Everyday we meet business owners, professionals, artists and creatives. Photographers, florists, realtors and more. They might come from different backgrounds, work in different industries, have varying personalities, and have vastly different income and educational profiles, but the one thing we’ve seen over and over again is that most people have a unique and special reason for why they do what they do. From a realtor helping families afford the first home he always wished for as a kid to a photographer using her skills to give a voice and face to victims who feel voiceless, we have been blown away by what happens when you just ask people a simple question – why do you do what you do?

Chibuzo Ohakpougwu

I take art very seriously. It occupies a good percentage of who I am. I was born with it and with time, I have been able to develop it. The journey has not been easy but it’s worth the stress and time and effort put into it.
I love fabrics and I like to create art with fabrics; sometimes not as an actual clothing and not also as a wearable art but as something entirely different that I cannot begin to describe. This is how I express myself. Read more>>

Jacqui Burge

My mission is to help women learn to soften to find their strength—to stop fighting their bodies and start trusting their wisdom. But this isn’t something I learned in a textbook. It’s something I lived through over three decades of recovery and rebuilding. Read more>>

Matt Southerland

Civil Grooming has a mission, to bring awareness to each individual’s sense of purpose, and to foster diverse community through grooming. Read more>>

Natalie Goodman

Western Wellness Social Club started in one of the most unexpected seasons of my life. After leaving a toxic relationship, I found myself back in the saddle—literally—and completely fell in love with horses again. I got my own horse, Rorschach, and after a solo trip to Montana, I caught the line dancing bug. Somewhere between the barn and the dance floor, I realized that these two incredible communities rarely overlapped—and that so many people curious about Western life had no idea where to start. Read more>>

Tenaeja Garland

My mission has always been to bring people together through music. No matter who you are or where you come from, I believe music has the power to break down walls and create real connections. When I’m behind the decks, I’m not just playing songs—I’m creating a space where everyone can feel the energy, the rhythm, and the soul that unites us all under one roof. With this being known, it’s important to understand that no matter if someone is opposed to certain religions, races, cultures, ideologies, or what have you – music is love, music heals all, and music unites! Read more>>

Antonia Burton

The mission is elevating lives with music. I grew up in East Cleveland, OH. it is a neighborhood that has a lower socioeconomic status. I joined the high school marching band in middle school. It was just getting started again after being shut down in the city. Through this program I worked with other kids, became a section leader and taught music to my peers through the 12th grade. This program made such an impact on us because it elevated our view of life from where we currently were. we had visions of college and doing much more that was available to us. It helped a lot of at risk youth stay out of trouble and have something constructive to do. Read more>>

Kaleigh Neujahr

I have always been a lover of travel. Since I was a little girl, I’ve craved seeing and experiencing quite literally everything, from the Disney parks to historic monuments and tiny seaside towns. I fell in love with the magic of Walt Disney World watching commercials on TV and VHS tapes in the 90’s, I knew that place was magical and I dreamed of going there. Once I had kids, I quickly realized that I wanted them to be able to experience and travel as much as possible. Travel is often viewed as a luxury, but I want to help people realize that it doesn’t have to be, there is so much out there to see and explore beyond their own little pocket of life, and enjoy it as well. Read more>>

Joshua Hays

We are not defined by what is done to us, but so often by how we respond to the cards we have been dealt by life. I’ve had the honor and privilege of watching so many amazing individuals take on some of the toughest of life challenges and still choose to walk in integrity, in kindness, in humility and love. Through this observance, I have been able to craft stories and take photographs that speak volumes to the people who come in contact with them. This shift in perspective is vital to the human condition. In my media company, we strive to share these stories and perspectives to impact the world, even if it is only a few viewers or readers. Read more>>

Sariya Saabye

When I was growing up, at first glance it looked like I was thriving — top student, elite athlete, the one who could juggle it all and still smile through it. But behind closed doors, I was barely holding it together. I struggled with insomnia, disordered eating, and overwhelming suicidal thoughts. My mind never stopped racing, and nothing I achieved ever felt like enough. Read more>>

Bailey Gauci

My mission is deeply personal. For over a decade, I kept a secret that shaped every aspect of my life: I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teenager. Growing up, I was afraid of being “gross” or “weird,” so I hid my illness from everyone outside my family. This meant constantly worrying about what I could eat, what I had to sneak away to do, and what my friends might think if they ever found out. This chronic, incurable illness made me feel isolated and completely different from everyone else. Read more>>

Nikith Joshua DSouza

For me, design has always been about creating impact, not just making something look good. My career in healthcare has shown me the weight of that responsibility. When you design for clinical trials, you’re not just shaping a screen or a workflow; you’re indirectly shaping the experience of patients and researchers. The products I’ve worked on have touched more than eleven million patients around the world. Knowing that my work contributes to making clinical research more inclusive, accessible, and efficient is deeply rewarding. Read more>>

Mari

 

My journey began at the young age of 10 when I entered the entertainment industry as a child actor. I spent my entire youth in Tokyo, dedicating myself to countless acting lessons and auditions, all in the hopes of becoming famous.

