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?
Dillon Amir

My mission is to inspire people and show them you can live a happy and successful life as an artist. Some may say being a photographer is a harsh career choice, and it can be. I came to notice that the right opportunities will come to you at the right time, and the ones that aren’t for you will pass. My mission is important to me because I stand for the free artists & thinkers that are left in society and I strive to build a community with the more like minded. Read more>>
Justin Williams

GRWTH. – God Resides Within The Heart is not just a brand but a lifestyle crafted to assist those grappling with mental or spiritual challenges in their daily lives. Originating from a period of personal struggle during my undergraduate years, GRWTH. became a powerful support system, a constant reminder that I am not navigating life’s challenges alone. Read more>>
Dameion Robinson

It all started in the early 80’s in the Houston, Texas neighborhood of 5th Ward. I was introduced to several genres of music by my parents and my uncle mostly. But, the moment I heard “Hard Times” by Run-DMC, Hip-Hop was starting to look like my go-to genre. By 1988, Hip-Hop had me in a bear hug and Stetsasonic’s “Sally” and Public Enemy’s “Night of the Living Baseheads” was on repeat in my head as well as the cassette player. Read more>>
Rebecca Rothney

The idea for Pack for a Purpose evolved from my travels in Africa with my husband Scott. On our second trip we had the opportunity to visit an elementary school. Working with Wilderness Safaris to find out what supplies were most needed, we took 140 pounds of supplies to the children at the school. Seeing the students playing with the first soccer ball the school had ever had, and watching the principal’s joy at receiving the first rulers was a powerful experience for us. Read more>>
Nikki Cohn-Byrd

I own multiple businesses. Our mission is critically important in each one. Let’s hone in on the personal brand company…it’s Nashville anyway ;) Earlier this year I was just kind of having fun – I created a TikTok about some of the country artists that I was listening to at the time. At that point, I wasn’t taking my personal social media very seriously, but this is the day that all changed. After posting this TikTok that wasn’t even 10 seconds long – it went viral to the tune of 1mil + views. I was astonished. Read more>>
Mashal Smith

I had worked in a corporate setting for many years in New York, and I always felt like I was chasing some carrot I was never going to get. My work was fulfilling but it left me exhausted. I had always dreamed like so many other people, of a different life filled with adventure. I have grown up with photography in my life always because of my father, he was a professional wedding photographer for many years. But as I matured and finished college, I went into a career that was fast paced, and photography took a distant back seat. Read more>>
Marques Ogden

The mission of our brand is to help people succeed in life where we failed. In 2013, I lost everything I owned because I got very ego driven, self centered and focused on nothing but money, fame, success and all other things that truly don’t matter in life. I call them external motivating factors. So, the real purpose behind our mission is to help others hear my story, so they don’t end up like me. Bankrupt, broke, and almost homeless, due to one of the worse enemies that any of us have to deal with if we are not careful, our own ego! Read more>>
Kelly Davis

In the spring of 2020, I was a newly minted stay-at-home mom when the world shut down. I remember looking around our ground floor apartment (under very noisy neighbors) with my *spirited* toddler and thinking, “We have to get out of here.” The walls felt like they were closing in on us, and we had exhausted all the ways to entertain us at home. I threw a quick bag together, popped my son in his carseat, and set off for a hike in a local state park. Read more>>
Annastasia Shufford

Twisted Coffee is a mission driven company. Our mission is to utilize coffee to create conversations that brew connection and community. I started Twisted Coffee because I saw that sometimes the only way, we as people communicate in this new day and age is through consuming food, drinks or social media. Read more>>
Brian Joseph

I created a unique art style based on a fictitious people called the Bydee People. My mission is to use their philosophy to make our world a better place for all. To encourage good self-esteem in all. This is important to me because I believe when people feel good about themselves they interact better with others and consequently can live in harmony. Read more>>
Kimberly Jordan

My mission is to provide creative products that will touch the soul of all mankind. I strongly feel everyone, young and graciously mature deserves something special that is handcrafted especially for them. This gift should be a keepsake that last a lifetime. The crafted creation should take them to a place mentally that makes them feel loved and appreciated. Read more>>
RICH LARU

My brand’s mission is unwavering—to remain authentic while reaching unparalleled levels of success with no bounds. I prioritize quality over quantity because I have the ability to do so. I greet everyone I work with respect, regardless of their job title. It’s crucial to remember that the individuals we hire to create the ultimate visual picture matter the most. My mission is perpetual elevation, coupled with inspiration, standing alongside the squad that contributed along the way.” Read more>>
Morgan Brady

My mission is to help empowered women to break the toxic relationship cycle & have healthy loving relationships This mission is so incredibly important to me because I struggled with toxic & abusive relationships for 13 years of my life I experienced codependency, love addiction, as well as mental health struggles and it became so painful that I didn’t want to continue living anymore. Once I realized that I had the power to change my life and relationships everything began to shift for me. Read more>>
Virginia Arrisueno

