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.
Richerra Bell
I’m Richerra Bell known as Richie. I’ve always been a lover of creativity and arts so I dabbled in many sectors of that growing up. My journey into the projects I do now started several years ago while in church. I was apart of some great Theatre productions under the teaching of my then pastor, Dwayne Hunt. Fast forward to 2021 my maternal grandmother and mother passed away 6 months apart, at the time I was my mothers caregiver for over 10years battling colon cancer & becoming a new mom. Read more>>
Cheryl Hayes
Hear My Voice was not born from a business plan—it was birthed on September 19, 2025, from life, love, and lived experience. For more than two decades, I have worked in Social Services with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, serving children and families across the state of Tennessee. Through my professional career, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges families face when navigating systems that are often complex, overwhelming and emotionally exhausting. Read more>>
Caroline Norris
When I moved to Memphis about ten years ago, I had this realization: I wanted my after-hours volunteer life to become my full-time work. This city has incredible heart and generosity. I had the chance to fundraise through large-scale events for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which will always be near & dear to my heart, and later to lead revenue operations for Shelby Farms Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. Along the way, I also served on nonprofit boards and volunteered regularly. Read more>>
Deonta Hampton
PowerforYouth901 was born out of my journey as a radio personality at a local radio station, where many youth approached me with questions about my experience and how they could pursue a career in radio. These conversations revealed a strong need for mentorship and exposure to the media and entertainment industry. Read more>>
Carl Moore
I feel I’ve always in some way been an artist. I grow up watching my brother and sisters create art and as they moved on to other careers, it became a very important part of my life. Read more>>
Takesha Vaughn
I’m Takesha Vaughn Owner of Polished Urban Boutique. Fashion has always been my interest and is something I knew I would have a career in. Which is what I have always talked about since I was a little girl. Read more>>
Courtney “Sheba” Minter
My determination for success started at an early age. I had a knack for performing but decided to join the military and attend college at the University of Memphis. There I met my husband and gained a bachelor’s degree in social work. Afterwards, I worked as a case worker and became a mother. Read more>>
Natashia Tuggle
My name is Chef Natashia Tuggle, and I am the owner and operator of Theknifespot901 LLC, a gourmet catering company based in Memphis. My passion for cooking began at a young age, inspired by family, culture, and the joy that food brings to people. What started as cooking for loved ones quickly grew into a desire to turn my talent into a career. Read more>>
Edgar Davison
I started my legal career the old-fashioned way—clerking at a personal injury firm while I was still in law school. I stuck around as an associate for a couple of years after graduating, which meant learning litigation by doing it, usually the hard way. After that, I moved into employment law and spent several years working with Alan Crone handling discrimination, retaliation, and wage cases. Read more>>
Michael Harris jr
I started my mobile detailing business from the ground up with hustle, determination, and a vision to do things the right way. I didn’t have much starting out just basic equipment, long days, and the mindset to outwork anybody. I relied on word of mouth and social media i treated every car like it was mine because I knew my name was on it. Read more>>
Shaneika Smith
Sweetgrass Counseling & Consultation was born out of both lived experience and a deep commitment to community care. I started my career knowing that traditional mental health spaces often weren’t built with Black communities, marginalized identities, or complex relationships in mind and I wanted to help create something different. Read more>>
Michael Reynolds
I’m originally from Jackson, TN, but Memphis has been my home for over 11 years now. My professional journey in marketing spans more than a decade, during which I’ve had the privilege of honing my craft at industry leaders like FedEx and Frontdoor, both based in Memphis, as well as Google. Read more>>
Sara Zurenko
Horses have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, though my path with them was not the traditional equestrian story. My family was not wealthy, so being around horses meant working for it. I cleaned stalls, completed barn chores, and helped wherever I could in exchange for time in the saddle. Read more>>
Justin Croninger
I’ve always been a storyteller. From childhood I was always looking for an audience to entertain with a story and that passion led me to my current video career. I hold a BFA in Theatre Performance from Auburn University where I learned how to connect with an audience and usher them to the end of the story. Read more>>
Adam Loeffel
I started doing ceramics with my mother when I was a small child and that led to studying ceramics at the University of Memphis, which led me to Seize The Clay in 2001. After serving as the studio manager for Molly Norfleet, I purchased the business from her in December 2009 and have been the owner ever since. Read more>>
Kiona Pharr
I started with Palmer Home for Children six years ago. During my time at Palmer Home, I have had the opportunity to work within each program we have that serves children, young adults, and families. Currently I am the Senior Director of Children’s Programs. Read more>>
