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.
Mykenzie Mathis
I am a serial entrepreneur and business coach who began with photography in 2019. I have been a full time photographer for six years now. What started as a hobby capturing friends and family grew into the passionate business I run today. I’ve had the honor of coaching other photographers on their similar journey for the past few years now as well. While photography is what I am known for, I have grown and expanded as a business owner. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am passionate about connection and intentionality as this is the foundation for MyKenzie Alexis Photography. This desire for more connection with those I love and being more intentional in my day to day have brought me to my newest business venture – Intentional Crafts and Paperie. Read More>>
DeRone Payne
I am DeRone Payne—better known as 2Cent in the music production world. I have built a career rooted in passion, talent, and an undeniable ear for music. A proud Memphis native, my journey began as a self-taught music producer in my teenage years. My career accelerated when I interned at a local Memphis music studio post-high school, learning directly from Memphis heavyweights like Kinfolk Thugs (Dump Truck), Hot Rod (producer of Yo Gotti’s 5 Star Chick) and T-Mack (audio engineer for Memphis legends 8-Ball & MJG). Read more>>
Brilann Coleman
Another struggle was facing resistance to change—whether from systems, people, or even self-doubt. When you’re challenging the status quo, especially in community development and education reform, not everyone is ready to embrace new solutions. There were moments when I questioned if the work I was doing was truly making an impact, but every success story, every young person I’ve mentored, and every milestone proved otherwise. Read more>>
Hether Jenkins
I guess I would say more growing pains than struggle. Starting a new business takes time. I know I wasted a lot of time and money in the beginning because I was so eager and felt like I had to do everything all at once. Now I take the time to think through who I want to be as an artist and make decisions that support that goal, and not just what I might see other business owners doing. Read more>>
Graciie Vega
You know, it’s funny how life comes full circle sometimes. If you had told fifteen-year-old me, fresh off the plane with my family, that one day I’d be helping other Spanish speakers buy their homes here in the States, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, every piece of paper felt like a mountain to climb. My parents, bless their hearts, didn’t speak much English, so as the oldest of four girls, I became their translator for everything – contracts, opening bank accounts, buying a car, doctor appointments, even just figuring out what was on sale at the grocery store. It was a lot for a teenager, but it also made me grow up fast. Read more>>
Deon C.
There have been countless struggles throughout the way. I spent a lot of time doubting myself, my skill, and if this was the right path for me. Putting in countless hours and hoping for it all to pay off. I experience loss of family, friends, and more importantly myself. This all formed who I am today and the struggle of living in my truth is a battle I will be waging until I have no time left. Read more>>
Julia Cruz Magness
My big break came when I attended a gospel brunch at Threadgills in Austin TX with my mom. My mom, always being my biggest supporter, told one of the members on the Original Bells of Joy that I was a great singer. I was so embarrassed. Later in the show they passed the microphone around the audience and it ender with me. I sang and they pretty much adopted me. It wasn’t immediate but they invited me up on stage anytime I came to see them. Later on they made me an official member and I sang with them for over a decade until the pandemic hit. They were significant in that they were the first black gospel group to sell a million copies of a song ‘Talk about Jesus’. Read more>>
Candis Quinn
I decided to move from part-time baker to full-time entrepreneur, opening Taste Buds Catering and Sweets in the Oak Court Mall in the summer. 2021.A true success from the start, Taste Buds garnered a bigger name for not only cakes, but cookies, brownies, muffins, even the fan-favorite Spinach Dip and Buffalo Chicken Dip! Also have cake classes for children and cake and sips for adults. Read more>>
MadameFraankie
Sure! I’ll do my best to speak on both art forms! So, I’m a musician and photographer. Music’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but it really started shaping my life when I got my first radio at age ten. That’s when I began actively exploring and falling in love with different genres and artists, checking out CDs from the library (what ya’ll know about that?), recording songs off the radio, stuff like that. Read more>>
Kalon Braxton
I spent almost 2 years learning my camera and building confidence before i revealed to the world that i take pictures. I practiced on my Wife. I also used to walk around Downtown Memphis and Shelby Farms just snapping photos and getting better. My first gig that was booked was a Fashion Show that was hosted by an old co-worker. From that shoot on i been getting booked. I open my first studio in March 2020. My current studio that I’m in i opened in 2022. My business is growing day by day. Read more>>
