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.

Therese Myers

YES GIRLS CREATE, INC is a nonprofit youth mentorship organization dedicated to uniting girls 8 – 18 years old through creative collaborative events. We host monthly labs where girls receive hands-on training and mentoring from adult women who creative positive impact in the community. Read more>>

Megan Kumming

My “tag line” is “Relationship Expert. Results Focused. Community Driven.” I use my background as a mental health therapist to cultivate meaningful relationships personally and professionally. As a realtor, I use my skills to help my church purchase properties for our wealth creation program. Read more>>

LaRosha Paul

My name is LaRosha and I am the owner of B U Candles Co. B U Candles. Co was birth during the pandemic as I was trying to find a way to navigate on my healing journey. It was really supposed to be a hobby as a way to implement self-care into my life. Read more>>

Nelly Ferguson

My mission is to make every black girl whoever seen a Barbie doll and seen herself as the “ugly one “ the less desirable one to know that they can be beautiful no matter the shade of their skin. That they don’t have to be white to be pretty or beautiful to themselves and In fact as long as they believe and walk in their confidence and power of their skin it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks YOURE BEAUTIFUL. PERIODT Read more>>

Stephanie Flies

At City Mom Collective, we believe community is an essential part of every motherhood journey.Back in 2009, when I was a young mom, I quickly discovered that being a mom is one of the most challenging jobs out there, and it can often feel lonely and overwhelming. Read more>>

Delisha Ledford

My mission statement for my company is “To help cultivate entertainment from all sides such as business, music, service, non-profit and management. We strive to make every client feel valued, connecting them to the right tools to help them succeed. Read more>>

Warren Hampton

The mission and vision of Warren Hampton resonate as meaningful because they are rooted in cultural empowerment, historical awareness, and the promotion of luxury within the Black community. Warren Hampton positions itself as more than a brand; it’s a representation of Black excellence, elegance, and the reclamation of cultural heritage. Read more>>

Lisa Hurley

More than any other identity group, Black women are tired, stressed, overlooked, over-extended, and often psychologically unsafe—especially at work. How do I know? I am one. I remember being told I had to sit at the back of the company shuttle. No, I am not making that up. Read more>>

Molly Galbrecht

The mission for our Studio came out of making a necessary change to the one that had been a part of the Studio for the five years previous. My sister and I wanted our mission to tell our potential customers who we are, what we do and how we want to teach their dancers. Read more>>

Maddie Beans

I have worked in corporate America and I hated every moment. I liked what I was doing but I hated how I had to go about it and the lack of personal contact I got to have with the clients that it mattered for the most. I want to know that my work is helping other succeed. Read more>>

Brianna Ladapo

I grew up in a deeply religious, fundamentalist family who believed the intuitive gifts I possessed to be of satanic origin. As I struggled to adapt to a world in which I felt completely alien, my desire for self preservation and acceptance led me to actively suppress my gifts. Read more>>

Maya Haber

My business is a love letter to my dog. As a reactive dog owner, everyday life can have it’s challenges and that was something I connected with personally. Within a city, the biggest things dog owners want is to bring their dog everywhere and be dog and people friendly. Read more>>

Maria Rodriguez

Photographing women in their most raw, organic, sensual elements has always been my mission. Making a safe space for whomever is on the other side of that lens and capturing their unequivocal beauty for a product that they can revisit and celebrate. Read more>>

Wendy Corley

At the core of our mission is education. I know that sounds crazy coming from a salon, but its so important! Education starts with our team. We strive to continue to grow our knowledge and hone our skills. That information is passed to our guest. We firmly believe in order for our guest to recreate their desired look they have to know how and what to use. Read more>>

Lilla Pride Szucs

My mission is with my embroidery business to show the world a part of Hungary with hungarian folk designs trough clothing We have a beautiful country and popular foods but also beautiful folk designs. Read more>>

BeeYonka

I let my creativity loose around the peak of COVID. I remember waking up one day and realizing I’m set for life: I had a great paying job in a career that I felt came almost natural to me, I had great rapport with people in my life, and everything was just lining up in the best ways. Read more>>

Alanté Baugh

A brand that’s on a mission to impact people, emotions, lifestyles, and appearances through clothing/fashion. The Alanté Baugh brand mission is to design garments that celebrate people individuality and one that elevates people lifestyle. Read more>>

Ashley Lewis

I had three c-sections in five years. I tried for natural births each time.I came to find out later stored trauma and unprocessed heart pain were reasons why my body couldn’t relax and dilate during labor. However, I’m proud of the birth stories, for each of my three girls, I carry in my heart today. Read more>>

Dana Gaydon

My mission is to make beautiful things, bring joy, inspire and empower through photography. Life is a journey of self-discovery and specifically addressing the part of myself that fears being seen. I’ve always had this push-pull dynamic—shouting, “Here I am!” and then retreating into the shadows. Read more>>

Robin Capili

We never wanted to be just a salon. Throughout our career we’ve done everything from photo shoots, fashion shows—commercial, editorial, runway, weddings, television, etc. We’ve been around long enough to know how much competition, separation, clashing, struggle, and toxicity there is in our industry and with other creatives. Read more>>

Efy Ermias

In my personal and professional journey with DIME org. LLC, our mission to empower women involves both individual and collective support. My commitment is deeply rooted in a transformative experience—achieving a 200lbs weight loss through the sheer power of my mind, which became the catalyst for founding DIME org. LLC. Read more>>

