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.
Chelsey Barringer
Graz’n Tables began as a small dream and has blossomed into a beloved culinary destination in Collierville, TN. Founded by Chelsey, a passionate entrepreneur with a deep love for southern flavors, Graz’n has become a place where great food meets community spirit. What started as a catering service has grown into a vibrant restaurant known for its delicious charcuterie boards, custom sandwiches. salads, and heartwarming hospitality. Read More>>
Rayquesha Sharkey
When I originally started I just jumped out there with a large overhead and no clients, over time hard work and dedication got me to where I am now. I cried a lot of nights because the girls make it look so easy on TikTok and Instagram and in actual reality you have to do the work, you have take the classes to learn more and be the best. Overall never give up in your dream, no matter the circumstance. Read More>>
Dominic Middleton
That’s when I came up with the idea of getting back into playing video games as I have not played video games in over 10 years. Luckily enough, the Playstation 5 came out that year and I was one of the first ones to snag it. And in November of that year, I started streaming on Twitch. Streaming has opened several doors but most importantly, connecting with people from across the world and building a community all throughout our love of gaming. Read More>>
Jessica Bush
I sought her approval and wanted to be a priority in her life, but I recognized her challenges were more profound than my understanding. I also wanted to understand people’s responses to tragedies and identify my emotional needs. Initially, I wanted to become an attorney, but when I went to college, I found social work and became interested in understanding the human mind and behavior patterns. I knew that was where I needed to be to not only help myself but to break the negative stigma in the black community discussing mental health. Read More>>
Dee Kemp
Absolutely not! Besides the everyday struggles of just growing up and finding myself; I’ll never forget one of the biggest challenges I faced when starting my business was overcoming doubt, both from myself and others. I remember I was working a stable job at the time, I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my entrepreneurial dream and was laughed at. It was so difficult to ignore and believe in myself, but I persevered and proved that it was possible. Read More>>
Avery Ester
I decided to center my business around hair extensions, lipgloss, and lashes. This way I could provide more for my clients. My vision is to provide products that are affordable and quality with services that will make my clients feel so beautiful without spending their whole pockets. I am proud to provide such top notch customer service because I value how my clients feel after purchasing something from me or being serviced. My goal is to make every person feel beautiful from the inside out. Read More>>
Nikkia Lane
I was watching these movies at just three years old, and they filled my heart with such joy. I’ve been obsessed with creating beauty ever since. Cutting up my mom’s Sunday best to make couture pieces, learning to sew with my great-aunt Marlyn, or helping my grandmother clean her house while Anita Baker’s voice classically conditioned me to groove as I swept the porch—all of these moments shaped me. It was the women in my life who inspired and cultivated my passion for beauty. Read More>>
Mariama Diallo
After earning my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Memphis, I decided it was time to take a risk and pursue my own path. I had always loved modest fashion, but as a Muslim girl born and raised in Tennessee, I found that there weren’t many options available that fit both my style and values. I saw a gap in the market and knew that I could create something meaningful not only for myself but for girls like me—girls who want to dress modestly and stylishly without compromising on affordability. Read More>>
Lakendra Jackson
I am the CEO and Owner of Truly Yours Graphics and Truly Yours Digitals, where I combine art with spirituality to create designs that speak to the soul. For me, art isn’t just about visuals—it’s about channeling energy, expressing emotions, and connecting to something greater. It’s a reflection of the journey I’ve been on, a journey that started long before Truly Yours Graphics and Truly Yours Digitals. But let me tell you, this journey didn’t just start with a business plan. No, it started with crayons, MySpace layouts, and a lot of life lessons along the way. Read More>>
Anna Kate Williams
Nursing school can be extremely stressful, so I always took any chance I could to spend time with fun and carefree children whom I had grown to love. Parents would often tell me they loved the fact I was studying to be a nurse one day. It made them feel safe. I valued the relationships I was building with these families and the peace of mind I was able to provide parents. Once I started my full-time job, I quickly learned that I was unable to babysit as frequently as I was while I was in school. I still wanted to provide care to these families somehow. So in May of 2022, I started Nurse Nanny. Read More>>
Jenil Askew
I have always been passionate about fashion since I was a young girl. Sketching and reading fashion magazines was my favorite past time. I think the first time I truly trusted myself to get into my passion was registering for classes at The University of Memphis for Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. I started styling girls at the UofM and eventually was the Co-chair of the University of Memphis Black Student Association fashion show. Read More>>
Dr. Jameice Decoster-edmunds
