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?

Steve Walsh

I’m here to showcase the every day beauty I come into contact with. Read more>>

Taylor Bell

If you asked me this question a year ago I would say my mission was to capture the beauty with my camera that I see In real life. This year has taught me how short and sweet life can be, so I have focused rebranding my business to revolve on capturing the season of life my clients are in. To a tell a story of love, or new life. Life certain times of life doesn’t always seem like a beautiful time but I can promise when you look back on it you’ll be glad you have those memories to hold on to forever. Read more>>

Lisa Hodorovych

My mission is to help fellow writers live their dream of being a published author. Why? Because I have always loved telling stories, I have always dreamed of publishing my work, and I know there’s so many others like me out in the world who are having the same dream but are finding it difficult to live it. Read more>>

Anthony Mobley Jr

I launched my business in 2019 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic which was extremely tough. The name of my Agency is “Mobley Marketing 19” many people questioned if the number 19 was related to the pandemic. The answer is NO, My birthday is January 19th, and the number 19 is my favorite number so “Mobley Marketing 19” represents my family name and the day I was born 1/19. That is MM19 was born in 2019 during COVID-19 but definitely not the reasoning of the name of my business. Read more>>

Samara Gallagher

I want to spend the rest of my life trying new cuisines/flavors. I never want to stop exploring and sharing the goodies I find. I want more people to stop being afraid to try new food and get out of their comfort zone. Orlando has so many gems and you don’t have to go to travel too far just to get something amazing. Read more>>

Sheila Burns-Owens

I am a retired educator who started a business making Handcrafted String Quilted Pillows with Back Pockets Read more>>

Reggie Lewis

I am enamored by the tremendous impact that beauty pageants have on the social, emotional, academic and professional development of women. Read more>>

Melissa Torre

I was a chef prior to starting my skincare business. I owned a small bakery cafe, and we were known for using local and organic ingredients before it was something that was as widespread as it is now. I also worked as a private chef, where nutrition and food sustainability were my focus. I myself had struggled with an auto immune condition, misdiagnosed over the years as Lyme, Hashimotos, and MS, and found that the right diet could work wonders on reducing symptoms. One of the most persistent symptoms I had was psoriasis, which I could never seem to fully kick. Read more>>

Erika Maynor

I love all things different and beautiful. The mission with The Crafter’s Closet by EMaynor has always been to create the “WOW” factor for your front door. Just like when we are feeling kind of down and frumpy about an outfit choice, we can add an accessory or a pop of color and it can literally transform the clothing from ordinary to extraordinary. The same applies to our homes. A wreath or door charm, a vertical welcome sign, some garland or a whole porch decor design can transform your home and will make you want that energy inside of your house as well. The saying “when you look better, you feel better” applies to where you reside as well. Read more>>

Shane Adams

My main goal/mission is to eventually have my own film/skate shop and teach classes to mainly AA kids who can’t afford the start up of photography. I want to help educate them on the business side of things as well. I would like to throw more events where I give free headshots to those AA artists, photographers, entrepreneurs, etc. I was raised on giving and I’ve been blessed to have great people who did that for me outside of the photography industry, but for me it all goes hand and hand. Also, leaving a legacy so that one day my kid can have something to call hers is the ultimate goal. Read more>>

Ashakia Morgan

Morgan’s Naturals is a small business that sells inclusive natural hair growth products for all hair types. Morgan’s Naturals goal is to distribute high-quality hair growth products for women, men, teens, and small children across demographics and the globe. The uniqueness of Morgan’s Naturals products is, both items were formulated after experiencing hair loss due to postpartum or medical conditions that cause hair loss, with the lack of natural hair growth products on the market shelves to help bring back the hair’s optimal health, making hair stronger, softer, and longer for all. Read more>>

Maggie Tammik

The story behind my mission for Magnolia’s Kitchen is strongly related to my views surrounding veganism and how it has changed my life in so many ways. For as long as I can remember, food has always played such an important role in my life. It wasn’t until 2020 when I really began researching what vegan meant, and why such a growing number of people across the globe are joining the movement. I thought of ways I could introduce some of the commonly held values into my everyday life, while still staying true to myself and my morals. The past two years since then have been such a whirlwind for me. Read more>>

Becca Tetzlaff

I actually find that a LOT of people that are interested in wellness, clean beauty, and an organic lifestyle have a similar origin story to mine: a health scare or health issue usually fuels the interest! Read more>>

Lissa Kay

Lusciously Silked Mission is to provide our customers with products to keep their hair healthy and skin youthful. With purchasing our 100% satin products lesser trips to the salon and fewer dollars spent. When i was growing up if I came home with my hair a mess, my mom wouldn’t do my hair again or just fuss about it. No one wants to her a fuss and no one wants to walk around with there hair not tamed. Read more>>

