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.

Sarah Williams

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause of death for children 5-18, second only to car accidents. The difference? Drowning is 100% preventable. It is estimated that nearly 1,000 children fatally drown each year, just in the United States. The deaths of these children are preventable when “layers of protection” are implemented. Some of these layers include: self-latching pool fences, door and pool alarms, constant supervision and survival swim lessons. I believe that every child should be given the opportunity to learn to swim. My primary focus is teaching children – some as young as 12 months old – to do the “survival float” ; that is, learning to roll to float upon falling in the water. Mastering this “Survival float” is the the best way to keep your child safe around the water. Read more>>

 

 

Melina Harrington

Holistic Wellness With Melina is a brand lead by following the art of nourishment. Our mission is to re-inspire and re-connect the cords with nature and the self. We are a holistic health focused brand, meaning we deeply believe and value the -whole- experience that is working together to create a state of health. This brand had been a seed planted for many years before it began it’s blooms, and was inspired by my own journey to wellness, after spending much time chronically Ill. Throughout my college studies, and my own experiences seeking health, I found that what was being fed to me felt incomplete, and artificial even. Read more>>

Joelle Machia

The mission of WanderersCompass.com is to inspire and empower individuals to explore the world through travel and find transformative experiences that open up new possibilities for personal growth. The blog is co-owned by Ryan and myself. What got us here is an interesting and unique story. Ryan’s life was deeply impacted by travel, and his journey to self-discovery began when I, an oncology nurse at the time, “adopted” him through the nonprofit Soldiers’ Angels. He was serving in Afghanistan, and over the next year, my husband and I sent him care packages often. Upon his return, he requested to meet us. This was over 18 years ago, and he is now part of our family. Read more>>

Kevin Anthony

My mission is to help men, women, and couples have the relationship of their dreams and the best s*x of their lives. There are 3 main areas of life that everyone wants to be successful in: Relationships, Finances, and Career. We receive a lot of training on how to have a successful career. We receive some training on how to be successful financially, but in life we receive virtually no quality training on how to have a successful intimate relationship. The results are conflict, stress, unhappy marriages, divorce, financial difficulties, and unmet needs for intimacy, love, connection, and s*x. These then bleed over into all the other areas of your life. Read more>>

Peter Costakos

We simply look to be a cut above the rest by building a group (The Carbon Team) that embodies commarodity to the next level. Typically our environment is a bit more cold and cut throat. We very much believe that the best environment breeds excellence. It’s not always easy and we have had our ups and downs but overall we are one of the most successful groups in the country. We are the #1 group at CrossCrounty. We still have plans to grow.  Read more>>

Meylen Bp

The mission of Women’s Growth Club holds a special place in my heart, grounded in the challenges I have faced, personally and professionally. After moving to Berlin, I’ve gained huge value from supportive networks and communities, that have helped me launch various projects and initiatives fostering professional growth. I created this space to offer support and opportunities to those who like me, understand the challenges of pursuing goals without a strong community or reliable support. Read more>>

Peter Valdez

Our Mission: Empowering Dreams Through Soccer The Vancouver Lightning Arena Soccer Club was born from a simple yet profound act of kindness from an anonymous donor. Years later, inspired by that memory, I realized it was my turn to pay it forward. Our mission is simple: to create opportunities for every child to play, grow, and thrive through soccer. We believe the beautiful game is about more than winning matches. It’s about teamwork, resilience, and fostering a sense of community that extends far beyond the pitch. Read more>>

Laura Walters

Style Riot was born from a deep passion for personal style and the transformative power it holds. My mission has always been clear: to guide clients on a journey of discovering their unique style, building confidence, and embracing authenticity. I believe that understanding what works for your silhouette, the colors that enhance your skin tone, and the pieces that align with your lifestyle can truly change your life. When you know your style, shopping becomes less overwhelming, getting dressed feels effortless, and your wardrobe becomes a source of joy and empowerment. Read more>>

Tom Eshchar

I’m an agent of change. It starts when I encounter a new place/person/organization and ends when I leave. My goal is to leave it better then I found it. Read more>>

Stefanie Candelario

I’m a freelance Cosplay Photographer. I take portraits of everyday people dressed like their favorite characters from comics, anime/manga, or TV. I always enjoy seeing people look happy and feel more of themselves and hearing stories about how the character they’re dressing up relates to them in a positive light. With that, I always try my best to capture those moments for folks who want to cherish those life memories. Read more>>

