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?

Matthew Kennedy

I’m sure at some point, whether it be from someone on social media, on TV, or someone you’ve ran into, you heard the phrase “everyone has a story.” As cliche as it may be sometimes, I fully agree with that statement. It can be big or small, but we all have one. That’s what got me into videography in the first place. Being able to not only to flex my creative muscles in terms of getting a good looking shot, but taking it a few layers deeper and intertwining story into every project that I work on. Read more>>

Angela Martinez

When I started my podcast in 2020, I never realized I was going to be on a longgg mission to success. Being arrested for weed in Jersey and then moving to Vegas, I originally wanted to break the stigma on cannabis, but it has grown into so much more. Fast forward 3 years and I now focus on the challenges and solutions in the Cannabis, Creative, Mental Health & Wellness, Adult Industry and Food spaces. Read more>>

Kieran Kadlec

I’ve always been a feminist and cared a lot about women’s rights and advocating for women in general. Growing up, I always wanted to do a job that benefitted women in a way. Through Boudoir photography, I’m able to inspire and empower women in a way that society seems to actively work against. Women are expected to be both modest and sexy, a mother and a laborer, a certain body type, a care taker, etc. Read more>>

Jazzy Rippy

Our mission at LADIES IN LAW® is to make Legacy Planning accessible. Legacy Planning, typically called Estate Planning, covers how you protect, preserve, and control your assets, finances, businesses, and health decisions, during your lifetime and after. A Legacy Plan is a package of legal instructional documents called Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney. Read more>>

Sean Ebony Coleman

The mission of Destination Tomorrow is simple – to provide the tools LGBTQ+ community members need to be successful. For a long time, I watched nonprofit organizations that were supposed to be addressing the needs of their target community provide only the bare minimum. That often amounted to nonessential items; usually pizza, a metro card and a place to meet the following week. Read more>>

Alba Chang

Chang’s Touch started after I went on medical leave from my job as a nurse two years into the pandemic; I was overworked and burned out and I had to leave for my mental health. It was during this time that I discovered that conventionally made sexual products may cause harm to intimate tissue, have hormone disruptors or were made with low-grade materials and lastly there was not a one-stop shop for the vegan sex products I found. Read more>>

Lisa Janay

Heavy Flexin Media is a mission driven company. The reason why is that this new media company is all about positivity and FLEXIN your accomplishments. My media company is based on highlighting upcoming businesses/entrepreneurs and trending entertainment/sports. We are never posting anything that’s seen as offensive/negative. Read more>>

Alena Saz

As a beauty photographer, I find it crucial to recognize and appreciate the significance of individuality, embracing the beauty of the human body, diverse skin tones, and natural skin texture. By avoiding excessive retouching or altering of skin textures, we celebrate the diversity that exists within the human form. This approach encourages self-acceptance, as people can see themselves represented in a more realistic and relatable manner. Read more>>

Tatiana Chamorro

I came to the U.S. back in 2014 with my husband and our 2-year-old with the intention of him pursuing an MBA. We moved with 10 suitcases and our savings only covered 6 months of expenses. As an immigrant, I fully understand the additional challenges and complexity involved in pursuing financial stability while at the same time trying to achieve your dreams. Read more>>

Melissa & Wayne LeSane

Melissa & Wayne have been non-monogamous since day one of their 20-year relationship. Married and living in Los Angeles with their 5 children & together, they are the Creator & Co-Creator of Shades of Non-Monogamy- a supportive resource for folks who are curious about, exploring, or actively navigating non-monogamy. Within the first half of our relationship, we went through a lot of growing pains while navigating our non-monogamy, Read more>>

Allyson Jaimes

I am a maternity and newborn photographer. From a young age I always adored babies, and I’m so fortunate I was able to establish a career working with them! When it came to having my own, it was not an easy journey. I suffered two miscarriages during our time of trying to bring new babies into the world, so both of my living children are rainbow babies. Read more>>

Bella Talsma

Growing up I was really into sports and athletics. However, when I started working I fell in love with getting my nails done. It was almost like a therapy. I ended up dropping out of sports and pursued working full-time while in high school. I began to build a relationship with my nail technician at the time, he suggested that I should try doing nails. We were moving back and fourth for a while so when we finally settled in our new home, I started investing in my nail career with all of the money I was saving from working my regular teen job. Read more>>