My name is Virginia Blanca Arrisueño, and I’m the owner of Steadfast Supply DC. Steadfast Supply isn’t just a gift shop; it’s a love letter to the vibrant tapestry of small businesses that make our city, and our world, a more beautiful place. I believe that every purchase is an investment, not just in a product, but in the dreams and aspirations of the people who made it. When you choose Steadfast Supply, you’re choosing to support a community of passionate makers, artisans, and entrepreneurs who pour their hearts and souls into their craft. Read more>>
Stephon & Christina Chaney

Activate Ministries is a non-profit, 501c3 compliant entity focused on the spiritual wellbeing of individuals, families and communities by sharing the good news of Jesus. Knowing we live in a world that questions its purpose and whether or not God is real, my husband and I have both experienced the power of God in a real and tangible way that has dramatically changed our lives. Read more>>
Leon (Port) Wilson

I can’t say I began my career with a mission. Like many callow recent grads, I started in the television business because I thought it would be cool. I wanted to direct! In broadcast television terms, my mission was to keep moving upward, from a 90 market to a top 10. Read more>>
Jessica Starr

This journey started in a garden. I left a career in corporate and not-for-profit HR to found a community-supported agriculture venture in Covington, KY. We leased a vacant lot, designed a French market garden, and scrambled through a first year delivering home-grown produce to 20+ families in the Cincinnati-northern Kentucky area. Along the way, we held weekly community yoga sessions in the garden…and that was the revelation. The garden reached families scattered across the region, but yoga served folks in our community, from right around the block. Covington is a diverse city in every sense, and sharing yoga on a muggy July night with families who probably didn’t think yoga was ‘for people like them’ Read more>>
Moses Carroll

Our mission at FitSquad is driven by the passion to support and empower wellness and fitness professionals in their journey to build successful and thriving businesses. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, we have witnessed the struggles and challenges that small business owners in this field face, particularly in terms of financial constraints and lack of resources. Read more>>
Angie Roberts

“Moment-focused Wedding Photographer proudly serving all lovers, genders, races, disabilities, sexual orientations, and skin colors in Tucson, Phoenix, and all of Southern Arizona.” This is what Candid Sol stands proudly for – to provide photographs, of beautiful moments between people of all walks of life, to those who want to relive their wedding day each time they look at their photos. Read more>>
Aries Starr

My personal brand is called BECOME HER. I believe it’s very important that everyone understands that they have the power to become who they desire to be. Growing up I wasn’t privileged, I came from a Middle-Class Family who did the best they could to raise me to be something Great! The environment can be a crucial part of your development and mindset. I always wanted to be around people who wanted more however that didn’t come when I wanted it to. So I took the initiative to explore books, podcasts, and speakers to gain knowledge on the things I wanted to learn more about! Read more>>
FELIX AGOSTO

I am a retired US Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, and the founder and CEO of The Rise Up Experience (TRUE), I recognize the hardships military children and families endure. My organization started as a way to fill the void left by the rise of competitive sports. When I retired in 2012, my son was 11 at the time. I was unable to find suitable sports programs for someone interested in playing for fun. Rather than wait on someone else to identify what I already saw as a problem, I developed a plan and launchd MVP360 Leadership programs. Read more>>
Rizwan Khan

Recently, our political and social environment has become increasingly polarized, as each side of the aisle inch towards extremes. In an effort to combat this bifurcation, we at Politics For Teens has taken it upon ourselves to redefine the political climate towards one of hope and unity, rather than strife and argumentation. We have achieved this by creating High School chapters all around the world, with 70+ and counting, that host discussion meetings about salient issues of our time. Instead of debating both sides, we focus on civil discourse and empathy, fostering a sense of understanding about our differing perspectives. Read more>>
James Littier

So many artist create music out of limitations that they unknowingly have placed on themselves. Alternatively, when they seek help to escape limitations, they sometimes work with producers who put even greater limitations on them because that producer has their own individual bias, inflated ego, or pre conceived notions of what that artists’ sound “should be”. What this leads to is the artist stepping out of the studio having been robbed of their individual sound. Read more>>
Andrea Santizo

As a proud member of the Central American diaspora, I’ve always felt the lack of representation of our rich and vibrant communities in the two fields I love deeply, design and art. Growing up I was surrounded and adopted by the Mexican American community but I didn’t see anything aside from visiting 6th & Bonnie Brea that showed me a piece of myself. Guatemala and its beautiful multicultural richness was relegated to a few blocks of vendors in LA. Read more>>
Isabella Ngov

I grew up in a predominately white area, which meant I was one of three Asian American kids in my grade, and probably around 10 in my school. I also am heavily involved in my culture which meant I grew up living in two different worlds at home and in school. This lead to a general amount of bullying when it came to being prideful in my culture. Read more>>
Allen Lostetter

Our Mission is bring local Artisans in 1 store to sell their handmade items, We want to help people achieve their dreams and passions of their talent. It is so expensive to open a store on your own and operate the store full time. So our store allows them to work on their items and we operate the store full time. With our store we hope to bring back the buying local and supporting small businesses. Read more>>
Jen Knott

Our mission is to utilize fully inclusive recreation therapy programs to connect people with and without disabilities to community recreation, wellness, and lifelong leisure. We believe everyone should have access to quality recreation and recreation therapy programs. Often recreation spaces have difficulty providing adaptations to include people with disabilities in their programming. Read more>>