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.

Karina Moises

I started BEAUTOLOGY LAB because I, myself, struggled with my own health challenges where my gut and immune system would react to toxins present in our environment, food, and personal care products. For years my body chronically presented inflammatory disease, gastrointestinal infection, chronic bloating, skin rashes, and fatigue. Read more>>

Queneisha Harvey

LE BLEU BODYCARE’s mission is to inspire people to connect with their bodies and learn their body language. After having my daughter, I developed a greater appreciation for my body and became more attentive to its language. I started to be more mindful of what I put into my body and on my skin. I incorporated holistic remedies into my wellness regimen, including herbal supplements and essential oils. My new regimen led me to experiment with essential oils as a perfume because I noticed my skin would become irritated with certain fragrances. Read more>>

Abby Snider

Layne Studio was inspired by the heart of small business. After almost a decade working with enterprise retail brands on their merchandising and marketing strategy, I knew I wanted to start something that can help others make their business dreams come true. Brand strategy and creative direction are my vibe, so why not turn my expertise into something that can help others be successful?! Read more>>

GUSTAVO DESEDA

Mission Since 2016 our mission is to be part of your journey in finding freedom. See, for us luxury is freedom and we understand it has a different meaning for everybody. From fleeing a country’s political oppression to freeing your mind from mental health issues. At DSPLACE we believe life is all about the chase, that hunt for freedom that only a few get to taste. It’s the process of understanding who you are and having the vision to displace (take over) everything to get there. In one way or another we are all chasing freedom, so we should stick together in the process. Read more>>

Bowen Thi

My mission has always been to entertain and connect with people. I started wanting to be a movie director when I was a child; always been fascinated by the movies of Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick. Often, you’ll see these influences in my music videos or the cover arts of my songs. However, with the transition from movie director to a musician, I wanted to create music that could move the listener. Whether experiencing nostalgia or emotions that are hard to deal with, my music has always been about me connecting with my audience. Read more>>

Zoraida Koenck

Growing up, my family and I would take spontaneous day or weekend trips. Even if it was the next town over, we would explore the town, learn about the culture and taste great food! I believe every destination, including the city you live in has a lot to offer. My mission with A Tasteful Trip, is to inspire people to explore, taste incredible food and learn about different cultures by traveling to unique destinations. Read more>>

Christian “Nelson” Odinma Odinma

I chose the story behind my mission because I feel like it encompasses all my endeavors. I am about inclusion, and seeing the bigger picture. I’m always looking at the bigger picture with the networks that I’m connected to. Read more>>

Ryan White

I first got into entrepreneurship because I truly wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives. When I first launched Social Revelation Marketing, it was more than just about me, it was about helping other entrepreneurs reach their dreams. After 5 years in the social media industry, I can confidently say we are the best in the business when it comes to helping personal brands and enterprises build massive online credibility, and as a result, reach their true online revenue potential. Read more>>

Catie Ronquillo Wood

Everywhere I looked, I saw amazing businesses with photos that didn’t convey the same message. Running a business is not for the faint of heart – being a business owner means wearing all the hats – marketing, finance, customer service, admin – and being the FACE of your business too. Because let’s be honest. People like to buy from people. They want to like, know, and trust who they may be investing a lot of money with. It’s time to stop hiding behind your business name. That’s exactly why I got into what I do. Read more>>

Jennifer Williams

My mission is to create generational wealth for my family. I want to leave behind a strong legacy for my future grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on. I want them to be proud of the work that I did in spite of the many highs and lows in my life. I have started the blueprint of success that will lead to wealth. I want them to know that you can do anything in this world that you put your mind to. And always remember “It’s not where you start, it’s how you finish”! I want them to see that the finishing product is impeccable with hard work and dedication. Read more>>

Justin Kerr

I’ve been a designer for over 25 years and a pirate (historical reenactor) for over 10 but I never considered merging the two until about three years ago. I was urged to do this by a friend and business consultant but I was hesitant at first, fearing that it would feel cheesy or gimmicky. After my friend convinced me I was simply bringing together two very authentic halves of myself I realized this could help me be more true to who I am while also distinguishing myself in the marketplace. Read more>>

Tiffany Hall

My mother is my impression, regardless of the challenges she faced she continued to press forward. My mother passed from Stage 4 Endometrial Cancer in 2020 after it being remission for 4 years. She was my number one supporter so I’m still on a mission to make her proud. Read more>>