In addition to my career pursuits, my personal commitment to health and wellness, particularly for Black women, is exemplified through my FitMeice, LLC business. The main priority of my business is to encourage women to find ways to take care of their health both physical and mental. My motto of “Physically Strong Mentally Healthy” is something I try to live by and encourage others to do the same. Wellness to me is all encompassing including how we take care of ourselves from the neck down AND the neck up. Read More>>
Joey Cole
This wasn’t an extreme distance, and his daughter was able to attend and enjoy the show, but this experience fueled an ongoing idea for the OUTLET APP which Joey and his brother conceived a year prior. So many things are possible this day and age and cell phones are essentially mini pocket computers. Joey asked the question, “Why isn’t there a way to attend this concert or other shows and events right here at home, with my phone?’ Read More>>
Caroline Collins
It wasn’t until having my son a short time after undergrad—and navigating what I now know to be postpartum depression—that I started inching my way toward a consistent practice. Going to a studio wasn’t feasible time, money, or energy-wise, so I built a practice through yoga DVDs and YouTube videos in my living room. Those living room flows felt like life-savers during what was the busiest time of my life so far as a new mom who was also starting graduate school and working full-time. Read More>>
Tee Dotson
Hello. My name is Tee Dotson. I’m a wife, mom of two, best-selling author, writer, and creative dedicated to helping women heal from the inside out. As a mom of two beautiful daughters, a wife, and a psychology student, I’ve experienced the transformative power of doing the inner work. My healing journey began when I looked in the mirror and faced my deepest struggles. Now, I’m passionate about guiding others to find that same freedom. Through my writing, artistic expression, and beauty/fitness content, I aim to inspire women to embrace their true selves, break free from past limitations, and live fully in their purpose. Read More>>
Reanna Montgomery
These experiences have deeply influenced my art. I’ve always had a love for shells and have been collecting them for as long as I can remember. There’s something so captivating about discovering a perfectly preserved shell; as a child, it made me feel incredibly lucky and special. Even now, as an adult, I still feel that same excitement. It brings me immense joy to transform these cherished finds into creations that others can appreciate and connect with, sharing in the beauty and happiness they bring me. Read More>>
Imani Nathaniel
That was the moment I knew what I wanted to pursue being a makeup artist. I went to cosmetology after high school and got my first job at a makeup counter. I gained clients and since 2016, I’ve been a professional makeup artist. I went on to do makeup for weddings, special events and so much more. I had the pleasure of servicing Leandria Johnson, “Lil G” from the group Silk and most recently Maranda Curtis. It’s safe to say that the Lord really provided a way for me to experience what I love to do. Read More>>
Adrian Tsarevich
To use social medias to publicize and bring more attention to cases including an unidentified deceased, to create a potentially infinite net of human connexions reaching further, and wider than the current platforms diffusing information regarding unidentified deceased in order to restore identity, dignity, and reunite families with their missing loved ones. Which, would be done with dignity, reframing the emphasis from ” true crime entertainment” to citizen action and mobilization. Read More>>
Darrell Chambers
Once I started taking my music career seriously I was connected with a producer who lived in another area of Memphis called Frazier named John Wilhite and we started to create Magic. The first song I ever recorded was a record call it don’t rain forever and the song got kind of popular amongst my neighborhood and it was so diverse that churches started to have me come perform that song in the church and so that show me that I was on the right path Read More>>
Kristen Miller
I spent about a year trying to convince other groups around town to start one, but kept hearing things like, “we don’t have the budget or the staff for that”. So, I decided to pilot the program under my business, Midsouth Aging Consultant. In the first 8 months, it grew from one location to three, and people were really starting to catch on to the idea. I knew it had a lot of potential, so I formed a non-profit, Memory Makers of the Midsouth, in order to manage and grow the Memory Cafes. We now have 9 locations all over Memphis and Shelby County offering free programs for people with dementia and their caregivers. Read More>>
Rey Alpizar
since then I have visited over 18 different countries and more than 37 luxury destinations to shoot luxury corporate events, from a chocolate room at the four seasons Milan to the white sand paradise beaches of Bahamas I have seen it all and enjoy my work more and more everyday! nowadays I do equality photo and video not only for corporate events but also for weddings, commercial videos , product photography and portraits! , moved to USA in 2023 with my wife and since then I live in Jonesboro AR but keep traveling all over for work! Read More>>
Mikey Christian
I’m a hip hop artist/actor/host, I have an album that is out currently called “Too Playa” as an actor I’ve done 11 stage plays & 2 movies. I also host a podcast “Aye Mane Say Mane” which was a top 5 finalist at 2024 Memphis Podcast Festival. I have alot of layers to me. I also coach kids basketball for the church where I started playing basketball as a kid. My purpose is to be a blessing to others through music, comedy, basketball, & art. Read More>>