Selmin Karatas

Kazani is named after the traditional copper kettle used for millennia in the Mediterranean over an open fire to slowly prepare remedies and formulas. While Kazani products are not made using this ancient method, the namesake aims to symbolize the thought, consideration, and passion behind each and every small-batch product made, using only the purest and most potent ingredients to elevate the hair and skin’s natural composition. Read more>>

Jarrell Allen

My mission is to give back to my community in every way possible through my lens. I started my business almost 3 years ago (February 2020) not knowing two months later I would loose a piece of my heart (my mom) I held on to her words “ son I’m proud of you” is what kept my heart beating for this new adventure I started to realized that I enjoyed creating experiences and moments that can last a life time (hints the name A Moment Created Photography). I started to enjoy the thought that people would be able to look back at pictures/videos and relive those moments through my lens. I enjoy being able to give back. Read more>>

Regina Duggins

Growing up in a single parent home with a very supportive and loving mother; I often wondered as I became older why some of my siblings lived closeted lives? At the age of 25, I decided to let my family, friends, and my community into my life. I was finally comfortable in my skin as a Black Lesbian Woman. It took lots of courage and a tough skin to walk in these shoes. With hearing the many challenges and obstacles that other LGBTQ+ of color individuals faced, the creation of starting Charleston Black Pride – an LGBTQ+ of Color organization where individuals could walk in their truths and know that representation does matter. Read more>>

Cornelius Lathan

As a creator I’ve struggled trying to find myself in corporate America. The thought of trying to fit in and live a normal life and work a 9 to 5 often gave me anxiety. As a young kid I knew from the start that I would one day create something special and work for myself I just didn’t know how I was going to do it. My mission now is to be a mentor and help find that young person who is in the same place I was once in and help them find their way out using their own creative avenues. Read more>>

Tecola Burrows

My mission started from being bound by fear & not knowing my identity in Christ. It left me voiceless & hopeless. I started to search for more and build my relationship deeper with God which led to me finding my identity. I started my podcast show voiceless just a woman living by faith & a vision God has given me. This vision turned out to be bigger than I thought and now I have a community of believers who are walking by faith & not by sight. I help women find their voice through podcasting because I was once HER and now I’m on a mission to help build the voiceless. Read more>>

Ben Bower

My company Training Solutions International has a very unique backstory that forms the basis for the mission of the company. Training Solutions International (TSI for short) is actually a spinoff of a non-profit organization called the Central Aid Agency. The Central Aid Agency (C.A.A. for short) provides disaster response and other emergency services, their specialty is providing trained responders to primarily governmental entities when additional resources are needed during large incidents. I serve as both the Executive Director for the Central Aid Agency, as well as the Company Manager and Chief Instructor for Training Solutions International, so I run both entities. Read more>>

Molly Fitzpatrick

As a textile designer, I think in repeat and see pattern as a great equalizer. Patterns are distinguishing, comforting, memorable and lasting. Patterns are accessible to all, given their prominent role in our societies as the background rhythms of our lives- no art history degree or previous access is needed to experience colors and shapes dancing in perfect tempo together. It is my intention to help you create a vibrant connection to your space with bold textiles. Through the universal language of patterns, spaces that include engaging textiles are welcoming, memorable, and conversation starting. Read more>>

Zaida Alfaro

Most of us have dreams we would like to realize, things we would like to change, or do differently in our lives. I aim to empower women to make those changes. My purpose is to bring out your inner confidence, self-value, and true self. This unstoppable confidence will enable you to smash through those barriers and limited beliefs that you have about yourself and move forward with your life. Read more>>

Melissa Nelson

Our vision at South Bend Industrial Hemp is to become the recognized leader in the industrial hemp processing industry by providing high-quality hemp materials which will be made into products. Our vision will support the continued growth of a new industry. Our focus is continuing our family farm principles and establishing those values as the foundation for our company. At the end of the day, we are farmers, for farmers, and understand this is a bottleneck in the industry that needs to be addressed Read more>>

Answai Bennett

My name is Answai Bennett. The true story behind my mission is when I was growing up. My auntie Momo was a very clean person and she used to make us clean. Preferably me and my sister we would have to clean the refrigerator, clean oven, clean the dishes, sweep and mop, the floor make beds. She was a neat freak, and anything that was dirty would set her off. Read more>>

Jacquisha Todd

The story behind my mission is, I’ve always been a peoples person and always had a passion for helping people. I sit and observe social media friends and see different things in the nature of competition with one another. When in reality there’s no competition when you’re from different places, have family in different states, etc. Clientele can literally come from all over. With that being said I created a platform/organization called Lets Talk Black-Owned Business. Its a corporation that helps businesses succeed and be pushed to their full potential. This corporation is a no judgement no competition zone. Read more>>