Mohamad Alkhayat

When I arrived to America more than 22 years ago, I noticed confusion in home decor magazines between Moroccan furniture and Syrian furniture. Mistakenly always describe mother of pearl inlaid Syrian furniture as Moroccan furniture. Growing in family where they had one of the largest workshop specialize in handmade mother of pearl inlay Syrian furniture in Damascus, I understand the difference very well. Read more>>

Josefine Wanner

My name is Josefine Wanner. I’m an Entrepreneur and Business Growth Strategist, and I help my clients to build and optimize their online offers. Just a few years back, I was a successful executive director at Switzerland’s largest bank. Or let me rephrase that – from the outside, I looked as the Picture Perfect of Success. Read more>>

April Turner-Smith

My mission is one where I striveto Led with Love, Show Kindess to every person and I want others to know they are Worthy of good things.Sometimes ,we don’t get told or shown that enough. I’ve been in situations where didn’t feel Love,Kindness or Worthiness. But,instead of becoming bitter I chose to be Better. Unfortunately, some people choose to be Bitter. Read more>>

Naomi Kurashige

“You should price your products higher than they are right now”. This is a conversation that occurs often at the events we sell at. Often being the only vendor selling food at each event, I could easily raise the prices and still have customers, considering how some events would be in a spot where there is nothing else around the neighborhood. But I don’t. Read more>>

Greyson Davis

G Visuals is founded on capturing moments that will hold memories for a lifetime. Being able to tell my story through visual arts & not only that, but to also inspire like minded individuals to invest in themselves & their creative outlets all around them. To make an impact in the community around me as well as onto other creatives. Read more>>

Tarin Souriya

My mission is to help create memorable brands to help them find their unique voice. Even more so to be an example to people are on the up and up in my field – I want them to know the truth behind how to authentically grow a community with your real true story and values intact. It’s possible. Read more>>

Ifafunke Oladigbolu

Hello, I am Lola of Lola’s African Apparel. I was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States at the age of eight. In 2010 I traveled back to Nigeria after many years in the States and I was inspired by the elegant and beautiful clothes people wore. I had the idea to design and employ local tailors and seamstresses to make clothes and share them with my community in the United States. Read more>>

Damon Stevens

As a mission driven artist and business owner, one of my biggest goals is to create unique one of a kind products out of recycled and repurposed materials. My brand, Manual Ware, makes wearable products, tools/accessories, and artwork from old broken skateboards. Read more>>

Indigo Johnson

I have always been aware of the high number if missing persons in my home province of British Columbia. The Highway of Tears, stretching over 700km from Prince George to Prince Rupert, is well known for a devastating amount of missing women. Read more>>

Zach Melissas

Initially fell in love with the car community when I realized the great experience I was having with my car was meant to be shared with other enthusiasts. The safest way to do so was taking out cars to the race tracks to truly explore the car and persona potential of each driver. Read more>>

Emy Tafelski

Have you ever woken up and lamented, this is going to be my life for the next 50 years?! How did I get here? Who even am I? I have. And it sucked. It stole the breath from my body and frankly, made it hard to even get out of bed. It was those thoughts that launched my journey into figuring out who I really am in this world. My journey into unapologetic authenticity. Read more>>

Abigaïl (Biggie) Theano-Pudwill

Style has always been a way to showcase who I am, where I come from and where I hope to be. Most importantly, it’s fun! I love helping people and businesses see themselves through style. I equip clients with ways to be bold with new pieces and techniques to revive the old. We tell their story together through colour, texture and fresh pairings. Read more>>

Brian Fleming

Lots of trauma survivors eventually want to share their stories, but they don’t usually know where to begin. In my program, “UseYourStory,” I show trauma survivors and people with unique life stories how to make a difference and a side income sharing their stories as paid public speakers so they can make a difference and use their stories to live more meaningful lives. Read more>>

Hoang Lam

The journey of my parents fleeing Vietnam from the clutches of communism is a testament to resilience, hope, and the pursuit of freedom. In the face of political upheaval and uncertainty, they embarked on a perilous journey aboard a small boat, braving the treacherous waters for several days in search of a better life. Read more>>

Michael M Martin

My overall Mission to to create Beauty, Showcase Different view of clients to Provide. that OMG factor for clients that might not be able to afford creative content elsewhere. My Drive to make my Mother in Heaven proud of what im doing with my life. Networking is very key in a small city that is saturated with everyone doing the same thing.. Read more>>

Raeven Kirk

Our mission is to empower women through the artistry of lashes and the wisdom of tarot. Both have impacted my personal life in such a positive manner, creating a sense of community, collaboration and connection. I have never felt so alive and inspired, every day I get to work with the most amazing, beautiful women. Both inside and out. Read more>>

Collective Dance LLC

Collective Dance Company was established in 2022 by Braidie Gummow & Lexi Labrum. Collective is more than just a dance company, its an idea of creation and connections. It’s a way to share our passion for dance and be there for each other while doing so. “Collective has already become so special to us. We are so excited to share our ideas and build connections through this dance establishment. Read more>>

Mitch “Taco”

Imagine leaving your family behind, your secure and safe job to strap on body armor and fly 6 thousand miles from home to serve your country…either active duty or as a reservist/Guard. The first day you land, it’s 140 degrees F and eight 122mm rockets impact next to you. The shock wave crushes your breath as it slams against you. Read more>>

Thatyana Morales

I live in a neighborhood with many low-income residents and have witnessed firsthand the impact of inflation on the community. One day, my mother came across a little free library and asked about its purpose. When I explained, she suggested having our own. Read more>>