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?

Aizhou Liu

I love music because it is a means of self-expression and my way of giving to the world. As a composer, I am a storyteller who collaborates with filmmakers and game developers. I want to help tell stories of the AAPI community and of social justice because I believe it is important to drive change through art. We need to drive important conversions about these topics to drive change. I also want my music to bring my Chinese culture to audiences worldwide. Read more>>

Chez McGavock

At Canna Town our mission is to create a brand that allows you to be proud of where you’re from, as well as honor the special plant that has brought us all together. I wanted to bring community and cannabis together because they both have played a significant role in my life. Read more>>

Hillary Cohen

Every Day Action (EDA) was created and founded by myself and Samantha Luu, two Directors Guild of America Assistant Directors hoping to change the way Hollywood sees food waste. We both have spent over a decade of working on film and TV sets, continually asking why the leftover gourmet food from catering was being put into a dumpster instead of being donated. We were always met with the same standard excuse, “It’s too complicated and we might get sued. It’s much simpler if we just throw it out.” Read more>>

Emily Mavrakos

My company, Mavrakos Media, is very meaningful to me, because it allows me to be creative and express myself however I want. I love seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they get back their photos or edits that I’ve helped them work on, it just makes me extremely happy to do what I do. I’m proud to help people bring their creative sides out; and it also helps me with mine. Read more>>

Sydney Kendrick

Hi! I am so excited to be sharing my story with you! My name is Sydney and I run my own business as a Travel Advisor! With the flexibility of being an independent agent, I get to determine how I use my time to have a positive impact. I chose to focus my time and energy on assisting people to check off their bucket list destinations in hopes it cultivates a respect for the world we live in. Travel has the power to broaden perspectives and encourage empathy for others. Read more>>

Rachel Capuano

My Wear His Word Bracelet journey began in 2020 when I found myself unemployed and seeking a positive and creative outlet while residing at my parent’s house in South Florida. During a dark, negative and uncertain time in our world, my mission emerged: to radiate positivity and encouragement with affirmation arm candy that was centered around Jesus. Read more>>

Vicky Humphries

This is my story to where I am at today. I have been on drugs (acid, X, G, Molly and cocaine most of my life). I missed out on marriage, kids and life. But that’s cool I am great now with life. There is a reason behind everything. I am here to help others like me what they are going through. I have been 8 yrs clean now from drugs. I also had domestic violence relationships. Read more>>

Isshai Kamara

I am the founder of I.T. Industry Tools, a Tech Career Coaching business that teaches both technical and non-technical people, how to transition into careers in Information Technology within the Business & Technology Management sector. Read more>>

Empress Bianca

The mission behind The Empress Bianca Brand is to provide prominent insight, education, resources, training, and positive opportunities to those who are naturally adapted to the black culture. The mission was fueled behind the personal upbringing of Empress Bianca. Being born on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio and raised on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio; Read more>>

Celena Le

My mission in life overall is to help others while I created an outlet to express myself in it. Art is meaningful because it’s something we create and nobody can judge us for it. There was a time I felt I couldn’t express myself to others close to me, but I found an outlet through art. Read more>>

Rudament The Producer

I’m in a position that is fueling life to the music industry from the independent Artist’s perspective in an area that it hasn’t had much life and that is the NYC and Philadelphia area. I have created a platform through the help of close friends and it is allowing Artists who either had or has some guidance as well as those who have none to occupy the same space and get the feedback they didn’t know they needed, that will take them to the next level if they are seriously aspiring to be something MORE in their career(s). Read more>>

Tyrelle H.C

When it comes down to it. I’m a self published author and what made me took that route was that I got denied by 100 different publishers. So I created my business ManManpublishing in 2021 , and told my self that I will give people the voice I didn’t have and guide them during this wild ride of being author . Read more>>

Alana Polanco

I have loved the salon since my Aunt Hattie Mae used to press my hair and I had to sit on a booster to be tall enough for her to reach me. The salon has always been a happy place for me. It is a place where I feel at peace and the rest of the world fades away. In those moments, the two most important things to me are patience and precision. Read more>>

Donald Jones

At Alchemy Media Publishing Co., we believe that everyone has a story. Not only that, but our unique experiences may help someone else if only they had the chance to know your story. In today’s world, when so much information is at one’s fingertips, we often hear the lament that, “I have a story to tell, but I don’t if it’s worth sharing. And I certainly don’t know where to begin.” At Alchemy, we’re here to tell you that your story matters…perhaps more than you know. And we can help. Read more>>

Tim Gray

The mission of The World War II Foundation is to develop an awareness and appreciation of the contributions and sacrifices made by the men and women of the Allied Forces during World War II. The Foundation’s objective is to educate current and future generations about the role those heroes played in ensuring the basic freedoms we enjoy today. The Foundation dedicates itself to this educational mission in order to instill and inspire in today’s Americans, through the example of the World War II generation, the values of unity of purpose, personal courage, and shared sacrifice that they embodied – the Best of America. Read more>>

