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.
Roman Plaks
This program is now in 5 languages and offered on ETSY as a download or card-stock copies delivered to the buyer’s home. In 2023 I became a certified Pilates teacher. We then launched Yoga7Pilates, offering Pilates mat classes. In 2024 Yoga-7 became a Yoga School under the Yoga Alliance set of standards. We now offer our Yoga Teacher Training program. During this time, I achieved an additional 300 hours of training, obtaining the highest level as a yoga teacher E-RYT® 500, YACEP®. On June 16th, 2025, we began Pilates Reformer classes, securing the full level of a yoga and pilates studio. We have certified 22 yoga teachers, 6 of whom work or are a part of Yoga7PIlates. To date, I have logged over 9600 teaching hours. Read more>>
Dr. Chaka Norwood
But the road wasn’t linear. While researching optometry school requirements, I saw Gross Anatomy on the list and thought, “There’s no way I’m working with cadavers!” I decided to pivot and earned a master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. I spent six years working in public health, but I couldn’t shake the desire to pursue optometry. Eventually, I went back, completed the prerequisites while working full-time, and was accepted into the University of Houston College of Optometry. I graduated in 2010. Read more>>
Ethan Barrow
I have always been an outdoor person. I knew I wanted to do something hands on, rather than sitting at a desk. What started in 2021 as a simple timber job for a friend quickly turned into a new calling. I saw an opportunity to launch my own tree service business. In 2022, Midsouth Forestry Services was born. I jumped in with no industry connections—just determination and a willingness to learn. Read more>>
Tiffany Dixon
When I moved to Memphis in 2018, I fell in love with the city and surrounding areas. I first became involved in local politics as an advocate for public education, intending to rally support around pro-public education candidates. These days, you can find me advocating for a variety of issues, working with and for democratic candidates, serving on the Executive Committee of the Shelby County Democratic Party, and helping run the East Memphis Democratic Club with my friends. Read more>>
Madeline Bruntz
We’ve had a lot of support and help along the way—majority of that help has been from family. However, we cannot overlook the help we received from our church community. Collierville First Pentecostal Church, our home church, allowed us to set up our first location right outside the sanctuary. Now we have two more locations in the Memphis area—one is at the Agricenter Farmers Market on Wednesday through Saturday and the other is a new farmers market held in Munford on Saturday mornings. We even are setting up at private events to sell our coffee and other drinks. As we continue to grow our business, we are learning a lot and having fun doing it! Read more>>
Christopher (ChrisPat) Bounds II
I started playing the drums at the age of 3 years old at my father’s church Greater Gethsemane Baptist Church in Castalia. It was there where I learned how to use my gifts through music. I was exposed to some amazing musical programs at Norris Elementary School with Ms. Gladney. Then I grew a little more at Corry Middle School with Mr Martin & Mr Broadway, this was where I learned my basic rudiments and fundamentals of drumming. When I got to Hamilton High School, I was finally ready to test my skills against some of the most talented musicians in the area. Read more>>
Toya Arnold
Entrepreneurship has always lived in me. One of my earliest memories is sitting with my grandmother as I helped her clip and polish her toenails. She would smile and say, “You know, baby, people make good money doing this.” That small act of care turned into a big dream. She promised that if I graduated high school and got my license, she’d help me open my own nail shop. Though she passed away before we could bring that dream to life together, I carried her words with me. I enrolled in beauty school, finished my program, and proudly earned my Manicurist License in the state of Tennessee. Read more>>
Cameron Jehl Jr
In 2024 I also started an AI web design agency, Pixleize. It’s an app that is still in development, but the goal is to target restaurant owners that need a quality website. They can sign up for pixelize, have the site be made entirely by AI, and save on costs by thousands. In addition, the entire process takes less than 5 minutes. Read more>>
Petra Walker Jones
Commission-based work means learning how to manage money differently, especially when you’re first starting out. I had to grow not just professionally, but personally—building discipline, confidence, and business systems from the ground up. But looking back, I’m grateful for every obstacle. Those experiences built resilience and gave me a deeper understanding of the people I now help. I know what it feels like to start with limited resources and big dreams—and I use that empathy in every transaction. Read more>>
Jacquelyn Ford
I started out a the black sheep of the family’s. I knew I had a heart to love and help people. I started out volunteering my time at local school in Memphis with struggled students that couldn’t read. I than signed up with a local college to teach or become a social worker. I graduated from the small college and still had no clues what I wanted to become. I vegan helping people in a rural areas that was homeless. Later I went back to school to become a teacher. That is when I began writing book. Later on graduate and open up a homeless shelter in 3 location. That is when I realized that teaching was my passion and Later went back to school to received my Master. Read more>>
Autumn Bates
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. Entrepreneurship comes with its own set of challenges—late nights, slow seasons, financial pressure, and moments of self-doubt. I had to learn how to market myself, manage money, balance creativity with business, and stay consistent even when things felt uncertain. There were times I felt overlooked or like I was building something no one could see but me. Read more>>
Yolanda Kelly
