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?
Abby Imel
When I first got a hold of a camera at the age of 3, I obviously didn’t think it would land me to a full-time career. Photography has been apart of my life since I can remember. My mom used to take photos of my siblings and I, I had tons of toy cameras, and that slowly developed into me getting my first DSLR. Every photo I took or have memory of has been put into a large collection of photo albums that my mom creates for me every year. Read more>>
Nicholas Ayala
SLCT Stock’s main goal has always been to bring our take on curated vintage clothing to our customers at an affordable price. Nothing makes us happier than selling our customers that piece of clothing they can call their favorite. With the fast fashion industry creating so much waste, it has never been more important to revisit vintage clothing and try to repurpose items from our past. Read more>>
Lauren Simone
“I am right in the middle of my weight loss journey. But unfortunately, I am not where I want to be with my body goals. I am turning 29, and everything seems to be going in the right direction, but I need the perfect birthday dress for my birthday dinner.”, the exact thoughts and feelings I felt in December 2022. Read more>>
Morgan Muchori
Morgan Danielle’s Closet (soon to be known as Muchori) was born from a desire to help others, as well as myself, feel confident. Clothing helps me express a mood, a vibe, and it sets a tone for how I exist in the world. I am a registered nurse, which has nothing to do with fashion, but it speaks to my desire to serve. I want to help and inspire people to wear elevated looks that they might not have felt like they could wear before. Read more>>
Aramide Dada
I started to experience low-self esteem by the age of 4, when I was violated by a family member. I dealt with physical, emotional and verbal abuse from family members that were supposed to protect me. I started to hate myself because they made me feel like I caused and deserved the abuse. At school, I was bullied for my accent, body and hair. I hated myself even more and woke up each day wishing I was someone else. Read more>>
Derek Montgomery
I’m Derek Dominique, A Music Artist/Songwriter From Houston Texas. I Grew Up In Neighborhood Called ‘Herschelwood’ and that’s where my music journey began. I was all the school talent shows and church talent shows growing up. My love for music started from my mama(Patricia Montgomery) she was always into music and played Body And Soul Cassette Tapes Every Day In The House. Read more>>
Kim Doughty-McCannon
Our mission behind opening The Farmstand, our on-farm local foods grocery store, was to make locally grown food more assessable to our community while also providing other small farmers in our area a year-round market to sell their goods. We had been growing and selling produce and flowers at our local farmers market for several years but saw that there was a need for more local food options in our city. Read more>>
Alyssa Russo
The mission of Wyllo is to highlight small batch women owned brands. To understand the story behind my mission, it’s important to know a little bit about my history and how I became a shop owner. After college, I found myself working a myriad of different jobs in the fine jewelry industry, from customer service to retail to account management and more. One of the companies I was working at offered to cover classes from GIA (The Gemological Institute of America). Read more>>
Hunter Hoaglund
I founded Go Low Golf to help golfers play better golf. Through custom club fitting, our world-class simulators, a full build shop, and certified instructors- we can help golfers in any and all aspects to help them “Go Low”! After working for an industry leader for a couple years as a master fitter, I decided to chase my dream and do what I am most passionate about- helping others play better golf and enjoy this wonderful game a little more than they did before they walked in my doors. Read more>>
Lee Smalter
When I opened the gallery, one of my most important goals from the start was to create a space more welcoming and comfortable than any other gallery space I had been in. A majority of the galleries I’ve visited, especially prominent for-profit spaces, are intimidating to visitors unfamiliar with the art world. Knowing this, I chose the location on 39th street because it was in a tight knit, community focused neighborhood and also outside of the crossroads art district, which attracts more experienced collectors. Read more>>
Deajonae McCord
Hey, my name is Deajonae & I’m a 22 year old mom of 3. I remember sitting in my living room at 4am after just finding out I was pregnant with my 3rd child at 21, thinking how will I make great money for my kids and I. I prayed to god and told him to send me a sign & he did just that. I opened the app tiktok and the first thing I seen was a girl selling purses. Read more>>
Sophocles Plokamakis
My mission since I first started teaching Manga, Anime, Comics, Drawing, Photoshop and Yu-Gi-Oh! at the After 3 at NEST+M (a gifted and talented school in the Lower East Side) was to create a Neo Art Renaissance on Earth. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in cartooning, I was convinced I would never step foot in another school ever again. Read more>>
Allen Long
