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?

Jessie Jeanne Stinnett

The mission of Boston Dance Theater is deeply personal for me, and it’s rooted in both my own experiences as a dancer and in my desire to create lasting change in Boston’s dance ecosystem. Boston has long been a city of great potential for dancers—a place where they come to train and refine their craft—but unfortunately, it hasn’t historically offered the same opportunities for them to stay and build their careers. Read more>>

Jiovani Anderson-diaz

Our mission is all about celebrating individuality and inspiring others to go after what they’re passionate about, even if life’s busy. Whether you’ve got a full-time job, family, or a million other responsibilities—if I can do it while balancing my job, a newborn, and home life, anyone can. I come from humble beginnings, and things weren’t always easy, but I worked hard to grow in my career, start a family, and finally make my dream of owning a business come true. Read more>>

Kateryna Odarchenko

Undoubtedly, in our business — political consulting, government relations, and communications — it’s impossible to succeed without a clear understanding of values and guiding principles. We don’t just represent clients or organize elections in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, or here in the United States. We see our mission as contributing to the development of the industry as a whole. Read more>>

Regine Bellinger

I created Conkrete Jungle Productions Inc. and created the choreographers showcase that ran 4 seasons, and one online international season. I gave the opportunity to emerging artist from the NYC tri-state area to showcase their work and gain stage confidence. Many people who performed or showcased their work had never performed before, this was their opportunity. I created Conkrete Jungle because I felt there was a need for all emerging artist in the New York tri- state area to grow and show their work. As someone who was constantly typecasted and overlooked I felt it was necessary to have that outlet. In 2021 I began doing toy drives and canned good drives for children and low income families. I began giving free dance classes and helping children open their eyes to many possibilities in their life. What does a toy drive or food drive have to do with Conkrete Jungle you may ask? Plenty. It involves a lot, a lot of our best artists in the New York tri-state area struggle to make ends meet or have grown up in impoverished environments, similar to how I did. I want Conkrete Jungle Productions to give back to the community not only through the opportunity to showcase art work on stage but through food, nourishment and home goods. Read more>>

Lily Pierce

Music and my work for mental health are very important to me for a multitude of reasons. I think that the overarching message between the two of them that I try to intertwine is the idea of destroying isolation and loneliness. Mental health and trauma, or even just super hard situations can cause us to become very isolated, and feel so alone in what we are experiencing. But feeling alone in our struggles is a dangerous place to be, and I do not think it is talked about enough. In my mental health journey, there were times where I wanted to give up because of how hopeless and alone I felt, I thought I was the only one going through this thing. This feeling of isolation caused by my mental illness led me to do some very drastic things, and it was not until I found a community that I was able to look outside myself. I do not want anyone to have to endure the pain that eating disorders cause, but if they do, they should never ever go through that alone. Anyone struggling is a human being who deserves care just as much as the next person, because if we feel alone it is even harder to keep going. This is why I am excited to start releasing more music in the future about my experience with mental health and eating disorders. Read more>>

Ashley Gauthier

Mission: At From The Ash Tree, my mission is to redefine the narrative around self-perception through the lens of photography. I believe that every individual, couple, and business holds a unique beauty that deserves to be celebrated and showcased. My approach centers on capturing emotive experiences that resonate deeply, transforming the way people see themselves in front of the camera. Read more>>

Katie Walkenhorst

Re/Styled was born out of my love for shopping, fashion and clothing + my commitment to sustainability, sprinkled with a little entrepreneurial spirit. I have always loved to thrift. At one point in my life I thrifted for financial reasons, then I continued to thrift because it was fun! It’s like a treasure hunt. I get a rush of dopamine when I discover a great find or a perfect piece for myself or a client. Simultaneously, my desire to live a sustainable life started to emerge. I take pride in making less trash, dressing in second hand items (while also looking trendy and stylish, of course!), using solar energy, and sustainable products and all around conscious consumerism. Statistics are not favorable for the environmental impact of humans and our depletion of the earth resources, and the fashion industry is the 3rd largest environmental polluter – only behind the fossil fuel and agricultural industries. There is currently enough clothing on the planet for the next 6 generations of humans – we rarely need to buy new items. Read more>>

Trina Felber

My journey as the “Mother of the Clean Beauty Movement” started with a painful experience that turned my understanding of health and beauty upside down. As a nurse anesthetist and a mother, I thought I knew how to care for my own well-being. But when I suffered a miscarriage, it forced me to look deeper into what could have been behind it. That search led me to a shocking realization about the unregulated world of skincare and beauty products—the very products I was using every day were filled with hormone disruptors, toxins, and chemicals that seeped into my skin and could potentially harm my body. Read more>>

Shauna Mcqueen

My name is Shauna McQueen, and I am the Executive Director of a non-profit, Holy Smoke-Misfit Missionaries. Holy Smoke was founded by local comedians, who brought their talents into the tunnel, to not only uplift residents but also to have a fun time. Our charity slowly grew and expanded to include bringing food and supplies, with the ultimate goal of finding permanent housing for our friends in the tunnels. We now also provide our services to those who are homeless and living in Downtown Las Vegas. Read more>>

