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.

Briana Jackson

Thank you for your interest in Kendra’s Kloset and Kollections! Our mission is deeply personal and rooted in faith, resilience, and the pursuit of empowering others through fashion. After the traumatic loss of my infant son, Elias,I was devastated, but in that dark time, God reignited my passion for fashion. This passion became more than just an outlet—it became my mission to help others find hope and beauty in the midst of their own struggles. I sought solace and strength in God, and He reminded me of my passion for fashion. This passion became not just a way to move forward but a platform to inspire others, especially women who have faced hardship. Read more>>

Christian Caceres

Homelessness has always touch my heart. I’ve always wanted to help those in need. With my food truck I was on a mission to try to start up my business and help those in need. Often at the end of the night as I was on my way back to park my truck I’d be in search of homeless to give the left overs I had from the night to them. I want to be able to do more. I admire another food truck in Denver that is a non profit food truck that has been able to help fulfill that mission and my hopes for the future is to join them within helping the community. Read more>>

Mandy Walker

Have you ever looked in the mirror and asked yourself, ” Who am I, and how did I get to where I am now?” Your life
suddenly flashes before you, with the good and the bad all jumbled into a merge of emotions, trying to remember
what the original question was. Here you are, attempting to figure out how you got there, looking at yourself in the
mirror in the first place. I was asking myself those questions to write this submission. Read more>>

Rob Reger

My personal mission is to bring awareness to different areas of society that are often stigmatized. PTSD in Veterans and Mental Health Awareness are two main topics that I delve into with my screenplays. Read more>>

Thinh Nguyen

One of the biggest things preached at Potluck is that everyone brings value to the table no matter how big or small. Coming from different backgrounds but a similar goal of doing good and providing for the world is what connected Tony, Francisco and I together. We always pushed ourselves and each other to be greater and prioritize our happiness and dreams. With Francisco leaving Potluck to pursue his dream of being a chiropractor, is a great example of that. We believe everyone and everything has a purpose. With us being big advocates for mental health, we always aim to make people feel seen and heard because I know thats what I would love to experience. Read more>>

Cassandra Koblitz

My mission is deeply personal and professionally rooted in my over ten years of experience as a high-risk labor and delivery nurse. I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and heartbreak that can accompany childbirth, and I firmly believe that the day you meet your baby should be the most joyous of your life. Over the past five years, my journey across the United States has allowed me to support countless women during their births, revealing a common need for comprehensive education and effective coping mechanisms. Read more>>

Crystal Ruse

My mission, what drives me really; is to help people understand behavior; specifically student behavior. This is really important to me because I see students everyday in a variety of schools and situations. I see challenging behaviors and unfortunately I see frustration from staff that are tasked to help them. I see this as a lack of training supports and services to those individuals tasked with supporting out students. Teachers, paraprofessionals, case managers, evan school psychologists; can be so taken by the effect maladaptive behavior has on the classroom and the enviornment that it leads to frustration and even blame on the student. Read more>>

Ibrahim Diakite

As a creative director, my mission is to build a platform that celebrates and inspires Black people, showcasing their beauty, creativity, and cultural richness. When I started creating, I noticed a lack of representation—spaces like Pinterest rarely featured Black people in ways that reflected their elegance and depth. This inspired me to change the narrative. Read more>>

Kyra Harris

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce your audience to Be Social Society and The Bright Minds Collective.
Be Social Society was born out of a desire to create a social club where like-minded individuals—young professionals, creatives, and changemakers—could come together to network, collaborate, and celebrate culture. Our mission is to foster meaningful connections because we believe that success and growth are deeply rooted in relationships and shared experiences. Read more>>

Giovanni Guerrero

Livmofe was established in September 2023. The brand was launch in Miami, Florida. The idea of creating the brand came in 2020 when I was speaking to my partner about my experience of the years that I did in Federal Prison, talking about all those things or details in life that we sometimes overlook and don’t realize how valuable they are and how grateful we should be. I also was dealing with alcoholism problems, depression and anxiety, so we decided to create a brand that offered what the world needs most: love, peace and positivity. Read more>>