Mirza Nurman Syarieff

At Mirza Nurman Photography, my mission is to capture emotions, moments, and stories that resonate deeply with people. Photography isn’t just about taking pictures; it’s about freezing time and preserving the beauty of human connections, culture, and individuality. This mission is personal to me because I believe every person and moment has a unique story worth being captured and told. Growing up, I found myself drawn to the way a single photo could evoke powerful memories and emotions. It became clear to me that photography is not just an art form—it’s a way of creating legacies. Read more>>

Angela Joseph

As a Registered Nurse, Board Certified Nurse Health Coach and Certified Equine Partnered Life Coach. I am dedicated to empowering clients to overcome limiting beliefs and fears, guiding them through transformative life transitions. By fostering a deep connection between humans, horses, and nature, I help clients experience profound healing, self-discovery, and personal freedom. My mission is to support humans, animals and nature in creating a life of purpose, joy, and fulfillment, leading from a place of love and authenticity. Read more>>

Louanne Hardtke

My mission is so mom’s don’t ever have to say, “I wish someone would have told me” in relation to pre- and postnatal fitness. All my life I have been active; going to the gym 3-5 days a week since I’ve been 18. When I was pregnant in 2021, I still stayed active, but there was so much mixed information about exercise and pregnancy so I took my intensity way down. Then after I had my daughter, I truly didn’t know what to do with my new body, so I was inactive for 6 months. When I got back into fitness, I pushed my new body in ways I shouldn’t have and ended up with pelvic organ prolapse, which is very common for women who give birth. That is when I personally said, “I wish someone would have told me to work my pelvic floor.” Read more>>

Dawn Jenkins

The Story Behind House of Jenkins Designs started after choosing to go natural with my hair in 2013, and it’s been a beautiful, empowering ride ever since. Growing up in New York City, I was surrounded by a culture of style, color, and creativity—it’s in my DNA. As a Black woman, I’ve always understood the importance of hair, not just as a form of expression but also as something to protect and nurture. When I first went natural, I was in what we call the “teeny weeny afro” stage, and while I loved my curls, I wanted to diversify my look. That’s when I discovered headwraps, scarves, turbans, and headbands. They became my go-to accessories—helping me switch up my style while caring for my hair. For years, I bought whatever I could find in stores or online, but I always felt like something was missing. Read more>>

Dj Oxygen

We are driven by under privileged youth in the urban communities. We were the first to have an accredited DJ Academy for youth. We were recognized by the Smithsonian. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/in-motion-video-contest/editors-pick-amp-up-the-classroom-43360731/ We just want to show the positive alternatives for our next generations of kids. Read more>>

Ivan Hinson

My mission is to bring people to Christ through fashion. Why, I figured why not bring my relationship with Jesus into my passion with fashion. I treat fashion design like a testimony, It’s an Art form of expression that I can only describe in gratitude to him. Through my wins, losses, pains, struggles, perseverance, resilience, discipline, disappointment, antipathy, rejection, and determination. It seems so natural like a divine gift to give to his people and lost children. I see It as clientele and company discipleship. Why not create a 2 in 1… In further development of the company I am going to invest in missionary’s through the company to mentor and discipline young men of color through company funding. Read more>>

El’deity Princey

The mission behind my company, 11 Master Consultant LLC, is to help those who have experienced childhood trauma transcend their pain and become the highest version of themselves. Childhood trauma is often overlooked or dismissed, with many people saying, “That was in the past,” or “You just need to move on.” But the reality is, that unresolved childhood trauma shapes every aspect of our lives—our relationships, our self-worth, and even our ability to dream beyond survival. Read more>>

Alyssa Spring

The mission of Casa Vira is to guide others on their journey of self-discovery, inner freedom, and belonging. Growing up in a religious home, I often felt the weight of not fitting in or pleasing a higher power, which drove me to seek true connection and healing. Through years of self-study, questioning, and working with plant medicine, I found liberation and a deep connection with my Spirit and body. Now, I bring all of my gifts, experiences, and creativity to help others navigate their own paths to wholeness. As a jewelry artist, my intention is to craft pieces that empower and remind their wearers of their inherent worth and high value, serving as both adornment and sacred tools for transformation. Read more>>