Julie Jamison

Interior Design is more than just beautiful spaces. It runs so much deeper than that for me. Our homes are our safe spaces, especially for people of color. We experience so much in the outside world and our space is that soft spot that is there to not just welcome us, but console us, support us, and allow us to let go, let our guard down, and just be. So yes, it should be beautiful, but it should also be an extension of us. Filled with the things, colors, and textures that bring us joy and express who we are – our unique style and personality. To create a home for my clients like no other, I use their birth chart to infuse the many facets of who they are. Read more>>

Chiara Townley

My mission is to help women activate their confidence, feminine power, and intuition through motherhood. The story behind this mission is personal. I went through a lot during the transition to motherhood. I had a traumatic birth and postpartum depression and anxiety. I healed by connecting with the emotions in my body with the guidance of the chakra system and working on myself energetically. Read more>>

Samuel Summers

My mission to give people the right skills, knowledge and attitude to carry and handle a fire arm. What motivated me was that I went to a class and was simply disappointed in the instructor .After the classroom portion of the class before we did the shooting course, I asked the other students and not to my surprise , They said they got nothing from the class. That’s exactly how I felt. Luckily with my military background I was already well trained on firearms. So, that day I started my path on becoming an instructor. Read more>>

Barbara Kamba-nyathi

Bold Dialogue is an intuitive wellness platform that facilitates healing, ignites hope and brings the possibility of boldly living a life that honours your passions and dreams. We work with women across Africa, equipping them with the support, mentorship and tools required to transcend trauma in order to truly operate from a place of excellence. Because we recognize the power of community in our culture, we intentionally engage men in our work. We lead heart-to-heart conversations that pave the way for emotional and mental healing because empowered men, empower the women in their lives. Read more>>

Stevie Jae Davis

As a trans artist and content creator, my mission is deeply rooted in my identity. I am driven to challenge stereotypes through creative expression and fashion, aiming to increase visibility, promote inclusivity, and advocate for a future where trans individuals are uplifted and embraced as part of the norm. For me, the cost of posting even the most average, seemingly unremarkable video, is having hundreds of people tune in to gawk or leave hurtful comments. But if getting dressed on the internet and sharing my story helps people see a successful, happy, and healthy trans adult thriving, then it is all worth it. Read more>>

Summer Delashaw

The story of how my business and brand, By Summer Delashaw, came to be is a story that has been years in the making, full of deeper purpose and mission. For as long as I can remember, I have been an artist. I was the kid in first grade who everyone asked to draw their favorite animal on their worksheet and came home after school and all I wanted to do was draw ‘fashion girls’ with my mom. One night in high school. I was up late working on a western art piece for a rodeo contest entry and I remember hearing ‘you were created for this’, undoubtedly a word from the maker of heaven and earth, and wondered why I would ever do anything else. I remember feeling alive and full of purpose — and here we are. It is a privilege to get to steward the gift of creativity, using my hands, eyes, heart and a few materials in the process. Read more>>

Devon Holloway

Our company is a mission based lifestyle brand created to reflect the values that I felt best represented the community I grew up in. The journey of Hope Design began in 2017 in Roxbury, MA. Growing up in the inner city of Boston I felt like my neighborhood wasn’t often spotlighted in a way that it deserved, and instead reflected in a more negative light. It was our goal to create a brand and space that elevated our communities and celebrates both our similarities and differences. As we’ve continued to grow and expand, we’ve been given the opportunity to work with different initiatives, organizations and schools within the inner city communities. It is very important to me to use my profession and craft to pour into those that have poured into me. Read more>>

Teneshia Phillips

The story behind TP Management Group is deeply rooted in a journey of turning my personal and professional pain into purpose. Initially, I worked as a social worker and later as a compliance officer in state government. But over time, I started experiencing health challenges, consisting of significant pain and fatigue. It was during this time that I realized the stress of my job was only making things worse. I loved the work and cared about making a difference, but it became painfully clear that the job itself, and even management, did not hold the same level of care for me as I did for it. Read more>>

Gabriel Pearson

Here’s a refined version with a professional tone: Whether I’m working closely with an artist to create a seamless sound and image or developing curriculum for universities, my mission is driven by a commitment to stand up for the incredible creatives of our time. My journey has been shaped by firsthand experiences of being undervalued by industry gatekeepers and witnessing the devaluation of genuine artistry. This has fueled my passion for bringing music back to a free-flowing, judgment-free space where creativity and beauty can thrive. Read more>>

Luis Amezquita

Our mission is to provide the highest quality of services to our customers. We want to make sure that the customer gets what he envisioned. Our mission is to help our customers bring their ideas to life. and here at American Graphics we make that a reality. Read more>>