High Hopes Development Center is both an early childhood program and pediatric therapy clinic combined. We serve the needs of children who require speech and language, physical, occupational, or feeding therapy through our clinic. We are also a school serving children typically developing (60%) and those with special needs (40%). At High Hopes, we are not afraid of a diagnosis or, better yet, a child who doesn’t even have a diagnosis yet. We support children and their families where they are for success through education, therapy services, and loving support. Read more>>
Freddie Cocker
I started my mental health platform VENT in September 2017. Read more>>
Peter Deeley
We started A well Run Life in 2014 as a health and wellness company. We spent time in those days talking to people 1 to 1 about their health. Here is a video from those early days: https://youtu.be/AA1RMb8XztY Read more>>
Aminata Fofanah
Amjul was started with the mission to fill a void, lack of inclusion and diversity in the food and beverage CPG industry Read more>>
Alyssa Kapnik Samuel
In 2016, I had a traumatic birth, and it took me a few months to realize that the thing I really needed most was to process my birth experience with other women. The best way I could think to do that was to talk with and photograph women right after birth. It was incredibly therapeutic for me to work through my experience by being present and documenting the other mothers. I still feel “postpartum” all these years later. Read more>>
Annah Meintzer
My mission as a portrait photographer is to preserve memories and show others the importance of connection and worthiness through documentation. I love looking through old photos of my parents, my grandparents, me as a baby and being grateful that all of our lives were documented even when nothing special was happening. Photos of my Dad sitting in the backyard with our dog while he reads the morning newspaper is so intimate. Looking back at those kinds of slow paced photos showing someone’s real self is so special. Read more>>
Lucca Petrucci
I envision a world where our youth have the support, resources, opportunities, and representation to feel free to be 100% themselves and live fully expressed. Read more>>
Verlincia Hill
My mission is to get youth, people from inner cities, and all the people closest to me to continuously show up as their highest self. I want to continue to encourage everyone to use their god given talents and gifts. Everyone needs positive reinforcement. Read more>>
Chelsea Rowen
Thousands of dollars in debt, my face was covered in cystic acne that was the size of golf balls, and all I could do was mask real internal problems with beauty products and any cosmetic treatment I could find. I was shopping for all different types of beauty products to help. And even though they were top of the line, they were actually making my skin worse. Read more>>
Matt McKee
Being a Travel Agent, Agent 1000 with Travelmation, brought with it an opportunity for me to fulfill a dream of mine. Now I, alongside my wife and fellow agent Jessica, get to serve other families and help them have the opportunity for their dreams come true as well. Read more>>
Diamond Frost
My entrepreneurial journey started Summer 2018. What started as a hobby soon turned into a passion. Being raised by a single mother, while my father has been wrongfully incarcerated over the last 22 years, I have been born with a unique drive and hustle while also sharing my testimony. I was able to start doing nails out of my dorm at my alma mater, Old Dominion University as a full-time student there as well as in nail school. I managed to receive my license in my field and then a degree in Communications and Marketing. Read more>>
Miah Giavonni
I started therapy when I was about 17 or 18 — right before I left for college. I knew I needed to let go and be free of past versions of myself (reminder: healing is a lifelong trip). As college began, I utilized the counseling centers and support groups that would keep me grounded through that period of time. All of it worked, but at this point in my life (back to 2020) I needed some more help and I knew it would take time to unravel my truths. I was simply doing too much and not doing enough. Doing too much of taking on other people’s projects and not enough of tapping into my own care and stories. Read more>>
Tanysha Pinder
Being a business owner of a salon comes with its challenges, but for the most part, it’s a unique business and you can get creative with hair styles and make clients happy and feel beautiful. Read more>>
Uzziah Campbell
I began making candles for my mother who was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression while working in Federal Law Enforcement. I began by watching YouTube videos, practicing on her kitchen stove, and eventually coming up with a healthy, natural product to help her cope with light and aromatherapy. Shortly after, the world faced Covid-19 and social unrest due to the constant killings of Black people: George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many others. I noticed that these events seemed to cause PTSD, anxiety and depression for the entire world. Read more>>
Valentina Pinzon
I ended up focusing on South America as I am from Colombia. Having had the chance to visit many South American countries, I was very impressed by the talent of indigenous, traditional artisans and their impeccable and vibrant handcrafts. However, there was an upsetting side to it as artisans lacked support from locals, lived in poor conditions, were underpaid, and were unable to maintain traditions as they ended up working in a different field to make a living. Read more>>