Teren Robinson

Fashion. Everyone has their own definition of what it is, what it should look like, and how it should be presented to the world. Personally, I think fashion is like a science laboratory. You get to experiment all day, with different aesthetics, vibes, pieces, silhouettes, and colors. I don’t think that fashion is a “Man” or “Woman” thing, I think fashion is for everyone, and people should not be told what they can or cannot wear because of what they look like on the outside, it’s what you feel on the inside that you want to portray on the outside. Read more>>

Ashley Jackson

I am the Founder of Timeless Dream Events, which provides couples that may find themselves in unique situations with a “timeless dream event”, that will celebrate life and love at a minimal notice. After my husband, Troy proposed, he was diagnosed with a rare cancer in stage 4. While helping Troy go through his treatments, I was also planning our wedding. Read more>>

Kelly Colvin

The mission of Peaceful Birth Choices is to prepare families to give birth through quality education and support. I want families to have access to unbiased, up-to-date, evidence-based information, to help them make informed decisions for their births. Read more>>

Alexa Burton

I want women to join me on a journey towards empowerment and self-love through makeup and curvy fashion tips while being inclusive and genuine with my content! As someone who has personally struggled with self-confidence, I know how hard it can be to feel beautiful and worthy. But I’ve also experienced firsthand the amazing transformation that comes with embracing your own beauty and celebrating your curves. Read more>>

Christine Laible

I’m on a mission to ensure every entrepreneur finds what fits them so that they can embrace their voice, their product, their service which all deserve to be a choice too! Their business deserves to be visible. The problem is for some of us visibility makes you want to hide. The weight of being the only decision-maker where the results of every decision made and every task completed is on them, can be stifling. But you know not being visible is no longer good enough! Read more>>

Rhapsody Taylor

My name is Rhapsody Taylor and I from New Jersey/ Philadelphia region currently pursuing my career in dance, choreography, acting, modeling and personal training in Los Angeles California. The performing arts has always been something I enjoyed and a passion throughout my journey. I grew up in a household full of artists which were my two parents that are dancers, choreographers, teachers actors, and my two sisters that did the same. Read more>>

Sarah Cole

I didn’t have the best relationship with the place I grew up–a small town in the Alabama Black Belt, a third culture kid trying to find my place within a rural community. I spent most of my youth dreaming of the day I would leave. After earning my masters and making a career in the media world, I finally had a chance to leave and I did, taking the time to start fresh. Read more>>

Angela Bennett

Who rescued who? This bumpersticker sums up how 16+ years with my American Pitbull Terrier, Big Sil, changed my life. Sometimes, life can beat you down and you can get lost out there somewhere. In my case, Big Sil reopened the door to my heart. Read more>>

Sarah Fischer

Our mission began over a decade ago when our first child was born. I began researching food, how it was produced and how it could be affecting our health. I turned to “alternative” sources of information other than what I was told by doctors, nutritionists, etc. I was mortified at what I was learning. For example, the World Health Organization had classified “Round-Up” Read more>>

Alexa Nahas

My mission is to help families (working moms specifically) create and curate their family archives to reflect their everyday life so they have accurate and endearing memories to cherish forever. Growing up I watched my own mother struggle to balance everything as a working mom. She was always great at taking the photos and being behind the camera. However, she couldn’t find the time to do something with them so they just sat in boxes collecting dust. Read more>>

Joy Rossignol

My husband and I started a relationship coaching business called Connected and Committed. Our heart is to help people who are experiencing intense anxiety about their relationships, find peace within themselves and feel confident to take the next steps in their dating relationship (whether that is to stay and commit or to leave). There are so many conflicting messages that society shares that we feel bring way more confusion and fear within the dating process. Read more>>

Rebekah Miel

Our mission is to make beautiful sense out of a complex world. This shows up in lots of different ways in our work, but the seed behind this work started in 2004. I was reading the NYTimes online, and the masthead read, “Thousands of People Missing in Southeast Asia.” Read more>>

Caroline Kingori

Our family’s coffee journey began with our late grandfather, Ex-Senior Chief Moses Mukira, who planted his first coffee tree in 1954 in the highlands of Nyeri County, Central Kenya. His pioneering spirit and dedication to social capital inspired us to create Ukiira Coffee, a brand that pays homage to his legacy. Read more>>