Megan Pitts

When we were getting married back in 2013 it was so hard to find the wedding vendors that we could identify with as a young black couple. Instagram and Pinterest were relatively new so the main way people were finding wedding vendors were through Word of Mouth and at very impersonal Bridal Shows. The photography aspect of our day was very important to us as we had started to become obsessed with photography in 2010 and were very passionate about our hobby. Read more>>

Denise Mosley

I’m in the business of creating and influencing people’s opinions about a person or thing and creating their brands so that specific audiences believe in who they are and what they have to offer: My focus is to create a presence for a persons brand and leverage that presence to create client, community and customer relationships. My mission is to give not only a presence to a person that will cause anyone to take notice but to also and most importantly usher them to a place of confidence that will lead them to success for years to come. I want to serve want to serve everyone from the janitor who wakes up one day and decides to start his own thing but doesn’t necessarily believe he has what it takes to get noticed to the Seasoned CEO who just needs fresh ideas to appeal to a different market. Read more>>

Onyekachi Eze

I was born in the eastern part of Nigeria in a very humble home, my father was a priest in a nearly buy community church, and my mum and graphic artist. She made amazing artwork with canvas, brushes, oil paints, and poster colors. Far from what it is today, with the help of tools like photoshop, illustrator, etc. I learned fundamentally by observation and being close to my mother to draw and paint. Read more>>

Johanna Middleton

Gray Area Stories is a podcast focusing on the healing journeys of survivors of sexual violence. The name comes from a documentary film created by my podcast co-host, Erica Michelle Hart. The film follows Erica having a vulnerable conversation with a man who sexually assaulted her. The two of us have been collaborating creatively since 2016 and when Erica asked me to support the film, I jumped at the chance. Read more>>

Destiny Rogowski

When I was a little girl, my eyes were completely crossed. I had to wear a patch over one eye like a pirate, and giant thick glasses. I was told almost everyday that I was ugly, or scary, or don’t look at me. So I found myself obsessing over what it would be like to be pretty. I was always friends with all the pretty girls, always crushing on the guys that were crushing on them. I was reading every Teen Magazine article about makeup, hair, trends in clothing etc. Read more>>

Alan Steinberg

In the 1970s development in Houston was a little fast and loose. The ideal images people had of the suburbs were not the realities. Getting to the central business district involved traffic jams, schools were over crowded, and the amenities that we think of in the suburbs like trails and parks were few and far between. A group of developers saw the future of Houston to the West, from Dairy Ashford to the city of Katy. In the mid to late 1970s this area was experiencing dramatic growth and concurrently the onset of urban problems. Read more>>

Donielle DeClou

I’ve always been drawn to beautiful things and while attending the Art Institute of NYC I started working at Anthropologie after falling in love with their home decor assortment and creative lifestyle merchandising. I spent over 8 years growing, learning, and deepening my love of home life with a goal of becoming a Visual Merchandiser which I eventually achieved. Customers would always ask me if I could do what I did in our store in their own home. Read more>>

Zandrina Dunning

As an artist with my own story I know that so many of my peers have endured the hardship that comes along with living our dreams, achieving our goals, & succeeding to our highest potential. It’s that sauce that helps us to to create meaningful work and what helps to builds our strength, our faith in God, & the heart to keep going. Our creativity gets us through. Read more>>

Lenny Ovadia

I am the product of a broken home and a single mother on welfare. I have vivid memories of sleeping on floors, cockroaches and even keeping what little food we had stored in a small styrofoam cooler tucked in an alleyway. I remember my mother selling our car for rent and long walks pushing a grocery cart we had borrowed from the supermarket down the street. At each red light, you could feel pity stares coming from the cars as we crossed the street, my mother, younger brother and me. Read more>>

Tearra Dotson

As a teenage mom, statistically, Tearra wasn’t supposed to amount to anything. When Tearra founded HOPS Heart of Charity, the main focus was to be the voice for young women in ensuring they never feel like a statistic. Read more>>

Koury Wilson

The mission for my fitness company, SWEATbody Lab, is simple: To make women stronger and feel badass in their beautiful skin. That said, I don’t solely work with women. In fact, one of my first clients is a man who came to me a few years ago having never worked out a day in his life aside from P.E. in grade school. He was ready for change. I watched him put in the work and it became enough of a passion where he became a certified trainer himself! Read more>>

Tiffany Eggleston

When I was a high school student and applied for college admissions, financial aid was also a part of the process. Although my parents and I had no experience with financial aid we applied anyway, but with the assumption that since I came from a middle class family, I probably wouldn’t be eligible for financial aid, especially any free money. One of the colleges I applied to, was USC and when we received the FAFSA back, it indicated that I was not eligible for the Pell grant (which is only one financial aid resource). Read more>>