Ahmed Elsokary

Texas Premier Soccer Club was founded to provide an equal opportunity for all soccer players to participate in a competitive environment that develops a player’s skills, knowledge and appreciation for the game of soccer by incorporating the best training, structure and development through positive coaching. Read more>>

Ariana Gonzalez

My mission is to provide culturally sensitive support to BIPOC families, seeking the help of a non-traditional cookie cutter Pediatric Sleep Consultant. The industry I work in has been primarily made up of white woman & continues to be. In fact when my doctor recommended I work with a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, the only one she knew of was a white woman. I honestly was hesitant, as I felt this woman was going to judge my decision on bed-sharing for the first 6 months, was not going to understand how hard hearing my son cry was for me (latinos do not let babies cry, let alone sleep train) and how foreign sleep training was to me. Read more>>

David Habib

We are devoted to making better foods and bringing people together. Like our Mamas, we strive to touch hearts and are passionate about building communities through a delicious offering of fun and innovative products that make everyone feel right at home. In a world where food’s validity is based on the latest fad, we strive to bring everyone back to their roots through healthy and delicious foods. Our products stem from a passion and tenderness that was cultivated in our own Mama’s kitchens. For us, those memories lasted long after the food was gone, and we want to pass that along to you. Read more>>

Addison Herron-Wheeler

OFM was founded in 1976 in Boulder by Phil Price. Our mission was then and always has been to amplify queer voices and tell the stories of the queer community in Colorado. Read more>>

Djuan Mouton

All In One Building Maintenance & Construction LLC is a customer satisfaction focused construction company, dedicated to meeting all our client’s needs. We strive to make our clients vision become a reality, through detailed planning and comprehensive strategies. We see our staff and customers as family. We aim to connect them to improve design quality by focusing on communication, continual learning, and customer service. Read more>>

Brian Gallardo

Our mission is to help everyday dog owners train and teach their dogs how to thrive in everyday real-world settings so that owners and their dogs can do more of what they want together without the added stress. My mission with Awoken K9 came about when I was in college pursuing veterinary science in the hopes of becoming a veterinarian. As a college student, I adopted a pitbull from a shelter with my fiance. As first-time dog owners, we asked questions regarding Mila, the pit bull mix, “how is she with people, how is she with dogs and cats, and what was her history?” Read more>>

Daniel Schwarz

Danny Schwarz was born in Monterrey, Mexico and has fond memories of growing up enjoying the flavors and cuisine of his heritage. After moving to the U.S he spent most of his career in the Tequila and spirits industry. This experience is what led him to begin traveling and discovering how Mexican snacks were marketed to U.S consumers. Read more>>

Adrian Frazier

I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart and advocate for the planet. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so it’s a big part of who I am. After my son was born, 13 years ago, I started a conventional cotton clothing brand for babies. It started out handmade by me then after time, I hired local sewers. As the brand grew momentum, I couldn’t keep up. I spent all my time and energy managing production. It was hard work! Keeping good help and maintaining quality was difficult. I appreciate US-made products more than anyone after my experience. Read more>>

Michelle Hunter

Today we will introduce Michelle McMillian-Hunter! Originally from a small city in Toledo Ohio, then migrating to Dallas Texas, and now an official Houstonian of 11 years! Michelle chuckles as she reminisces to her childhood. Raised by parents Pastor Robert, and Delphane McMillian he instilled values that started the first half of her journey as an entrepreneur and businesswomen. Read more>>

Aekta Parikh

I grew up in a family where community service and hard work were the way to live and work, this motivated me to start my own clinic to work towards my own goals of helping the community and using the diverse skills and experience I have. I have worked in hospital/outpatient settings for big corporations, where seeing 2-3 patients at the same time was normal practice. I always felt that this is like an injustice to my patients. I felt a strong need to do things the way that is essential for my patients. That is when I started looking into opening my own business and of course building a team of like-minded, skillful professionals. Read more>>

Ashia Walker

When I began my career 13yrs ago I didn’t realize it was my career and that I would be as passionate about it as i am today. My son was interested in massage school, and we went to several orientations looking for the right fit for him. On the last orientation the administrator gave such an in-depth detailed presentation of not only the school but what a career in Massage Therapy could look like in the future of Health Care. I dropped out of college for nursing because it was just too much with having 4 kids and working, I was a single mother and struggling from paycheck to paycheck. Read more>>