Mona Bavar

Food has always been and will always be an important part of my life. I am honored to be a complex yet interesting mix of the magnificent Persian heritage that gives me roots in tradition and beauty, and the continuously innovative and dynamic Western cultures that give me the freedom to take shape and sprout creativity. Read more>>

Heather Lemmon

My mission for my clients is to create and curate a visual legacy of their life story! Photographs are a meaningful and important way to not only preserve the past but enjoy in the present moment. I often hear from people how much their images mean to them and it’s on such a broad scale. Moms revisit the time when their tiny baby was just a few days old and is now going off to college. Read more>>

Katie Cassin

My mission at its core is empowering women. When I started my photography business I was 5 months postpartum, and like most new moms, it was the sum of my identity. My entire life was upside down but I knew what I was doing was important. I looked at my Mom and how, even as an adult, she was still the center of my universe. It became alarmingly clear how Moms are often the unseen heroes in our life’s journey. I became obsessed with changing that. Read more>>

Althea Robotham

Our wolf logo represents power, courage, and confidence believed to exist in every being. We trigger a self-reliant frame of mind using fashion and art. The main function is to help others exude the confidence deep within by tapping into their inner wolf. Read more>>

Zollyann Howell

Before my 30th Birthday, I spent many days asking myself, “What do you want Zee?” That was the beginning of my journey that has led me to fulfilling my journey as an Author and Entrepreneur. I’ve already accomplished the roles of being an Educator and Mother and I spent years pondering on what my true purpose was in life. Sadly, as Black women, we’re not often given much wiggle room in terms of who or what we choose to be. Read more>>

Michael Schweisheimer

PWPvideo has been a mission driven triple bottom line company since before we even knew what those phrases meant. I founded the company with a single corporate project in 2000 that sent me and a small crew to five continents in 28 days (in coach) working for an automotive supply chain manufacturer. It was a life changing experience on many levels. Travel, production, and client interaction lessons abounded. Read more>>

Kristine Anderson

We have been story creatures for thousands of years. Listening to stories and telling stories is part of our DNA and identity. One Labor Day weekend, I heard a story from an elderly relative about a family living in rural Georgia with a Mongloid* son in the 1940’s. The story did not have a happy ending, but it stuck with me. And I knew it was one I needed to share. Read more>>

Reno Ludwiga

My biggest mission in this industry is to land my a&r position for a record label, and to break records internationally. What I realized about the city where I am from, there are not many Asian representatives in San Bernardino County. My goal is to be the biggest executives from Inland Empire and develop upcoming talents. The main reason why I took on these challenges on to becoming a music executive is because my brother inspired me to learn the business. Read more>>

Michelle Gillis

The mission of the North Star is to cultivate a diverse community of women by creating opportunities through spiritual growth, wellness. service, and discovery for women who are seeking authentic connection to empower themselves and the girls and women around them. Read more>>

LaQuita Foreman

At Brow Baux,my mission is to inspire and empower young individuals from underprivileged backgrounds, who face the challenges of anxiety, PTSD, and limited faith by providing a beacon of hope and opportunity through beauty services, educational resources and mentorship. I believe that our background should never define our potential, Read more>>

Roman Kirby

It all started with me making music and not having the assets to create the type of content I wanted too. I slowly started learning how to do everything on my own. I remember back in the day we would record songs with the tape players and a radio playing the beat. My first trip to a real studio changed my life because I was instantly interested in how things worked as far as the basics of using multi track recording software. It really grew and expanded from there. I would eventually start learning everything that goes into music production including video editing, beat making, and graphic designing. Read more>>

Abby Alnatsheh

My mission is to educate every woman on how important self care is. I take the time educate then about their skin and how to be beautiful with spending minimum. Everyone Deserves Beautiful Skin! Read more>>

Shoanta Brown

My mission is to bring natural products to all people. My youngest son was diagnosed with eczema at 4 years old. I have heard of this but the diagnosis was new. Never wanted him to experience the prescription drugs and the side effects that come along with it. I began to do research and learned that eczema is a build up of toxins that need to be flushed out and treated from the inside out to gain maximum health. Read more>>

Darmayne Robertson

Business for The Event Suite came out of necessity well before Covid hit. When we made the decision to move our business to a larger location our initial goal was to find a building suitable for the bakery. Although we hosted mini events (10-25 guests) in our old location we had decided our focus would be more effective if we were to only produce wedding and custom cakes, this meant no more mini events. Read more>>

Veronica Banchs

Blue Crayonz Inc was founded after my son who’s on the Autism Spectrum. Shawn being sensitive to his environments is what started our mission of providing sensory friendly equipment to individuals on the spectrum and aiding in the design in sensory rooms in our community. When suddenly in 2019 I suffered a near death experience. I myself suffering from an invisibles disability (CPTSD) now battling physical limitations. Read more>>

Rosie

I started this blog in 2022, with the mission to empower and inspire. I was tired of not feeling like I had a voice, so I decided to try to give everyone else one. That’s when I started Inside w/ Kc Artist. I post interviews, newsletters, blogs, offer advice columns, interactive events, and more through this blog. I aim to provide an inclusive platform for people to come together and talk openly about their experiences and opinions. Read more>>