Katherine Riederer
Anna (my sister) and I came up with the idea for The Art Project over 10 years ago. At the time, Anna had a 3 year old and an 18 month old. Her 3 year old absolutely loved art. She loved glitter, cutting paper, glue and paint. Anna loved her doing art but didn’t love the mess in her house. So, she’d send her over to my house. I am an artist, had a studio in my house, and didn’t mind the mess. We started talking about how there should be a place where you can take your child to make art – not structured, not a class, just a place to take a young kid and not have to worry about the mess. We started looking around and couldn’t find such a place so we decided to create it ourselves. Read more>>
Becky Mitchell
About 5 years ago I started calling myself a “Forever Photographer”. It is a title I created. Many years before my photography business I was a social worker and helped children find their Forever Families. This terminology stuck with me, it brought on the realization that my photography clients were often the same families over and over through the years. When I established new clients they became Forever Families with Becky’s Lens. This is when I realized that I was their Forever Photographer and we had become the Becky’s Lens Family. It is sweet to me how all the experiences in our lives develop who we are as people. Read more>>
Stormy Jones
I am a licensed professional cosmetologist or 13 years, a licensed tattoo artist as well as a certified hair replacement specialist. I own and operate Hello Gorgeous Beauty Boutique–a beauty safe haven for women who are experiencing hair loss. I am also the founder and executive director of the Gift of Hair Foundation–a non-profit that works to empower women and help restore confidence through free to low cost hair replacement services, emotional support, and education. Specializing in non-surgical hair replacement and scalp micro pigmentation (SMP) for the past four years, I have been able to help transform the appearance of countless men and women that have faced hair loss due to cancer, alopecia, and other medical conditions. Read more>>
Keri Meadors-Rose
The first being the birth of my son, Knight, when I was 21 years old. The responsibility and gift of motherhood tested me in ways I never knew possible and even now when faced with situations that seem physically or mentally impossible to withstand, I know from experience that I am indeed capable of anything. Becoming a parent changed me in many ways, but I am forever grateful for the shift in perspective I experienced that resulted in fully realizing my potential as an entrepreneur and someone willing to do anything to provide a great life for my now family of four. Read more>>
Justin Culley
MOVIENITE’s first performance was out-of-town at Union University in Jackson, TN. Some friends at the college wanted to host a dorm show and invited us to to be the opening act. Tighlty crammed into this small dorm room on the second floor was where it all really started for the band. Fast forward to 2025, MOVIENITE is still writing, recording, and playing original music in Memphis, TN. The band has had a few different iterations over the years ranging from 3-6 members. Justin Culley and his spouse Brookelyn Culley are the two original members of the band who are now accompanied by Jeff Leedham (second guitar) and Michael Perez (bass guitar). Read more>>
Maggie Weidner
I was introduced to Memphis in two impactful ways in my second year of college. First, the church I attended announced they were planting a church in Memphis. I met the pastor and his wife and became fast friends with them and their vision for their church body. The second was for a Peace Studies class, I was asked to write a paper about peace-building efforts. With my passion for the arts and refugees in mind, I set out to write about peace-building and the arts within the refugee crisis. This is when I came across the work of the Orpheum and their partnership with the Refugee Empowerment Program (REP). All of my passions and values seemed to be aligning and drawing me to the city of Memphis. Read more>>
Bogey Anderson
That Business is a Social Media Marketing Agency Called Vibvacious Media started by Kevin Araya and me, one of my closest friends and now business partners. Adding to that, I joined a mixed media Group called 4x that consist of me, Kevin Araya, Dariya Barnes, and Nate Herrington. Vibvacious media has shot for Cache 42, the mayor, Councilwomen and men, artists, and anything that has to do with the city of Memphis. 4x is more music and artist-focused as we just launched @4x_collective in February of 2025. I am currently posting everyday of 2025, so that is 365 posts. My goal is to reach a plethora of followers by the end of the year so follow me @bogey_studios, @vibvacious_media, and @4x_collective! Read more>>
BEO Spook
I’m an artist, not just a rapper, I grew up getting in a bunch of altercations and a staff at my school suggested I take up boxing since I was always in physical altercations (which I did end up doing) until people started to recognize my music and how unique my punch lines and story telling about personal experiences Read more>>
Chase Lee