Larenzel Jones

Streetwear brand Lone N Disaster. Designed for people who create art for peace. MUSIC , other performing arts, SPORTS, etc. My personal situation inspired my brand LND. I lost my mother at a young age and I have only experienced & seen disasters , but I turned my pain into passion . With that being said, whatever it is you do to get through the pain and disasters of Life, this is for you . You’re LND Read more>>

Michelle Dawes Birt

The story behind my mission is simple. I believe that Real Chicks Rock! – It’s about being authentic in every way possible. Real – Having the ability to identify our insecurities, vulnerabilities, embarrassments, failures, and weaknesses, and still be genuine and authentic. Regardless of what you look like on the outside, it’s the contents of your inside that make one REAL. Read more>>

Trenice Brinkley

Our history reaches back more than 20+ years. As high school friends, we shared a common interest in business and applied business technologies. We each were early-age entrepreneurs – or kidpreneurs if you will – as owners of small businesses while in high school. Our early adulthood took us on many divergent paths. However, we shared the same interests in business ownership, creating generational wealth, and leaving a legacy for our kids and their future generations. Read more>>

Laura Yepes

We created Yepes Animal Hotel as a safe haven for pet owners to leave their companion while they traveled, worked, or just for their pet’s grooming needs. We felt there was a need for a pet hotel where owners felt trustful knowing their pets’ would receive the utmost care and love. Read more>>

Lavinia (Mrsvee ) Asante

I continued to pray and ask God to help me be a blessing to others in the fashion industry, to enlarge my territory in the form of knowledge in the business and physical space. My mission is to reach more people who feel they must have a lot of money to get started with a fashion business. Through my fashion academy and mentorship, aspiring fashion entrepreneurs will be able to start a new business (or level up their existing business) with the proper foundation for an LLC, learn how to build their target audience/community-clients, and make a profit showing the abundance of hard work, dedication, faith, and a support system. Read more>>

Fern Stroud

At the core of what we do, we believe it’s our purpose to curate spaces exemplifying Black Excellence, filled with LOVE & JOY as we bring community together. Our mission is finding ways to consistently be engaged in the development, maintenance and sustainability of a Black economic ecosystem. Read more>>

David Gomez

It all started from high school I didn’t know I had a future in being in fashion or in clothes it all came together my senior year as I was being handed my diploma I took on to turn this into a full career from modeling clothing to owning my own brand and soon will seek a career in the acting field i’ve been perfecting my craft for about 5 years and still seeking further and growing more and more Read more>>

Blaine Nelson

We are a veteran owned business, so that aspect is critical to our mission. We strive to share, educate, and mostly have fun with our guests. Wine should not be intimidating or overly confusing, and we seek those who would like to try wine, talk about wine, and talk about shared experiences. Read more>>

Louanne Ferro

At LaunchPad. A Salon our mission has always remained Simple. Our mission statement is to not only make someone look good but feel good too. Our outer and inner appearance are closely linked and many studies over the years have talked about this. From medical professionals looking to see us brushing our hair or applying makeup in the hospital to therapist reminding us the power in getting up and getting dressed for the day to help create productivity, the two are interlocked. Read more>>

Sarah Alsofrom

Charitable giving is part of who I am personally and professionally. My company, GL Homes, a Florida homebuilder, supports over 150 charities statewide with an emphasis on homelessness, hunger relief, education and children. Our company makes a difference in the communities where we live and work. That culture of caring is part of our ethos. Read more>>

Monica Robinson

Whether enhancing one’s eyebrows through microblading or creating eyebrows from a blank canvas, I’m able to help a woman ( or man) feel more confident about their appearance. Clients range from having no eyebrow hair, either from having allopecia, or having gone through chemotherapy ( or eyelashes, which a lash enhancement tattoo provides a beautifully defined eye).. I’m able to create brows in the most natural looking way, making a person feel more like themselves when they look in the mirror. Read more>>

Yazzi Shabazz

Yazzi Cakes is a business born from the passion of Dallas native 16-year-old vegan baker, Yazzi Shabazz. Yazzi, who wanted to share her gift with her communities. 5 years later, now 21-year-old, Yazzi has continued to be share her talents and hopes to become a beacon of fun healthy desserts in the communities of Dallas/Fort Worth. Yazzi’s mission is to provide a source of healthier desserts that everyone can enjoy. She aims to give those with strict diets an option to still enjoy their favorite desserts. Read more>>