Despite my best efforts, major roles never materialized. It was a painful experience to watch my peers, who were taking the same lessons, find success. Looking back, I realize that this period of struggle and failure fueled a strong sense of rebellion and resilience within me. Read more>>

Alex Duffey
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Designed For You: Gifts, objects and furniture handcrafted from local ethically sourced hardwoods. The mission at Duffey Woodcraft is to create beautiful, functional, and enduring handcrafted items that bring joy and meaningful connections into people’s lives while being ethical and environmentally focused. Read more>>

Jennifer Perkel

My mission as a farmers market manager and pop-up market organizer is to bring people together and create spaces where the community can connect with amazing local farmers, makers, and small businesses. I work hard to make sure every market is unique and well-curated—so you’re not seeing the same thing at every booth—and that both vendors and customers have a great experience. It’s about supporting local, helping small businesses grow, and giving people a fun, friendly place to shop, meet neighbors, and enjoy the day. I also love teaching and guiding new vendors so they feel confident and prepared, whether it’s their first market or their hundredth. At the end of the day, it’s about building community, boosting local economies, and making sure everyone leaves happy—whether they came for the tomatoes, the handmade soap, or just the good vibes. Read more>>

Christina Holloway

At Simply You, my mission is to warmly welcome every client who walks through our doors, fostering an environment where everyone feels accepted and valued. This commitment stems from a personal experience from my childhood when my mother and I faced ridicule at a salon due to her disability, cerebral palsy. That moment left us humiliated, and I vowed that if I ever owned a business, it would be a sanctuary free from judgment—a place characterized by compassion, support, and inclusivity. I am wholeheartedly dedicated to this mission and will continue to uphold these values in the salon. Read more>>

Shant Samuelian

Shant didn’t stumble into real estate, he was thrown straight into the deep end. Fresh out of school, he went to work for one of the largest developers in the country, a man who plays the game at the highest level. The projects were huge, the stakes were higher, and there was no room for mistakes. Shant learned fast. Over the years, he helped bring more than $450 million worth of developments to life, towers, apartments, mixed-use hubs. But amid all the glitz and spreadsheets, Shant noticed something: the deals that truly changed neighborhoods weren’t always the most expensive ones. They were the affordable housing projects, rare, complex, and often overlooked. Read more>>

Anthony Lewis

At Next Chapter Coaching, my mission is to help people release the weight of past hurts, rediscover their inner strength, and embrace the next chapter to their lives with courage and excitement. But this mission isn’t just a business statement – it’s deeply personal.

For years, I carried my own share of heavy chapters. I knew what it felt like to navigate uncertainty, loss, and change without a clear map forward. The turning point came when a mentor saw something in me I couldn’t yet see in myself. Through compassion, honest reflection, and practical guidance, they helped me step into a vision of my life I hadn’t dared to imagine. That experience ignited a fire in me – I wanted to be that same source of light for others. Read more>>

Rosemary Kimani Claire Rouger

“Sometimes you set out knowing your mission. Other times, it quietly finds you”
For us at Authentic Food Quest, our mission truly found us, evolving from a personal quest to transforming the way people connect with culture and themselves through the universal language of food.
Food offers us a window into a culture, the people, and a country. And in our opinion, it is the best way to discover local culture. Read more>>

Victoria Plotnikova And Alexander Stepanets

We are Ukrainian artists – Victoria Plotnikova and Alexander Stepanets and our practice is grounded in lived experience and the deep war trauma. Previous civilian prisoners of war, we are familiar with the pain of torture, silence, fear and dehumanization that war internees endure. This lived experience guides our artistic practice – we utilize visual art not only as a self-expression, but also as a powerful means of human rights activism. Read more>>

Kristen Judd

At the core of our work lies a deep commitment to creating a future where individuals and families, especially in Middle America, have access to the financial education and tools they need to secure their financial independence. Through Five Rings Financial, we are working tirelessly to empower people to make informed decisions about their financial futures, helping them build wealth, protect their assets, and achieve their financial goals. As someone who has spent over a decade in business, I’ve seen firsthand how lack of access to financial knowledge can leave families vulnerable, and it drives me to help close that gap. I’m passionate about providing the right tools so that people in Middle America can build sustainable wealth and leave a legacy for future generations. Read more>>