Danielle Bucki

Fit Butters are a healthy dessert flavored nut butter. We started our brand unintentionally. We made a healthy, natural nut butter with bold dessert flavors to help curb our own sweet tooth back in 2020 at the brink of the pandemic. The second my husband tasted the nut butter, he knew it was something special and he could sell it. Our mission began simply as a healthy alternative to the sugar and oil filled plain nut butters like Jif and Skippy, but also with more flavor to curb your cravings while trying to live a healthy lifestyle! Our mission was to help those who struggle making that transition to a healthier diet because of their cravings reach their goals. Whether it be someone new to wanting a healthier lifestyle, or someone on a strict diet restriction such as bodybuilding or an elite sport. Read more>>

Dr. Porsche Belidor

My mission is to ensure teen parents have access to proper healthcare, social services and education to navigate the challenges of parenthood at a young age. Statistically, only about 50% of teen moms complete high school. Having my child at the age of 15 pushed me to finish my education and to give back to teen parents. Not only did I graduate high school and attend college, but I also graduated with my Doctorate in Healthcare Administration. I published my book titled “I Left the Girl I Was to Become the Woman I Am Today” and created a for-profit organization, “Teen Mom Talk,” as a source and support system for teen parents. Read more>>

Ledarius Phelix

I’ve always been a people person so to speak at least every single person I’ve ever met has told me that. Through my years on the planet I’ve noticed how big of an impression or impact I leave on people. It’s a good positive feeling because now even if I haven’t talk to theirs people they are always in my corner cheering me on. I’ve come to realize that seeing people smile and making people happy makes me happy so I decide to follow a career that would allow me to continue that feeling of helping people. Read more>>

Reshaud Jackson

ShaudyShirts: Spreading Smiles One Graphic at a Time

At ShaudyShirts, our mission is simple: to put smiles on faces with our unique and eye-catching graphics and apparel. We believe that clothing is more than just fabric and thread – it’s a form of self-expression, a way to showcase your personality, and a conversation starter. Read more>>

Maria And Kate

Bookish Cafe Orlando came to life in March 2024 as a unique independent bookstore and soon-to-be coffee shop where the love for fantasy and thrillers creates a magical community. Our goal is to craft an experience from beginning to end that celebrates nerdiness, where you can shamelessly enjoy what you love and create bookish friendships. Our growth is fueled by partnerships with indie authors, small businesses and support from the bookish community. Read more>>

Tricia Brouk

I have been on stage my entire life. I moved to New York City to pursue a career in dance. After decades in the entertainment industry, I realized I had an opportunity to use my expertise to support thought-leaders and influential voices have more impact by becoming effective communicators. Then, as I built my company, The Big Talk, I realized that we can unite humanity through speech. When people understand that all voices matter and speaking with dignity, humility, curiosity, respect and love can connect us globally, we are accomplishing our mission. By being the most loving and transformative speaker platform in the world, we can have a ripple effect of lasting legacy. Read more>>

Destini Belton

“Play Your Cards Right LLC” established in 2018 is a
publishing/production company solely ran by a woman of color, mother of
three, content creator, author, publisher and artist “Destini S. Belton”
. The
name was sparked, inspired and envisioned by Destini’s personal life
experiences. The idea of moving through life strategically, diligently and
PURPOSEFULLY to make the next best move; which will ensure your success
story, destination and/ or drive towards an end goal. Read more>>

Shamica Baxter

The Baxter Initiative was founded in 2019 with a mission to empower individuals to achieve strategic success by fostering personal growth and professional development. The organization was born out of a deep understanding of the challenges people face in reaching their full potential and a passion for helping others overcome those barriers. Read more>>

Samantha Schneeberger

At Messy Momma Memories, my mission is simple: to get moms out from behind the camera and into the moments with their kids. Let’s be real, us moms are always the ones taking the photos. We’re capturing every milestone, every “first,” but when we look back, we’re missing. I’m on a mission to change that, one beautiful, messy, love filled photo at a time. Read more>>

Allen Pickett

Our mission is to support the pollinator population and address addictive patterns, with a focus on the opioid epidemic.