Samantha Wiser

It was the year of our wedding and I everything was going as planned. We had realized that our venue coordinator’s role was not to set up our decor for the ceremony & reception like we had thought when we booked (which is a very common misconception for brides). Stressed on the phone with my mom, she had offered to assist with the decor that morning & bless her for wanting to be involved. Everything was organized and ready to go the morning of our wedding…until i got a phone call from my mom that she was heading to the hospital & unsure if she would even make it to our wedding. In tears, guilt, and anxiety I headed to the venue to get ready for hair and makeup. Once all my bridesmaids got to the bridal suite I had told them what was going on and that there’s a good chance my mom would not be at our wedding. I fell to the ground sobbing because I had no idea what i was going to do without her there. I didn’t care about the decor, i wanted her there. My bridesmaids, stepped up to the plate and in-between their hair and makeup they set up for our entire wedding. Read more>>

Caitlin Elizabeth

’ve always felt drawn to the arts, from a young age, and regardless of the medium, I have always been deeply connected to the meaning behind each piece of art. As I grew older, I faced a series of hardships and insecurities while trying to understand who I was. In my adult years, I discovered that the answers I was seeking could be found through art and the creative process. Art played such a profound role in my own healing journey that I knew I had to find a way to make that experience accessible to others. Read more>>

Abigail Goodin

The mission behind Off My Hinge really came about by happenstance and curiosity before it was able to actually propel me into a vital and valuable social research mission. In 2022, after my first experience with heartbreak at twenty-one years old, I had one of those gripping coming of age moments that I actually had no idea how to date, what I wanted from dating or what I valued from relationships- so I did what everyone else around me was doing: I made a Hinge profile. Before I knew it, I’d been on sixty hinge dates in six months. I frantically kept a diary tracking all of the dates and people I’d met. I had a weird pin drop moment in 2023 when I rediscovered the journal: What was their perspective of me? Had they learned or observed, remembered or felt the same things from our interaction/s as I had? Read more>>

Carol Hamler

For the Love of Zoey was established as a community initiative in 2015 to honor my late sister-in-law, Sonya “Zoey” Hamler, who passed away from breast cancer in 2014. After witnessing Zoey’s struggles with chemotherapy and various treatments, including the loss of hair and appetite, I wanted to find a way to comfort others going through similar experiences. Initially, the Chemo Care Love Packages project focused on supporting women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. However, we have since expanded our efforts to assist warriors fighting any form of cancer. The packages we distribute are thoughtfully curated to provide comfort and support. They include items such as head scarves for hair loss, blankets to keep warm (as patients often feel cold during treatment), grip socks for warmth and safety, journal and puzzle books to help distract from the challenges of chemotherapy. Additionally, we include lip balm for dry lips, tea, and queasy drops to soothe stomach discomfort caused by treatment. Read more>>

Ahmad Free-cohen

Mae’s Moss is dedicated to supplying people with the best sea moss products available. We prioritize sustainability from the packaging we use, to the benefits our products provide. We believe in placing your health into your own hands, and what better way to start, than by taking a product that’s not only good for you, but void of all the things that are not. Read more>>

Abbey Brown

This chapter of my life came to be rather unexpectedly. We had just welcomed 2017, and I was a tired stay-at-home mom raising two toddlers and starving to find myself again. (If you have ever done the whole SAHM gig, you know exactly what this means.) I knew my creative, fun, and worthy self was buried underneath somewhere but I wasn’t quite sure how to dig her out. So when my mother-in-law, Mary, suggested we join forces and create a boutique in our small town, my initial reaction was NO. Zero chance. I am NOT your girl. She drove a hard bargain though and came to the conversation prepared. Her confidence and creativity were just what I needed to ignite the fire inside of me and start the slow-burn process of unearthing my creative self again. Read more>>

Sara Quintero

At KarmaChic, my mission is to empower women entrepreneurs by providing a platform where they can showcase their businesses, connect with a supportive community, and access valuable resources. This mission is deeply personal to me—it’s not just about creating a marketplace; it’s about building a space where dreams can grow and flourish. I’ve always been inspired by the resilience, creativity, and determination of women who juggle countless responsibilities while pursuing their entrepreneurial goals. Too often, women lack access to the right platforms, networks, and opportunities to scale their businesses. I created KarmaChic to change that narrative. Read more>>