Laura Khoudari

My work grew out of my own experience healing from trauma, not just in therapy, but on the gym floor too. In the winter of 2014-2015 I designed a holistic program to move support my own treatment for PTSD that combined talk therapy, mindfulness, bodywork, and strength training. Read more>>

Takema James Carrion

2018 started off as the best year of my business filled with a packed schedule, dedicated clients and growing income. The parents I worked with were excited for our sessions and gave the most amazing feedback. My therapy business was thriving but I felt like I was at my max. Read more>>

Patricia Shea

I was about ten years old when walking home from school one day, I found a $20 bill on the sidewalk near my family’s house. That night at dinner, when I could finally get a word in edgewise, I announced my great fortune to my family. Read more>>

Corey Brown

Well I have always been creative, but I was in the music business initially for several years but I was spending more time than money being made so I switched my company to more of a company that offers creative services. So my sons Tevion and Tyvier were athletes growing up and I always tried to make my sons teams or just them look sweet, lol. So my son Ty came up with the name El Diesel I told him we can turn it into a sports brand and we can be one of the few black owned sports and goods company. Read more>>

Kristina Ellis

Every journey is different and there is no one way to accomplish a set goal. I had to learn this the hard way and I feel in society people are taught success comes by following specific paths and that just is not true. Krysalis was established with the butterfly in mind. The chrysalis process is when the caterpillar is transforming into the butterfly it is meant to be. It is a process and this process takes time and when the process is complete the butterfly breaks out and spreads its wings. Read more>>

LARONDA SULLIVAN

My mission: Coco’s Beauties celebrates all people and encourages confidence through education and a positive environment dedicated to enhancing each person’s natural beauty. Read more>>

Chanel Addishin

I decided to start my plant-based journey due to being diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. That form of lupus attacks the internal organs; the liver, lungs, heart and kidneys. Unfortunately, there is no cure for lupus. I was dying. My rheumatologist gave me a short life expectancy of 32 and advised that the probability of having a child was slim to none, and if I did, it was a considerable risk to my life. Read more>>

Yenia Jimenez

My writing is based on real-life experiences and I’ve learned from being in different spaces that the need for our cultures, history, and representation is vital. Without it, we are unable to show our younger generation that we are too capable of having a seat at the table. With my approach I want my books to stand out and make a presence in the room. From poetry, prose, and storytelling to nonfiction writing indigenous people are very underrepresented. My family is my biggest inspiration for my writing, storytelling was very important within our generations we always sat down to listen to stories of our ancestors. Read more>>

Stephanie Penny

Some of the most important topics that we need or the next generation needs to know isn’t being taught, at least not in the majority of homes. Not pointing fingers at any one but one reason is because the generation before then just didn’t or doesn’t know. My missions are always centered around what value or education can we provide that needs to be known. We strive to elevate, educate and help others reach their goals. Read more>>

Janice Cruz

In 2019, I was dealt with a breast cancer diagnosis. Instead of feeling afraid, I actually felt relief. I had spent my life as someone who shied away from speaking up for myself, from putting myself first, and from prioritizing happiness. That diagnosis was the first moment in as long as I could remember where I felt that I had permission to choose myself. Cancer gave me a chance to pour all of my energy into my own wellness. I learned about how closely tied illness and emotions are and as one of the many actions I began taking to focus on healing, I started learning about what self-love meant. Read more>>

May Cheree

As a sports mom myself, I created Mommie Athletics because I seen how many mom’s were there supporting their child(ren) from practice to games to sports events without taking the time she needed for herself. Yes, we all love being mom’s and supporting our children but Mommie Athletics is a brand designed to remind mom’s the importance of self-care. Read more>>

Brittney Dorsey

I started making smoothies & juice in 2014. I launch my business in March of 2020. Helping people to live a healthier lifestyle and hearing their stories about how they love my drinks makes me feel like I’m accomplishing my mission. Read more>>

Cait Berry

My mission is to help people accept ownership in their lives. When we’re feeling unsatisfied in life, it’s tempting to blame the circumstances around us. In reality, we each are the common denominators in our own lives. If we’re moving too fast through life, we may forget the simple fact that we are the ones who have the power to initiate change and align with exactly what we want and need. This all starts by making yourself relevant. When you make yourself relevant, you acknowledge yourself, you become aware of who you truly are, and you advocate for what you want and need. When you make yourself relevant, you take back your power and stop innocently standing by as life happens to you. Read more>>

Nate Webb

I was bullied a lot as a kid. From name calling and trash cans, to physical assault and belittlement. It all came to a climax when 15 of my classmates got on Facebook messenger my 10th grade year and told me to “go kill yourself”. I started to believe that my life maybe wans ‘t worth living. Thankfully that is not where my story ends. thankfully I was able to learn resiliency and was able to come back stronger than ever. But for too many kids, that is the end of their story. Read more>>