Nick Benz

Betera’s mission is to change the way you drink. For generations, we had two choices, alcoholic and complex drinks or non-alcoholic, sugary drinks. If you were saying you didn’t want to drink alcohol, you got a bad option. We’re not accepting that if you’re not drinking, you shouldn’t have a quality alternative. We believe you can define how you want to drink, and have an option that’s delicious, complex, and refreshing, without having the alcohol.. Beverages should be full of flavor, unique, enjoyable and good for you. Read more>>

Janet Jaimes

The story behind my mission starts when I was five years old. I was run over by a lawnmower and hospitalized for most of my kindergarten year. At that time, due to religious practices, my family could not accept blood transfusions and I needed one. The doctor mentioned to my family that if I didn’t get one, there was a possibility I wouldn’t survive. But I did. I lost a partial foot and half of my calf muscle, which requires me to wear a partial prosthetic. Read more>>

Zachary Nunn

Both sides of my family are from Mississippi and both were sharecroppers. I’m the first man to start and graduate from a four year university on my Mother’s side and a 2nd generation reader on my Father’s side. When I started working as a fresh-faced college grad in 2011, I didn’t have uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. who could help me navigate majority white working spaces. Now, I’m a gregarious person, so I put myself out there over and over again to be mentored by anyone that would give me their time. I was often turned away, ignored, etc. but between the “L”‘s, I have picked up enough wisdom to hobble together a decent career thus far. Read more>>

Laura Lafrance

I have long contemplated entering the fashion design industry, but my earlier years were dedicated to being a Licensed Practical Nurse. Caribbean parents view this industry as a hobby rather than a career. I initially started telling my story on YouTube, about how I transitioned into the fashion world, and while it wasn’t easy, I have come to find that it is quite fulfilling to do and enjoy a career you’re passionate about. Read more>>

Destiny Miller

The mission behind the brand is being able to give them confidence and comfortability. I want my customers to know and understand that in a world heavily based on social media that it’s okay to be natural! You don’t need heavy make up and filters healthy skin and hair is equally beautiful! I want my customers to be able to walk in a room with a freshly clean face and have the same confidence as someone in the room with a full face of make up. Read more>>

Lauryn Johnson

Suicide. Suicide. The day I almost died. But He promised me LIFE. Life that came with a price that I did not understand then… That was it. It was the summer of 2010. I wanted my life to be over. I had just graduated from college with accolades, many accomplishments, and a reputation perceived to be bound for success. Yet I was done putting up with the nonsense. I was hurt and ashamed. I felt very low, and, as the cliché goes: “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired”. Read more>>

Grace C. Okoro

Like most, I had my life planned out and thought I knew exactly how everything would turn out. Fortunately, I faced challenges that deterred those plans. I say fortunately because if not for those challenges, I would not be where I am today. I started writing because of a boy: as crazy as that sounds, it is true. My heart was broken for what felt like the hundredth time, and all the pain inside me busted out like an oversized pimple. God used this pain to birth what he was growing in me all along: my purpose. My purpose is to bring understanding towards the challenges people face through wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Read more>>

Belinda Mays

My mission as an author is to promote literacy and positive Black family images. I often call myself an accidental author because my original goal was to become a speaker not an author. In fact, speaking is what led me to publish my first book. I participated in a Toasmasters tall tale contest with a speech called My Amazing Dad and won all the way up to the District level. A co-worker suggested that I turn the speech into a book. Initially, I shrugged off the idea. But after my father passed away the next year, I decided to publish “My Amazing Dad” as a children’s book in honor of my father, Berkins Booker Jr. Read more>>

Sheila Polstein

Hi! I am Sheila. I fell in love with astrology and the night sky when I was young in the North Carolina mountains. My grandfather, who was a farmer, used The Farmers Almanac for planting and slaughtering. So that was enough proof for me that farming by the signs work. I am also intuitive and I use both astrology and my intuition with my clients. I love helping people and I use my craft to help others live their best life. Read more>>

Bobbie James

I was inspired to start Jamsz Konnections because of my strong desire to serve. I had always known I wanted to help others, but it was not until I had a health issue of my own that I gained the courage to follow a dream that aligned with my heart. Our organization supports both clients and 501c3 nonprofit beneficiaries. For clients, we help them plan their events to save them time, money, and allow them to simply enjoy their event. For nonprofit beneficiaries, we provide education with tips, tools and resources. Read more>>