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.

Jessica Griesheimer

I am on a mission to turn a movie into a movement that ends the cycle of domestic abuse and provides more community resources for women and their dogs. The inspiration for this mission was born from a place of total darkness in my life where I found myself being the victim of domestic abuse that started mental and eventually physical abuse that left me in a situation where I only had minutes to leave or possibly pay for it with my life. I grabbed two of the most valuable things to me; my dogs. Read more>>

Jessica Brown

Jessica Brown struggled was in a near-fatal car accident that left visible scars on her face at the age of five. She struggled with confidence and self-worth, and to avoid being seen as flawed Jessica hid who she was and performed as a way to fit in until she decided to take control of her own narrative. With 70% of teen girls not feeling like they are enough compared to their peers, Jessica is on a mission to help teens elevate their confidence, communication and connection so that they can make an impact in their communities and pursue a life of purpose. She speaks with passion, guiding her clients to effectively identify, strengthen and increase their vision to new heights. Read more>>

Paola Cipollina

I’ve always wanted to bring a new, different and fresh approach/point of view in every business/enterprise I’ve dealt with. Since the times when I opened my first fashion schools (in 1976 at the of 16) and the I’ve been able to create a whole franchise (EsseModa, 1984, involving prestigious stylists such as Fiorucci, Beppe Modenese, Roberta di Camerino, Ermenegildo Zegna and Ferrè to mention a few) my goal has been to provide a diverse and alternative environment to all the young generations who were willing to work in the field. Read more>>

Ali Haider

I am convinced that sustainable net zero-emission electric cars are the transportation mode of the future. As the world’s population of EV drivers rises, so does the demand for EV charging infrastructure. In the next ten years, the global population of plug-in vehicles (PEVs) is expected to grow from roughly 10 million in 2020 to over 125 million. To meet this demand, the United States is anticipated to require 13 million public charging stations by 2030. EVBOLT is on a mission to expedite a substantial shift toward electromobility. Our objective includes a strong commitment to network welfare and environmental assurance. We envision a world where improved energy management techniques are used to break the shackles of our fossil-fuel addiction and change inefficient energy consumption patterns. Read more>>

Guadalupe Moreno

Blindness awareness and prevention is the mission behind Blind Man Barbecue. As a child I began losing my vision in grade school. I didn’t receive another exam after 1st grade until Jr. High. By this time my vision loss was drastic, and I had developed severe astigmatism. After suffering additional ongoing vision impairments, I became legally blind by the age of 40. Read more>>

Erin Cutler

Mom’s Pillow is a nonprofit cause born of my own struggle as a new mom. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but mo book and no degree could have prepared me for the intensity of the experience. Particularly in the early days of postpartum, I struggled with low mood, burnout and loneliness. Alongside the deep love and joy I was experiencing as a new mom, there were also a lot of guilt and a lot of self-doubt that come with being new in that role…and I often found myself asking “Am I the only one who feels this way?” Read more>>

Allyson Burakoff

I have 4 kids (twins on my third try) and I have been to all the kids classes over the past 10 years. After that I started thinking that there has to be a way to have the kids more engaged and also provide some type of fun for the parents as well. That’s where I came up with the idea for Toddler Time SD. I do all the messy and sensory projects that parents don’t like to do at home. I noticed during COVID that kids need time to play independently and my kids loved getting messy. I took that concept and ran with it offering themed monthly classes that empowered kids to play on their own with their parents taking a step back. Read more>>

Rachel Boles-Harfouche

My mission statement is something that I make sure I always mention and it is what I am most grateful for when it is shared. Throughout society and history, there is always certain groups that are celebrated. Groups that the media tries to force the masses to conform to. It gives a suffocating pressure to suppress who you really are and just tow the line. Because if you don’t, you’ll be discarded. I have always been different. And I expressed my unique fabric of my subconscious through my expressive appearance. I grew up during the Y2K era but never felt as if the Britney Spears or Paris Hilton aesthetic was me. I have always been in the alternative niche. Read more>>

Alana Cooler

Founded in 2023, Bookish Bliss Literary Retreats was born out of a love for books and a desire to share that passion with others. My mission was founded on fostering connections among individuals through a shared passion for literature and the empowerment of women and friendship. Here at Literary Retreats , my co-founder and I are committed to spreading the joy of reading and making it accessible and enjoyable for as many people as we can. We envision a world where reading is a celebrated and an integral part of everyday life. Our book retreats are meant to unite book lovers who share a passion for reading, writing and the outdoors. Read more>>

Sammy Jackson

Appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken. Accepting my Lord and Savior fill my heart with great joy, risk is staying a faithful servant which has it’s up & down doing your journey daily walk. Everything is a risk if you don’t follow the plan . The enemy is always at your doorstep. My journey has been rough but I have kept my faith no matter how things look, just remember what God has told you , he may not show up on your time , but he will be there for you at right moment. we always thinking he’s late. I love the risk taking because it building our faith in our lives because this risk give us strength and bring us knowledge as well as Wisdom. Because this is all we have to continue our mission. Read more>>