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?

Ofelia McCollough

Ofelia and Kathya we are sisters, mothers, and founders. we embarked on a shared dream to work together, to bring superior products ethically made with a Peruvian influence. Since 2018, Leena & Lu has delivered irresistibly soft, comfortable, and modern sleepwear to women and children. All are made responsibly with health and wellness in mind. Read more>>

Salina Suarez

Lightened Candle Co. is known for handcrafting high quality candles, but the true mission is to spread awareness on mental health because everyone’s mental health matters. Read more>>

Cassandra Casas Rojas

We find inspiration in womanhood. An integration of empowerment and comfort. Our goal is to support her as she evolves through life. We create apparel that will rise to the most prestigious events, without having to sacrifice the comfort she needs for those long days. She loves the idea of a tailored suit, but she wishes she had a more comfortable option–that’s why we exist. We have taken her tailored staples and created them in the most comfortable fabrics. We plan to disrupt tailored algorithm and create our own perspective. Read more>>

Hali Serrer

I was working without a goal and didn’t know why I had this career other than the facts being I love playing with hair and I have a deep desire to know people. The typical salon environment was one that overwhelmed and overstimulated me. My experience in these salons since 2016 was that I felt like a machine pumping out haircuts and megawatt smiles, in hopes that my clients could not tell my brain was absolutely fried as I waited for my next opportunity to check my phone in the bathroom. Read more>>

Rachelle Starr

As a newlywed living in the suburbs of Louisville, Kentucky, when I took inventory of my comfortable life, I could not shake the feeling that something just wasn’t right. Everyone in my life looked and acted the same. Put together, clean cut, well-mannered. . . . I started to realize my experience in the church looked less like a refuge for the sick and broken and more like a country club for the polite and religious. Read more>>

Brandy Jones-Mack

The story behind my mission is to help rebuild, restore, and revitalize individuals into awareness of who they are and to help shift them into who they were created to be. So we as individuals dim our light, walk in condemnation, or insecurity because we allows people’s opinions to become bigger than God’s opinion. This causes us not live in our true authenticity. Read more>>

Eric & Temeka Thompson

We help couples win in their marriage by identifying their triggers and breaking generational cycles. While High School sweethearts, Eric & Temeka Thompson set sails to defy the odds of being married young and having great ambitions and dreams to conquer all; until they were at the brink of divorce, super duper room-mates and on the verge of losing everything they were building together. Now married 24+ years later, we help couples WIN by overcoming the hurdles that often destroy marriages. Read more>>

Deanna Rosson

I was always a lover of makeup and beauty and was the one all my friends and family would always go to for makeup advice and to do theirs, but about 7 years ago I got extremely sick and everything changed. For 7-8 months I could barely walk, hold a makeup brush, feed myself, do anything. I eventually got diagnosed with Lupus but it took a long time for me to get back on my feet. Read more>>

Gabe Gamboa

My wife came home with a a black intriguing stone she called Black Turmaline. I have to say it was a really cool specimen, but what threw me for a loop was she tole me it would calm me and help me sleep. The first thought coming to mind was that she was scammed by some hippie master sales person. Read more>>

Beverly Johnson

I have served my community my entire adult life. Whether donating school supplies for a grade level every year to feeding the hungry or providing Christmas gifts to underprivileged children. In 2021, I just decided to “officially” serve. Meaning, obtaining our 501(c)(3) and credentials from the Secretary of State. Also, in 2021, I was blessed with 4 great nieces and 2 great nephews. That’s when I realized how expensive baby necessities are. Read more>>

Jessica Morale

My name is Jessica Morale, and I’m an alternative pop singer, songwriter, and self taught producer based in Miami, Florida. Growing up, writing and performing became my therapy and escape from bullies, my insecurities, self harm, and my struggles with depression and anxiety. Performing onstage made me feel like a super hero, and writing songs quickly became my outlet for the demons that plagued me. I make music because I want people to feel like they aren’t alone. Read more>>

Gabrielle Peete

In 2022, Plaster Works was given to me in a dream. From that vivid dream, I remembered two things, one of them being the word ‘plaster’ – meaning to spread. From there, I knew she needed to spread ideas by creating items that placed curiosity in her community’s hands and inspired individuals to explore it on their own. Combining my love for interiors and curation, I sought to create collections for a community of like-minded individuals who value items they feel are true reflections of themselves. Read more>>

