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.
Kelli Franklin
I’ve always been fascinated with music and words. Even as a little girl, I felt the rhythm of language deep in my bones. It wasn’t just about rhyming or clever lyrics—it was the way words could carry emotion, tell stories, and make sense of chaos. My very first piece of writing was born out of heartbreak and transition. I was a young girl when my parents were separating, and the emotions were too big for my small frame to hold. So, I did what felt most natural—I wrote a song. It was called “Jesus is the Answer.” That was my first taste of what writing could do. It gave me somewhere to place my pain, my hope, my questions. It gave me peace. Read more>>
Donnie Wayne Smith
Photography, on the other hand, wasn’t part of the plan. It started when my wife Kerry and I were just looking for something creative we could do together when I wasn’t on the road. I found a couple of Canon kits on eBay, we dove in, and — true to our personalities — we went all in. We studied, practiced, and learned everything we could, with zero expectations and no business plan to speak of. It was “just a hobby” Read more>>
Keisha Walker
As our world grappled with the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the world’s stage demanding racial justice as its people declare, “Black Lives Matter”, and the sudden diagnosis of our oldest daughter, put the Walker family in an instant fight of faith against leukemia. A unique gesture of kindness and love was given to us, as family and friends welcomed our daughter home from the hospital. Read more>>
Joy Sheffield
I am a passionate leader, lifelong learner, and community advocate. Currently, I serve as the President of the Memphis Advanced Toastmasters Club, Chair of the Develop HER Women’s Summit for the Junior League of Memphis, a youth mentor, and co-founder of both J & S Events by Design and a women’s social club. I am also a proud mother and wife. Read more>>
Rob Brown
Another major struggle is maintaining the whole business by myself. From cooking to shopping to admin and finances. A lot of moving pieces and even harder to do when information is not readily and clearly available as I have already spoke on. As we grow, I look forward to hiring and being able to delegate some of the duties but that is also a struggle in itself. I like to maintain control and it is hard for me trust that others will treat what I am trying to build with the respect and reverence that I do. Read more>>
Michael Grice
It most definitely hasn’t been smooth. When I had my first TikTok page in 2020, the very first day I reached 100K followers my page was banned. I also have been on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook over 10 years but really had no reach. I reached 1 million followers on Instagram in 2024 after being on there for over a decade. Along with my Facebook recently hitting 153K followers after being on it over decade. My YouTube has reached 68K subscribers after a decade. Moral of the story is patience is key. Even through frustration, and rebranding. It won’t always happen when you think it should. Things I thought I was ready for at 20 God made me wait to receive it at 29. I am grateful for all my lessons. They only sharpen my mind & they increase my faith in my lord and savior. Read more>>
Dr. Telisa Franklin
Her early life was further shaped by her mother’s long struggle with drug addiction. For much of her childhood and adolescence, Telisa watched her mother battle dependency—but never lost faith. At age 31, her mother made a life-changing decision and called on Telisa to come pick her up and get her the help she needed. That pivotal moment led to her mother’s recovery and freedom from addiction—proof of Telisa’s enduring strength, compassion, and spiritual leadership. Read more>>
Nikia Bell
Not at all! The road has definitely had some bumps. As a single mom, I’m juggling a lot: working full-time, homeschooling my son, paying bills, and managing everyday life. On top of that, I’m trying to build a business from scratch with limited time, resources, and energy. It’s a lot to carry, but I stay faithful. God didn’t promise the road would be easy, but He did promise He’d walk it with me, and that keeps me going. I may not have everything perfect yet, but I refuse to give up. Every step is a step of obedience, and I believe it’s all building toward something greater. Read more>>
Alisa Free
My path as an artist began with a struggle. I was in a long-time job that was no longer fulfilling. For a much-needed break, I took a solo vacation to a collage workshop in New Mexico. I eventually found a new job, but that began my creative/making journey that continues now. The artistic path is twisty. I’m constantly learning more about myself and the process. I think that’s what makes art a lifelong passion – the never-ending study and experimentation. Read more>>
Jeremiah King Jr
Along the journey, I was fortunate, blessed really to cross paths with people who saw something in me and chose to invest in it. Two of those people changed the trajectory of my life: Matthew Jordan, the Media Director at Southwind High School, and David Phillips Jr. These two mentors didn’t just teach me; they elevated me. They welcomed me into spaces I never imagined I’d be allowed to step into. They helped me grow not only as a creative but as a man. Through their mentorship, I gained access to a wider audience and a larger platform, allowing my work to reach more people and form meaningful connections in the world of media and storytelling. Read more>>
ThuyVy (Jenna) Bustamante
Hi, my name is ThuyVy, most people called me Jenna. My journey in the nail industry started during high school, when I worked as a receptionist at a nail salon. At first, it was just a job — checking out clients, scheduling appointments, and helping out with soak-offs for the nail techs I worked with. But being in that environment every day, talking to clients, watching the process, and feeling connected to the beauty world, I realized I had a real passion for nails. Read more>>
Shay/Rylan Herrada
A lot of my clients have been with me for many years. We have inside jokes, we have cried together on hard days, we have pushed each other in our own adventures and my personal favorite we have laughed and laughed time after time. Read more>>
Darrick (B3D)
During that time AC Wharton was mayor of Memphis TN and came out and told us thank you for our community service that was a great experience. Summer 2012 I signed a management deal with Trend Setters JD & Patrick featured on a couple tracks and did a small tristate tour. Spring 2017 my hit song RUN Up A Check was spinning on Memphis ,TN (2) largest hip hop & R&B stations Hot 107.1 FM and K97.1 FM . As of lately I have been mentoring a couple local artists trying to help them leave their mark in the music/ entertainment industry and build on my legacy also. Thank you. Read more>>
Jenna Dunn
A transgender woman herself, Jenna’s vision for Mid-South Trans Nation was born from a deep need. She began by creating Trans Nation Social, a Facebook group meant to connect local trans individuals in safe and affirming ways. But as more people joined and more needs became visible, Jenna saw that this space needed to grow—beyond digital walls and into real-life action. Read more>>