Marit Woods

We are a social enterprise that seeks to bring forth wearable art that tells stories, impact the lives of others economically, and enhances the psyche of our patrons. When I embarked on the Arway journey it was not intended to be a business. It was a project to help young people out of war reevaluate the situation they found themselves in, understand how they can fruitfully optimize their life, and become contributing members of society. Read more>>

Eric Block

Mission: To educate people and communities on the implications of systemic/pathological inflammation and how to combat various symptoms using nutrition and a wholistic approach towards well-being. Read more>>

Breno Donatti

Winfield Street Coffee was created to be a community gathering coffee place where guests can find a warm smile, excellent coffee and creative food. Read more>>

Quiana Curry

Our daughter developed eczema shortly after birth. She was our second child and I knew that her skin did not feel “normal.” There were not bumps or visible signs, but her skin felt a little rough. We went to see her pediatrician when she was four months old, and this is when she was diagnosed with eczema. Read more>>

Sean Sindhunirmala

Our mission at Toja Coffee is to create a positive impact on all stakeholders in the coffee supply chain, offer the finest and most ethically sourced coffee, and make the lives of consumers easier and healthier. In addition to the excellent quality, our coffee has a story behind it from the wild civet and farmers involved in its harvest as well as its interesting history. Read more>>

Morgan Cecil

Back in 2006—when I was single and eight months pregnant with my son—I dressed up as Marilyn Monroe, and took a series of playful and pregnant “sexy selfies” while delighting in a gallon of chocolate ice cream. These creative self-portraits were instrumental in my inner healing from feminine wounds. Read more>>

Jossie Fillalan

I have always wanted to be a business owner. However, what my drive has always been is: If I own my own business, I can help out my community as much as I want however I can! I’ve always encouraged food drives, toy drives, volunteering in any capacity where I work. So once I became a co owner and now a founder/owner, I knew that aside from providing our services, philanthropy was going to play a big part in my entrepreneurship journey. Read more>>

Dr. LaSheyla Jones

It is our mission at LMJ Planning and development to have deep impact on how communities are experienced. Many people can easily identify one or maybe even a few things that a community may lack, however not many people understand that resident and community needs are interconnected. Affordable housing is important, but irrelevant if people cannot afford the house due to a lack of economic advantage or transportation. Read more>>

Vick KnewZeus

My mission in life is to create stories that mean a lot to people and give them something to escape from their everyday lives. Being a writer or entertainer is challenging, but it pays off all the time. Read more>>

Julia Petiprin

The goal is always educating, empathy, and creating a safe space to grow. The words “that can’t be taught” is the exact opposite of my beliefs and leadership style. Everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, fail, and enjoy successes. The relationships I have created allow me the opportunity to bring in professionals that can provide continued education to the team, helping them see the bigger picture and recognize growth opportunities. Read more>>

Shawn Simons

Being a burn survivor of a fire that occurred on a college campus when I was a 18 year old freshmen student, I saw that there was a void or lack of education provided to young adults across the country that was relatable or resonated with them. While school administrators or fire department personnel can come in and say pretty much the same things I say, I saw that the students wanted to hear from a live source not one who never actually was involved in an emergency incident. Read more>>

Xavier Rush

My mission for XRELITE is very simple. It is to provide the information and techniques to not only have a healthy body, and to And challenge each person’s mental. Mentality correlates in all realms of life; the gym and discipline a the kitchen table can magnify your strength and definitely your weaknesses. Read more>>

Kristin Allen

Our mission is to provide safer, natural alternatives to the commercial self care industry, and to promote health and wellness for the whole person. The importance behind our mission can be explained more in depth in our story, but it comes down to the importance of safe self care, health and wellness, and the knowledge of what you are putting in and on your body. Read more>>

Cassandra Hurtado

I am paralegal for The Domestic Violence Survivor Program and for Attorney John Zepeda. The reason I love being a paralegal and advocate is due to the fact that I was accused and convicted of a crime I did not commit in 1998. I had no knowledge of the legal system and how it works. I had no one to help me understand what I needed as far as good representation. The lawyers we had barely spoke to me regarding our case so it left me scared, not knowing what to expect. Read more>>

Devon J Hall

So in 2018, I had a massive panic attack on an airplane. I had been gangraped several years prior, and on the plane, suddenly it hit me. I had been gang-raped, and I was headed home from Winnipeg, to deal with it, and I was afraid, so hence, panic attack. Read more>>