I witnessed the power of human connection and the importance of building community. I learned that when we work to improve the lives of our neighbors, we improve our own lives as well. When budget cuts led to a program wide layoff, I did what I learned to do best – pivot. In 2022, I relocated to Memphis to accept a role as Outreach Manager at the Overton Park Shell. Today, I lead the Shell on Wheels community outreach program, continuing my commitment to service. I am passionate about creating thriving, healthy communities through community outreach. By utilizing my love for music and previous work experience I aim to use performing arts as a tool to connect and bring resources to communities. Read more>>
Laura Mason
Laura’s kids spa party started 10/14/14 as a hobby to give back to my nieces as auntie. 11 years later its now a 7figure company. Now we have a brick in moral located at 1645 Bonnie Lane suite 106 in Cordova area and we also have a mobiles kids spa team to bring the spa experience to the comfort of your home or choose of location. We are now teaching other to launch there own kids spa business in their city. Read more>>
Lisa Childers
where there was a scholarship program for Teleflora Wedding School in Oklahoma. To qualify, participants had to write an essay about their passion for wedding work.With genuine enthusiasm, I penned down my admiration for the wedding world, and to my delight, won the scholarship. This pivotal moment set the stage for my professional growth. Since then, I’ve been dedicated to wedding planning, feeling truly blessed to play a part in making someone’s special day as magical and worry-free as possible. My goal has always been to ensure that both the bride and her family can enjoy every precious moment without unnecessary stress. Read more>>
Art Lopez
I quit my job and lost lots of money on business ventures and other activities trying to find fulfillment. But it wasnt until i took therapy that I reconected with my true self. with my inner child. that arturito that all he wanted to do is to lay on the floor and draw all day. that kid that needed no ball or video game to be happy bc he could had anything he wanted as long as he had a pencil and a piece of paper to bring it to life. Being aligned with my purpose give me peace and allow me to be a better husband, dad, friend and son. and the best is that i dont have to work. Read more>>
Lyndal Brumley
I’ve always been passionate about working with people, creating, designing, and planning unforgettable events. My journey began while working for a non-profit, where I managed fundraising galas and large-scale events. I loved the challenge of transforming a space into something beautiful, regardless of the budget. This sparked a growing interest, and soon I was being asked to plan weddings on the side. As the requests increased, I decided to explore the wedding industry more seriously by working at a local wedding venue. That’s when I discovered just how much I loved it. Read more>>
Robbie Abston
We’re known for being dependable, detail-driven, and easy to work with. Our clients trust us to show up on time, communicate clearly, and deliver results that exceed expectations. Whether it’s restoring a space after renovation or keeping a business spotless week after week, we treat every job with the same level of dedication — as if it were our own home or business. Read more>>
Alexandria Grant
Wow. My journey started nearly 20 years ago working with teen mothers and their children at the Adolescent Parenting Program—now called the Youth Advocacy Center. That experience opened my eyes to a community of young women who needed more than services—they needed support, advocacy, and hope. That’s what sparked the fire in me to create my first nonprofit, A Woman’s Release, focused on inspiring and empowering women and young moms to strengthen themselves, their families, and their communities. Read more>>
Gen
My other half is a Memphian and he’s the reason I moved to Memphis. His name is Louis. We met through our passion for music. Louis was the head audio engineer at BB Kings for many years. He toured with Al Green, John Legend and recently made his mark on The Queens Tour with Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills. He was just featured in Mix Magazine for his incredible skills. Louis is also a recording engineer…..The BEST in Memphis! Read more>>
Alisha Gigger
The journey has definitely been challenging, but incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned so much along the way—about the industry, the market, and most importantly, about people. Every obstacle I faced, whether it was navigating a tough deal, adapting to shifting market conditions, or managing client expectations, has taught me valuable lessons that have shaped the professional I am today. Read more>>
David Phillips Jr
Now, I’m headed to the University of Memphis, majoring in journalism with a concentration in sports media. I’m also on track to intern with the official athletics media team. On top of that, I launched my own media company, Pathos Media, and have a few interns working with me. I also run a personal photo page, @shotsbyjr1, where I post my work. It’s been a crazy journey, a learning experience, and a blessing. From being sidelined by injury to being on the sidelines with a camera. I wouldn’t change a thing. Every shot I take reminds me why I started. Read more>>
Marco Sartori
At the heart of the project is a living and evolving collection, composed of authentic pieces that span decades and borders. It’s not just about objects, but about stories to be preserved and shared. Each piece is investigated within its context, its function, its formal language, becoming the starting point for a broader narrative on the project’s significance in the material culture of the last century. Read more>>
KT ROCKET
I always loved music and was always interested in how the beats behind the music was made so one day i decided to look into on youtube. The moment i got my laptop it was up from there. I would sit there for hours learning everything. Once i got good enough to send them out i started looking for artists to work with. which led me to working with Tre davinci, Moneybagg yo, lil migo, Kiana Nicole, khalil king and alot more Read more>>
Ashley Stafford
When I was just thirteen, I started petsitting for friends and neighbors and quickly became known as “The Neighborhood Sitter.” I loved meeting new furry faces and being the one they looked forward to seeing. What started as a fun way to help out soon became something more — a genuine paw-ssion. Read more>>