Over the past 6 years of operating my business, and embracing a constant state of evolution, I have come to realize: the only thing in life that does not change is the element of change itself.
At an individual and societal level, it can be difficult to navigate life’s changes and “be in the present moment.” I have found the two pillars where I feel called to make an impact are addressing dis-ease and distress with the pollinator population and addictive patterns which often times manifest as substance abuse. Both of these focuses seem to be more distorted than ever and are a direct result of disharmony and lack of present moment awareness. Read more>>

Yuka Sugiura

I created Rezident Alien with the intention to capture moments that encourages your journey while embracing who you are, your culture(s), and talents, through photography. I want my photos to reflect how I see each person stand out in their own authentic energy. I feel the most aligned when I take photos of artists in their element or just capturing candid moments in life. I hope more people feel represented and connected through my photos as we each navigate our own unique journey. Read more>>

Mechelle Tucker

As a 1st Class Consultant, I truly see myself as a master win win wins creator because I strive to build frameworks and strategies that not only address immediate needs but also create lasting value for all stakeholders involved. The concept of “win-win-wins” is central to my mission and passion because it encapsulates the idea that successful solutions must benefit the customer, the community, and the larger ecosystem in which we operate. Read more>>

Kimberly Lavon

Pad Tie was born out of my own frustrations as an artist and entrepreneur. I’ve always loved sketching and creating on the go, but traditional sketchbooks often lack the simple feature of an elastic band to keep them closed. Over time, I saw how the pages of my notebooks got bent, torn, or smudged—especially as someone who constantly juggles projects, meetings, and travel. Read more>>

Marina Hitt

My mission as a documentary filmmaker and director is, of course, to convey information to people. I see myself as a kind of mediator between the subjects of my films and the audience. And, of course, no matter how clichéd it may sound, my goal is not only to inform but also to support people and give them hope. I aim to inspire hope through examples of other people’s success and to help others believe in themselves. Read more>>

Dolores Cruz

We all have an assumption about life, an idea about how it should play out. We grow up, go to school, have boyfriends or girlfriends, maybe get married, maybe go to college, hopefully have a career we enjoy, maybe get married, maybe have kids, maybe buy a house —and this is all good. Read more>>

Caitlyn Goshorn

The story behind my mission is deeply personal and multi-layered. At its core, it revolves around my son. I want him to grow up proud to have me as his mother, understanding the value of hard work, and knowing that success requires both passion and persistence. Life doesn’t hand out good things easily, but with dedication and determination, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Read more>>

Arianna Cruz

Our mission is who we are. I founded MORE Magazine with the mission of Making Opportunities Reachable for Everyone. Creating opportunities is only one piece of the puzzle. If people are unaware of the resources, support, and options available, it serves no one. My goal in building our business is to create accessibility and knowledge of what is available. Read more>>

Daniel Idiare

At the heart of my mission lies a deeply personal journey. Growing up in Nigeria, I was confronted with the harsh realities faced by so many young Africans—limited access to quality education, job scarcity, and underdeveloped infrastructure. These challenges were not just statistics to me; they were part of my daily experience. As I navigated these barriers, I felt a growing sense of responsibility to do something about it—not just for myself, but for the generations that would come after me. Read more>>

Stephen Boyd, M.ed

At SB Entertainment our mission is motivate, activate, and elevate instructional practices, transforming classrooms from outrageous to outstanding!

This mission is meaningful to us because when classrooms are orderly, yet fun and exciting, student learning exponentially increases. When we launched out in 2014 to provide professional development to help improve instructional practices, our goal was to help teachers understand student behavior and how to appropriately respond in times of challenge. Read more>>

Monica Mott-mcmillian

I am a domestic violence and sexual assault survivor. Pre-COVID I would speak to groups of varies ages telling me story in hopes to open the door for them to know there is life after and you don’t have to stay in abuse. My goal was to give them examples of abuse because one always thinks physical only. Read more>>

Chris Rowan

At Buffalo Bill’s House – The Silence of the Lambs film location, our mission is to preserve and share cinematic history with cinephiles from the around the world who appreciate it as much as we do. Our unique and immersive experience doesn’t just let movie lovers walk in the footsteps of cinematic history, it encourages them to feel it for themselves courtesy of our interactive film sets inside the house. Building these sets, has been a labor of love for owner Chris Rowan, who has had a fondness for cinema since childhood. Read more>>

Rida Karim

In school, those habits start early. You hesitate to raise your hand, haunted by the teacher’s voice: “Why don’t you get it? We’ve already gone over this.” Or worse, the look on their face when you answer wrong—“Seven? Seriously? The answer is eleven.” By the time you’re nine, you’ve learned the safest response is silence. Don’t ask questions. Don’t risk being wrong. Just act like you understand. Read more>>

Henry Baker

My mission is to empower individuals to create healthier, more fulfilling lives through transformational cooking. About four years ago, I had weight loss surgery and lost 140 pounds, a journey that completely reshaped my relationship with food, health, and myself. That experience showed me the power of food as a tool for healing and transformation—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. Read more>>