn that impacted local businesses and entrepreneurs. I always felt sad when businesses go down and people don’t do well because it affects all of us; especially families and their children. I wanted to be a part of the recovery efforts to help keep good people working. My team and I decided to gather our resources to help fellow businessmen and women, by creating the Desert United Luncheons and providing local business owners and professionals a place to network and build business relationships and friendships. Read more>>

Manuel Varela

At Syva Apparel, we create performance oriented clothing for everyday wear. We focus on working with ethically responsible suppliers, and using sustainable materials, without compromising the quality or capabilities of our products. From packaging to manufacturing, we care about our impact on the planet and our communities. It was my sophomore year of undergrad (~2016) when the initial idea struck me. During my lunch break, I was shopping online and began to notice the limited options for versatile menswear. These options were mostly limited to a handful of big-name brands, many of which primarily focused on women’s clothing. Read more>>