Keith Brake

The story behind my mission. Well, I focus on creating artistic imagery with other creatives. There is no other photoproject that I enjoy more than artistic collaboration between creative minds! Read more>>

Daddy Doyenne

At age 17, I was thrust into the world of BDSM (Bondage.Discipline. [Dominance/submission] Sadism. Massochism). My Dominant was an older white man, and ex-convict, who had swastikas tattooed within the mass of Norse tattoos adorning his arms and body. His other submissive partners were, I believe 32 and 22 at the time, both also white and worked in the tattoo shop I was in my apprenticeship for. Read more>>

Blayne Ippolito

The mission is a simple concept- I wish to change the world through the lens of a camera. I want to tell stories that inspire, and offer hope to the world and make the world a little better before I go. Read more>>

Erica Melton

I’ve always been super girly, I was into makeup at a early age. By the time I got to high school I was already wearing fake eyelashes, eyeshadow, eye liner etc. which made me stand out because that wasn’t an everyday thing for most girls my age at the time. My love for makeup grew the older I became. I became a self taught makeup artist basically from watching other people and learning. Read more>>

Jamie Wilson

I started my own company with a mission. To make enough money to be able to help others. Specifically, children who are subject to child sex trafficking. I want to be the largest supporter of the companies that are working to free child sex slaves and I believe it is possible to put an end to it completely. I currently donate to Operation Underground Railroad. Read more>>

Veronica Amador

I first picked up my camera as a hobby and for documenting my personal life. We moved around a lot with my husband in the military, so I wanted to capture our memories wherever we went. I always had a knack for finding beauty in ordinary things and places, so I took photos of everything! Read more>>

Kristyn Hodgdon

I was 27 years young when I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and referred to a fertility specialist. Looking around the waiting room at the fertility clinic, I found myself surrounded by countless others dealing with fertility issues, and yet I still felt so incredibly alone. I thought, “If infertility is so common, why isn’t anybody talking about it?” So, I set out to create the blog and online community I wished I had to help end the stigma and empower others dealing with infertility. Read more>>

Dr. Wendy Labat

I started my entrepreneurial journey almost four decades ago. In 2014, when the Affordable Care Act mandated that individuals have health insurance, I expanded my business to include insurance and financial services. I did not want to be a hypocrite and believed if I was going to sell my clients these products and services, I needed to have them for myself and my family. Read more>>

Josh McGee

Y’all is a celebration of culture and heritage, the best of every southern state, a recipe for togetherness and we fill our bottles with it. We believe great food has the power to bring people together. To unite us. We believe the south is meant to be shared. It is rich in history and flavor. And so are our sauces. Read more>>

Janina Souders

I have always been drawn to the design and aesthetic look of things; on websites, in stores, fashion and nature, etc. I feel one can portray a specific message to an audience through design and photography as well. Read more>>

Brandon Smallwood

The story behind my mission is simple to get people to listen to my music and work with other artist, This has always been the mission since day one to get heard and hear the people reviews on my music, I take this mission serious and I take great pride in what I do. Read more>>

John Dobson

My life has been seeking fun, rewarding activities that are challenging and contribute to the ‘village”. Finding such things means really never “working”. Often it’s a tradeoff. Giving up some financial rewards for a healthy outdoor livelihood. Read more>>

Clay Carabajal

My mission on the Wild Side with Clay began long before I knew it. I spent years traveling for the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens parks discussing animals, conservation, and rescue. Learning how educate and engage a wide audience. I always knew I loved discussing and showcasing wildlife, but I always did it under someone else’s brand. This journey on the Wild Side began for two major reasons. Read more>>

Christabell Nunez

It all began with my sister & I starting a podcast together sharing our story about meeting, at the time, 7 years ago and our love of pop-culture, fashion and all kinds of relationships. As we grew, we took to different passions and ended our joint podcast and I continued solo, but the mission remained the same, “Love Yourself, Follow Your Heart, and Break Generational Curses/Trauma.” Read more>>

Gabrielle Williams

My mission as a business owner is to simply bring ease and assistance to peoples lives. Throughout my life I have always been that friend that would come clean if my friend was in a dark place, whether it be from depression or just simply being overwhelmed. Read more>>

Regina Weatherspoon-Bell

The story behind my mission is simple-I simply wanted to be able to provide great marketing and event production service and resources to an underserved small business and non-profit community. Read more>>