George Nolan

The mission of Refine2Inspire is deeply personal to me. It isn’t just about creating another program; it’s about pouring my heart into work that reflects my own journey of transformation and redemption. For so long, I was trapped by my past—by the mistakes, regrets, and the feeling that I would never be seen as more than my worst moments. I know what it’s like to feel the weight of judgment, to believe that I’m stuck in a cycle that has no end. That’s why Refine2Inspire isn’t just important; it’s essential to me, because it represents my commitment to helping others see that they are more than the labels society may place on them. Read more>>

Justin Puppe

My mission is to create everyday products out of biodegradable materials by utilizing mycelium. My goal is to develop a range of eco-friendly materials that can replace environmentally harmful products that are used daily. I believe that by exploring all potentials of mushrooms and by using them to create sustainable materials, we could make huge progress toward a future of human civilization on the Moon or Mars. I’ve always wanted to make a positive impact on the world today and I’d love to be able to do it through my passion in life. Two of my major interests are mushrooms and outer space. When I found a way to combine my two passions, I knew I had found my purpose in life. Read more>>

Gowtham And Akhil Achanta And Kotha

The Sunlight Initiative was born from our first-hand experience with a lack of sufficient government funding for public education. Seeing the impacts this had on programs and teachers at our school, we created this organization to give fair opportunities to students in public schools. We thought carefully about how we could make a real difference. We looked at different parts of student involvement, how we use resources, and how to keep initiatives going. We quickly saw that to create real change, we needed an approach that took care of both current needs and long-term development. Read more>>

Shanya Tsai

At HangRr, our mission is to create a tech-empowered fashion community that enables people to feel good about what they wear every day, with a focus on sustainability, individuality, and accessibility. This mission is deeply personal to me because of my journey as an immigrant navigating a new culture and trying to find confidence in self-expression through style. After moving to New York City from Taiwan, I experienced the challenge of building a wardrobe on a budget without guidance. I realized many others face similar struggles in finding their style identity in a sustainable way, especially when bombarded by fast fashion trends and limited resources for genuine style advice. Read more>>

Ani Apinyan

The Story Behind My Mission at Maven Medi Spa When I first started my journey in the world of aesthetics, I knew I wanted to create something different; a space that not only offered cutting-edge treatments but also honored the unique beauty of each person who walked through the door. As a nurse practitioner and an artist with a background in sculpting and portrait painting, I’ve always been fascinated by the interplay between art and science. To me, beauty isn’t about perfection; it’s about celebrating what makes each of us distinct and empowering individuals to feel like the best versions of themselves. Read more>>

T.h. Irwin

Jessica and T.H. were best friends as young couples in their 20s, then growing up , building careers and starting families. Everything looked great on the outside, nice homes, great trips and all of the things. Then 13 years into their marriages, they found out that their husbands were cheating with other women for many years and traveling with their girlfriends while Jessica and T.H. were in their respective homes, with young children and working. Due to the lack of resources to help them navigate their divorces, they started a free, trustworthy platform to help anyone touched directly or indirectly by divorce. They had one another through it all and beyond. Now, being out of their marriages longer than they were in them, they felt a need to create a space to empower, educate and support anyone touched by divorce to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. We’ve lived it, so we get it – and we built it. exEXPERTS & Divorce etc… podcast. Read more>>

Arleny Agramonte

I remember being in middle school, watching all these lifestyle YouTubers and thinking, “Why does no one look like me?” Growing up, I didn’t see many people from my community—Latinos and Latinas—represented in the way I wanted. I wanted to see someone who looked like me, spoke like me, and had similar experiences. So, one day after school, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I started my YouTube channel with the goal of showing other Latinas and Latinos that we can make it in this industry too. My mission as a creator has always been to be that representation—to show that people like us belong in this space just as much as anyone else. It’s about making sure our voices are heard and seen. Read more>>

Mekhi Franklin

Our mission is to celebrate the creativity and diversity within the young African American community, inspired by the need for greater inclusivity and representation. This mission is deeply personal, as I understand what it feels like to be overlooked or to feel limited by circumstances. Through projects like our upcoming fashion show and various photography initiatives, we’re creating a platform that highlights diverse voices and provides the visibility and support I once needed. For us, success means empowering people to follow their passions and contributing to an industry that welcomes everyone. Read more>>

Sherry Ellingson

I am here to help and support those whose voices need support. As a woman who has fallen, failed and gotten back up many times to do the work I want to help other women. My story is complicated and long, I’ll share some of it. My family and I moved here in 1979 shortly after the Revolution in Iran, because we did not support the government that took over. Growing up I faced many challenges from health issues, overly strict family household, and racism. As an adult I worked in a corporate field after college to have them turn their back on me, because I had children. My marriage didn’t work as many don’t and have been raising my two daughters. Financially speaking I have gone up and down the roller coaster multiple times. From being a bread winner to losing all of it multiple times. Read more>>