Jacole Hall
The story behind Vaspire316 is about Love, Loss, Loyalty, and Legacy. Read more>>
Storm Landrum
The story behind my mission is my heart problem….I deal with a fib and congestive heart failure since the age 17….I’m running a marathon for the ones that’s not here no more and the ones who can’t fight no more… Read more>>
Justin de Graaf
I’ve been a touring musician for 20 years and have seen a lot of things. Absorbed so much without even realizing I was absorbing anything. Through the many artists I decided to create a company filled with touring musicians and I pay everybody more than what they’re typically used to. Our industry tends to take advantage of musicians because to be honest, our job isnt really a job at all. Until you start treating it like one (eventually you have to as you get older of course). Read more>>
Sarah Biggard
My mission is to work with and within my local communities. Utilizing local farmers, makers and creators to bake towards a more sustainable future. Read more>>
Chef Cole
The story behind my mission is to create kids who want to get back in the kitchen. My overall goal is to always give back to the kids who see theirselves being a chef. Culinary school can only do so much for the kids but the hands on experience and someone who came from the same background can help them understand better. Read more>>
Kate Parsons
The mission for Kate and Mae is to inspire girls to shine their light. We believe shining your light means using your God-given gifts to bring light into the world. Not only does our mission make up all aspects of our brand but it is something Madelyn and I are so passionate about. To reach the goal of our mission we have implemented programs and activities into our pop-up events and company. Read more>>
Macy Morrow
As far back as I can remember, I grew up with a fascination around birth. I remember watching “A Birth Story” marathons on TLC, and being very actively involved in the labor of our cocker spaniel, Wiggles, through the birth of her puppies. From deep inside there was this primal, familiar call to hold someone, or some animal, through that liminal space. Read more>>
Jeanette Thompson
Somewhere, there’s a little girl who is being told her voice is too loud. There’s a young woman who is being talked over, being shown that her voice doesn’t matter. To make herself smaller. To speak softer. To be a ‘lady’. ‘Boys don’t like opinionated girls’. I want them to know it’s okay to be themselves, to demand to be heard, to not let anyone talk over them. Read more>>
Colby Taylor
My name is Colby Taylor, I am 21 year old Professional Dancer/Choreographer who currently reside in Cincinnati, OH. Read more>>
Immaculate
Growing up I loved when the circus would come to town. All of the acts would be incredible. However my favorites were always the ladies that flew high above the crowd and hung from the silks high above the big top. As a child I noticed how there was never anyone who looked like me, and I thought, “ Hey I can do that.” Read more>>
Shirlonda Chambliss-Drummond
September 14, 2021, my brother, Willie “Boogee” Chambliss passed away unexpectedly of COVID. He was 42 years old. He left a 11 years old daughter (Bella) and a wife, Amy. Read more>>
Jordan Davis
This journey is about allowing ourselves to be anything we choose to be. If you want it, you can have it. We all have been gifted with many creative talents that allows us to sustain our lifestyles, and we must learn to tap into them. My mission is to create a platform for those who inspire to become self-sufficient, independent and live freely. Read more>>
Stacey Gilfillan
I always believed that quilts are the quintessential symbol of comfort. I’m a nurse by trade, and now that I’m officially retired I love knowing that I can continue to provide comfort to folks who have experienced the loss of a loved one by helping to transform articles of clothing into memory quilts–something that can provide tangible and long-lasting comfort. Read more>>
Debbie Cwalina
Anything that makes a child stand out (tall, short, race, ethnicity, etc.) can bring ridicule by their peers. I saw this firsthand as I grew up with a brother who is developmentally delayed and witnessed his isolation, bullying and sadness – through no fault of his own. Read more>>
Evangelist Keshia Freeland
The story behind my Mission. I will never forget the time I went to Nigeria, Africa and developed my non profit organization out of my Mission there. That is still changing lives as of this very day. Read more>>
Roxanne Cavazos
In 2010, I was diagnosed with psoriasis. I had no idea what this was. All my dermatologist (at the time) told me was this, “Your biopsy came back, you have psoriasis, there’s no cure, my nurse will give you paperwork to fill out.” And that was it, he walked out of the room. I was left confused. As I said, I had no idea what this was, I had never heard of it. The nurse was also no help. she handed me paperwork, said to fill it out and fax it back to them, then she said I was free to go. Read more>>
Lavanya Selka
LŪVIḤ is an all-natural, clean skincare & haircare line infused with time-tested ayurvedic ingredients dedicated to promoting the power of self and created with respect to the world around us. Read more>>