Topizia Icwy

Topizia’s passion to raise awareness developed in 2007 when she learned her 14 year old daughter was being sexually exploited. Now, in addition to alerting the community about the epidemic, her mission is to save other parents and children from enduring the same pains her and her daughter encountered. Read more>>

Azrayea Powell

My goal is to overall change mindsets and improve the quality of life for my Royal Fam while also providing them with sustainable and nontoxic products. Read more>>

Ella Norris, MSM CLC

My mission is to connect with and support women who desire to leave their own mark of success as they manage various personal & professional roles. I work to fulfill my mission daily as a life coach & business owner. Shortly after becoming a wife and mother 14 years ago, I found myself completely lacking motivation. Read more>>

Taylor Lianne Chandler

After being outed in the media 11/19/2014 my life spiraled to the bottom. After a suicide attempt, rehab and my whole life being front page news, I had to figure out a way to change the narrative. I started volunteering with Capital Pride in DC. Then I was invited on different boards. I used my notoriety to shine a light on the Transgender community. Read more>>

Drea Boykins

Beautiful Day Beautiful People my name is Drea Boykins. I am the owner of Mystical Vibrations, Healing Talk The Podcast Locs By Dre & I am also a restorative yoga teacher . My story started in 1993 Birmingham, Al born & raised. Throughout my childhood I experienced a lot of trauma ,saw and experienced things that would make the average person go insane. Read more>>

Ronald White Jr

Growing up in Lycoming County Pennsylvania I often found myself having to leave the area to truly do the things I enjoyed to do. As a teenager and throughout my twenties I was an avid BMX rider and although there were a few places close by to ride we would find ourselves traveling 1-4 hours on days off to go ride places that were superior and with people who could teach us things. Read more>>

Kelly King

By creating an immersive art and shopping experience, I’ve made it my mission to share or impose art on people who wouldn’t normally view it. When you step into a small store you might not expect to be surrounded by murals and art installations coming out of the walls and ceiling, but that’s what Goblin Shark Emporium is all about. Read more>>

Nigeria Anderson

Urban Buzz Magazine Where Key Players Speak! was not designed to just interview those in entertainment, but be another partner for promoting their product or music in a positive way. Therefore, I will not support anything I don’t believe in. This is a role I have stood by since 1999. It is my goal to provide inspiring information and quality news as content to develop solutions to some of the industry issues and balance out the pros and cons. All to provide readers with an experience of what it takes to achieve their goal. Read more>>

Jasmine Harris

When my cousin and I were younger around the ages 8-11 years old we used to create our own dance routines. We taught ourselves varieties of technique off of YouTube. We even created our own dance team ” The Young Fly Divas ” we will call it. My mother wasn’t financially stabled at first so I couldn’t take any dance classes. Read more>>

Jessie Williams

WE EVENTS was founded as a way to give back to local charitable organizations that are near and dear to my heart. About 5 years ago, my husband pulled me aside and said that while he supported and loved all my charitable projects, soon they were going to put us into debt. Read more>>

Jessica Vann-Campbell

I was a clinical director for emergency mental health therapists in five counties in WA state for ten years. When I married my aunt who had been a florist for 15 years taught me how to do florals so I could concentrate on creating for my wedding and it would help with my anxiety. I loved every minute of learning from her and I found it was a medium that I really understood and loved- so I started doing floral design for about 10 weddings a year for friends and family. Read more>>

Patrick McGrath-Muniz

As an artist living in Texas, with a Roman Catholic background and growing up during the 1980’s and 90’s in the island of Puerto Rico, the oldest colony in the Western hemisphere, my work responds to our globalized neo-liberal consumer society and its environmental indifference by tracing its origins to the time of Columbus. Read more>>

jenn barton

Simply put, Nickel City Wax and Wane is a studio that asks you to create bravely, authentically, and without judgement. We support you to just be you; to bravely step outside of your comfort zone and say yes to exploring different materials, classes, styles, to stop overthinking and judging and just enjoy the process. I created this space out of my passion for inspiring others to finally believe they could be creative. Read more>>

STELLA BUSTOS

My mission is to help people who have chronic back and neck pain alleviate that pain while they are sitting, anywhere, anytime, by helping themselves realign their seated position, decompressing their spinal cord, and support the correct natural curvature of their neck posture. Read more>>