I’m originally from Memphis, and music has always been a big part of my life. I started band in middle school and stayed with it all the way to Texas Southern University where I studied music, and that experience really laid the foundation for everything I do now. Over time, I found myself drawn to work that supports people emotionally—especially around stress and mental health. That led me into education and behavioral health, where I started seeing just how much people are carrying day to day in our city. I wanted to offer something that could really help people feel more grounded, and that’s what brought me to sound healing. Now, I use sound to help folks slow down, release, and reconnect with themselves. Read more>>
Taylor Waller
I personally don’t believe that anything worth pursuing will ever be easy. Obstacles are what help define us and shape us into who we are today. The largest challenge I face daily is believing in myself. I often times feel as if I don’t deserve to be where I’m at in my career because I have only been in the industry for 7 months. I also tend to allow my perfectionism to get in the way of truly just appreciating the work that I produce. I’m learning each day to simply believe in myself and my capabilities, and that has been a beautiful journey. Read more>>
Zondra Johnson-King
We have mailed our comfort bears to several states including Texas, California, North Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and Tennessee. We have connected with people in Ghana and are currently planning ways to send our bears of comfort to other countries. We vow to never charge a warrior for a bear. We accept donations from generous donors and utilize our personal resources to keep providing these bears of comfort to warriors nation wide. Read more>>
Leah Wooten
In November 2003, after receiving my Broker’s license, I founded Progressive Realty Services, LLC (PRS), the driving force behind my success. Under my leadership, thousands of clients have achieved homeownership, with many even becoming real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and appraisers themselves. In 2015, I received the “Woman of Excellence” award and became a Lifetime Member of both the Memphis Association of Real Estate Multi-Million Dollar Club and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) Million Dollar Club. Most recently, PRS received national recognition as the “Best Real Estate Company of the Year” by NAREB. Read more>>
Kim Clover
It has not always been a smooth road. We have had some turnover in our office staff. And it is never easy to lose staff and replace them. COVID was a giant challenge, but it was also what made our business flourish. People were in need and I wanted to do whatever I could to help during that time. We learned how to provide Telehealth and were available to many who were anxious and depressed. Read more>>
Marquese Hurst
My journey in fashion hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been real—and it’s mine. From modeling and capturing my own shots to walking through the whirlwind of LA Fashion Week, every moment has taught me something. There’ve been times of self-doubt, wondering if I was doing enough or if I even belonged in the room. But I kept showing up, even when it meant pushing through setbacks or creating with limited resources. Fashion has always been my language—a way to express who I am and how I see the world. I’m still growing, still learning, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come and excited for what’s next. Read more>>
Kenneth Burnett
I’m at IT professional by training. After 7 spending about 7 years in AZ, I moved back home to work for ALSAC/St Jude. About 15 years ago, I decided to take my fitness seriously. I found an accountability partner and hit the gym. Before too long, I got bit by the fitness bug. My friends and family began to take notice and it only inspired me to keep going. I started running 5Ks, doing Spartan races and even started training a few friends. Read more>>
Dr. Pamela Harlan-McSwain
Over 20 years ago, Dr. Toya and Dr. Pam began their journey together at a community college in Meridian, MS, where their shared aspirations set the foundation for a remarkable partnership. United by common goals, they pursued both undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration at Mississippi State University. Recently, they achieved another milestone by earning their doctorate degrees in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Memphis. Read more>>
Latasha Harris
Hire Local is a training program started by Memphis Medical District’s vision to increase community wealth in the neighborhoods bordering major healthcare institutions and colleges in Memphis. Hire Local bridges the gap between healthcare employers and local talent. By connecting job seekers to careers with family-sustaining wages and clear advancement, Hire Local is transforming lives and strengthening the local economy, one opportunity at a time. We have helped hundreds of Memphians launch their careers and move closer to their dreams. Read more>>
Zachary Cosey
Under the guidance and mentorship of exceptional leaders at RAM, we successfully increased the occupancy of our properties to 90%. I graduated in May 2024, and in June of the same year, I was promoted to Assistant Manager. In recognition of my contributions, I was awarded Assistant Manager of the Year at the Apartment Association of Greater Memphis’s Diamond Achievement Awards, along with my colleague, for our outstanding management team. Read more>>