Britt DuMonceaux

The tagline that you’ll see from time to time alongside Render Boudoir is “love yourself, your body, your life more fiercely,” and I suppose you could consider that a shortened version of a mission statement. I’ve written and re-written mission statements over the years that mostly gather dust and never are formally set into stone anywhere, but the idea behind Render Boudoir is this: to use art and the idea of your own vessel as a masterpiece itself to invite feelings of worthiness, agency, acceptance, beauty, and self-love into your every day sense of self. Read more>>

Danielle Sebastian

I help partners of trauma survivors break free from the exhaustion of walking on eggshells and reclaim their peace, confidence, and connection. Drawing on 20+ years of evidence-based research as a licensed pharmacist and my own lived experience in a trauma-impacted marriage, I combine proven strategies with real-world understanding to guide women toward lasting change—without trying to “fix” anyone else. My mission is to empower you to take control of what you can control, rebuild your joy, and create a marriage and life that feels lighter, stronger, and deeply fulfilling. Read more>>

Brandon Delcid Rios

The story behind See The World Foundation begins with my own. I was born with a closed right eyelid, and for the first five years of my life I could not open it at all. When I was six, I had surgery that allowed the eyelid to open halfway, and to this day it still only opens halfway. Over time I have learned to put in extra effort to open it wider out of habit, but when I am relaxed it is very clear that my eye remains only half open. On top of that, I have struggled with poor vision in both eyes, which made even ordinary moments in school and daily life more challenging. Growing up with those conditions shaped the way I saw myself and the world around me, and it showed me how much vision challenges can affect every part of life. Read more>>

Calvin Robinson Jr

My mission is simple but powerful: to help people—particularly Black men—take ownership of their lives, their decisions, and their legacies. I want to inspire self-mastery, intentional living, and personal accountability, because I’ve seen firsthand how a lack of standards, clarity, and purpose can derail potential. This isn’t just about motivation or feel-good advice—it’s about giving people the tools and frameworks to build real, sustainable success in life, relationships, and business. Read more>>

Maria

I started my business Three Days Saved just this year. We haven’t officially launched yet but are steadily increasing buzz on social media. Three Days Saved is a Christian clothing company. Every collection that is created will target a particular issue, and a % of the sales will go towards organizations addressing said issue. Read more>>

Baby Egypt

My mission is to sprinkle knowledge in my music . Or atleast run knowledgeable things past my listeners consciousness. And why?, because knowledge is power. Read more>>

Aubreigh Adams

When I started Aromatic Adventures With Aubreigh, I didn’t just want to make candles—I wanted to create something that could help others feel safe, calm, and comforted, just like I need sometimes. As a person with autism, I’ve experienced how certain sights, sounds, and smells can be overwhelming or soothing. I know what it’s like to feel anxious or overstimulated, and I’ve learned that the right environment can make a huge difference. Read more>>

Dr. Regina Bumper

My mission is to equip parents with the support, resources, and knowledge they need to build healthy, fulfilling lives for themselves and their children—while prioritizing their mental well-being. My goal is to strengthen communities by coaching and mentoring mothers and fathers in ways that foster positive lifestyles and emotional resilience for families around the world. Read more>>

Jenna Sasala

I’m a photographer in the Pittsburgh area specializing in high school senior, couple, and family portraits. I’m located north of Pittsburgh (in the most adorable small town of Zelienople!), but I travel around the greater Pittsburgh area for photo sessions! Read more>>

Stephanie and Brody Abbat-Slater

Our mission as a family run micro business is to always be supporting local. We not only try to use as many locally sourced ingredients in our recipes as we can (even going as far as to use a bi-product of The Cure Hot Sauce Co to make one of our recipes). We make seasonal small batch mustards, utilizing what farmers have too much of, or what might be harder to sell ( one of our best small batch sellers is our garlic scape and basil mustard!) We carry only locally and BC made products in our shop- with the exception of imported cheeses. Supporting our local growers and producers is so important to us, because it creates a better food network for everybody, keeps money in our community and directly impacts those around us. We are constantly striving to make each mustard from as many local ingredients as we can. Read more>>

Chelsey Hunt

So many women stand in front of a full closet and still feel like they have nothing to wear. I know I’ve been there.

After years of reselling, I realized people weren’t simply “giving up” clothes. Often, they were letting go of things that they didn’t know how to style or didn’t feel quite right in. I heard it from women myself. So, it got my wheels turning: what if the problem isn’t the clothing? What if the problem is that, when women don’t know what to do, they have no one to turn to to help them style what they have? Read more>>

Leon Hembry

At Total Effort Fitness, and now with our new recovery initiative Rest Assured, our mission is to empower people to take ownership of their health—physically, mentally, and spiritually. We believe that effort is the difference-maker. Not perfection. Not luck. Just effort—applied consistently, supported by the right people, and rooted in faith. Read more>>