The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.
Brenda Flores
I was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico. When my family arrived in Memphis, I was the age of 10- years-old and we have been here ever since. I always knew how important it was to become accustomed to the culture while maintaining my native culture and traditions. Read more>>
Nicole Della Santina
We started in 2023, when my best friend and I were still in high school. We had the idea to create a community of people who shared a passion for culture and art. Our first step was reaching out on TikTok to find others interested in contributing to the magazine or joining the editorial team. Read more>>
Thomas Fuerst
After being fired from a mega church in Memphis for a sermon I preached on racism, our Methodist bishop asked me to start a church. We called it Bluff City Church and it was oriented around the ideas of Holy Love for God, Holy Love for Neighbor, and Holy Love for Self. Read more>>
Tarrance Pollard
Pollard’s Bar-B-Q started 30 years ago, on October 7th, 1995, as a mobile food trailer. But to truly understand our story, you must go back further! Owner Tarrance Pollard is a third-generation Pollard who learned how to grill from his grandfather, Alonzo Pollard II. Read more>>
Cherry Nguyen Luong
My name is Cherry Nguyen Luong, I am a 30-year-old native of Memphis, born and raised. I am happily married to an incredible man and mother to two beautiful, enthusiastic girls who keep life wonderfully vibrant.. My life with nails began at the early age of eight, when my mother purchased her salon, Karina’s Nails, in 2003. Read more>>
Gavriel Brown
I came to Memphis because I saw something rare: a community with deep roots and real heart, and a school with seventy-five years of history standing at the edge of its next great chapter. Read more>>
Tony Kail
I am a cultural anthropologist with a strong love for African religious traditions. In October of 2025 I was able to open the Beale Street Hoodoo History and Folklife Museum at the historic A.Schwab on Beale. Read more>>
Sarah Blumkin
My professional journey started over 20 years ago, in Ft. Collins, Colorado. I ultimately went to Colorado State University after high school, where I majored in Animal Science. I got married in 2002, moving to Memphis, TN, where we now call home. Read more>>
Keisha Bantom
I have been a Licensed Medical Esthetician for about 14 years now and my passion for health and wellness is still as strong if not stronger than ever now that im getting older! I always loved the beauty industry and always loved being a service provider. Read more>>
Dusty, Mary, and Jacob Myers
We started our business in 2023 with a goal of filling a gap we saw in the industry – providing a service that truly prioritized quality. We noticed people weren’t getting the level of service they deserved, so we built our company around the idea of doing things differently. From the beginning our goal was to raise expectations. Read more>>
MARCUS Newson
I was born in Memphis and raised in Coldwater, MS, in a family where music was a way of life. At just seven years old, I discovered my gift for song, performing alongside my siblings as part of The Newson Singers. My style was shaped by legendary voices such as Willie Neal Johnson & The Keynotes, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Johnny Taylor, and B.B. King — but my greatest influence was my grandfather, the late Pastor Julius “Bump” Smith, founder of The Spiritual Harmonizers. Read more>>
Ponya Dodson
ALL OF MY WHAT SEEMDED “TRAMATIC” CIRCUMSTANCES- THEY HELPED TO INCREASE MY FAITH TO A LEVEL THAT- WHATEVER COMES MY WAY- IT MAY KNOCK ME OFF COURSE TEMPORARILY BUT I ALWAYS GET RIGHT BACK UP AND I GET BACK UP FIGHTING- LET’S SEE, I WAS BULLIED FROM ELEMENTARY TO ADULTHOOD. Read more>>
