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.
Walesha Yates
My journey with photography began in 2020, almost by accident. I initially bought a camera with the simple goal of taking more photos of myself—just something fun and personal. But something unexpected happened. The more I used the camera, the more I realized I genuinely loved being behind it, especially when I was photographing other people. Read more>>
Courtney ‘Coco’ Moody
My story? Hmmm, I am not really into self-promotion, or someone who even thinks about how others see me, so this is weird! Here goes! Read more>>
Chad Rhodes Sr.
I am a father, entrepreneur, and creative visionary based in Memphis, Tennessee. I am the owner of The Bus Memphis, a roofless party bus experience that showcases the energy and culture of Midtown and Downtown Memphis. My journey in the arts began in 2013 after returning to Memphis from New Orleans, where I pursued acting and storytelling as a way to connect, heal, and inspire. Read more>>
Kiley Butler
We began more than 24 years ago as a nonprofit organization producing events for teenagers across the country. Almost immediately, we started receiving requests from other organizations asking if we could provide audio-visual support for their events using our equipment. What started as a mission-driven nonprofit quickly evolved into a full-scale event production company. Like many businesses, the transition wasn’t without challenges. Read more>>
Meagan May
Backbeat Tours is a small business formed in 2006 by author and historian Bill Patton. We wanted to change the whole nature of sightseeing tours–our goal has always been to give visitors and locals alike not simply a traditional tour with stories, dates, and a lot of talk, but a unique and special interactive experience they’ll never forget, something that truly brings Memphis to life. Read more>>
Reed Carnell
Right before Covid in March of 2020 I started Mr. C’s Lawn Care as a small weekend hustle. My brother owned some rental properties that he provided lawn care for his tenants. I asked if he would be interested in letting me cut them for the season. In March of 2020 I bought a push mower, blower, and weed eater. Read more>>
Jordan Howard
Writing is in my blood. When I was a little girl, my Mom worked for our local newspaper, where she won numerous state awards for her dynamic and educational feature articles. I won some local writing contests when I was in school, but I never imagined that I would also make a career out of the written word. Read more>>
Sharon Fox O’Guin
I was born in Memphis and have proudly lived here most of my life. With two social worker parents (Andy and Kathie Fox,) I grew up feeling the responsibility and the privilege of working towards helping to uplift my city and supporting its people as they did. Read more>>
Anthony Cohran
I started my journey with a passion for helping others, a passion that was instilled in me at a young age by my grandmother. She raised me and taught me the importance of respect, compassion, and working hard no matter the circumstances. Watching her care for others and lead by example shaped who I am and how I show up for people today. Read more>>
JORDAN RED
I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and my passion for creating started early—I loved designing characters in video games and knew from a young age that I wanted to ‘create’ in some way as I got older. Read more>>
Shawandra Ford
I didn’t come to yoga to teach poses — I came to heal. I began my journey as a yoga teacher after experiencing the benefits of yoga in my own life. Teaching allowed me to build Brwnskn Yoga in Memphis, a community-centered practice grounded in accessibility, representation, and culturally responsive care. Read more>>
Jessica Klukas
I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and I proudly joined the Navy at 18, immediately after 9/11. After dedicating 20 years to service, I retired from the base in Millington, TN. While I had always enjoyed yoga, my true passion was endurance running. Read more>>
Elisheva Reese
My path into healthcare — and ultimately entrepreneurship — has been shaped by lived experience, resilience, and a deep belief that patients deserve better. I became a mother at 17, worked multiple jobs, and put myself through school while raising my son. Those early years taught me grit, accountability, and how to keep moving forward even when the odds feel stacked. Read more>>
Pam McDonnell
As I continue to tell our story, new details come into focus each time. How we began looks different now than it did a year ago. In any project, one is constantly starting anew. What began as a simple “what if…” grew into a core group of thinkers, then into a physical space, and eventually into running classes. Read more>>
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>>
