Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Tyressia Broomes
After the event, I kept at it, practicing and exploring different tools and techniques, pushing myself to learn as much as I could on my own. Finally, on January 25th, 2022, I took the leap and officially launched my business, determined to turn this passion into something impactful. And well, here we are today, continuously growing and creating! Read More>>
D’village Supergroup
It is a constant struggle as independent artists. I know it seems like a trendy thing to be. But trying to balance work, your personal life, and chasing your dream is not easy. Especially considering the fact that independent mostly just means you are spending your own money. Booking your own shows, paying for studio time, videos, etc. Not to mention dealing with less than honorable promoters, fake A&R wannabes, and severely saturated market of independent artists. Read More>>
Thee Muses
Through our social media presence, we’ve grown a following of over a million people across platforms like TikTok Instagram ,and Youtube. We’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with major brands, host panels, and even planned a community-centered event like our Artlanta After Dark: Thee Muses Halloween Gala in Atlanta that was on October 31st. Our path has been one of creativity, resilience, and staying true to who we are, both as partners and creators. Read More>>
Sam Hoppenbrouwer
I graduated from UGA 2013 and have worked on and off with chimneys since graduation. Previously, I spent 3/4 years helping to manage a chimney company and then decided to open my own. I have proudly served the Atlanta and surrounding areas with my company, Project Chimney, for over 2 years now. Our biggest joy making sure the fireplace is a welcoming place where families can get together and enjoy their time within their homes. Read More>>
Adam Thomas Ziemba
My mom is also an actress, and when I was born, she thought I was a really cute baby. She wanted to see what would happen if she got me into acting too, so when I turned 4 years old, she submitted my name for an audition for a national commercial. To my surprise, I got the part! It was an AARP commercial that still plays to this day! My second audition was for Amazon Prime Video’s “One Fast Move.” I got that role too! It was exciting because we didn’t realize at the time that that was going to be my big movie debut. Read More>>
Kimberly Redmond
I started my media journey in 2014, my cousin and I started an entertainment blog: K Brand University, we covered different red carpets, interviewed different celebrities and that started it all. Read More>>
Amber Mccants
Even with this interest, art wasn’t my first major when I started out at Georgia State. I was first a psychology major, then it was managerial science, then marketing before I finally landed on Studio Art. You always hear these tales of the “starving artist” and I didn’t want that for myself, so I kept pushing art to the side until I realized there wasn’t anything else that I wanted to do with my life. 5 years later, I still can’t say that I regret that decision. Read More>>
Bob And Jane Miller
We wanted to offer more than just wine; we wanted to create a destination where the artistry of winemaking meets the tranquility of nature. Every vine we planted was a step toward that dream, and today, we continue to grow, innovate, and welcome people to be part of this journey. Our goal has always been to produce world-class wines that complement the incredible views of North Georgia. Along the way, we’ve built not only a vineyard but a community, and that has made all the difference. Read More>>
Enjelle Mitchell
I started my journey in journalism when I was 15, but it was really around the age of 12 when I began to understand the world and how the media shaped how Black people were perceived. I would watch the news and see how they talked about Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, and Trayvon Martin. They always seemed to focus on the negative aspects of their lives, like trying to find something that would justify what happened, and rarely spoke about who they were as people or the positive things they brought to their communities. It was frustrating, because it felt like Black people were constantly reduced to stereotypes or made out to be less than human. Read More>>
Meme Gëë
The Facebook group is merely an extension of community of the event bus. Its primary goal was to have a mix & mingle place for those that may attend events – but also a social platform to learn, laugh and engage with each other no matter our location. The group allows connections no matter our current location. For me, the CS Facebook Group gives me my inspiration for every step we take. In closing, you, are making Cumming Soon what it is and will be gong forward. Read More>>
Niki Sung
I started Cigar Muse in 2023 with a vision to create a space where women could not only indulge in premium cigars but also connect with each other and support women-owned businesses. As I immersed myself in the cigar community, I quickly noticed a glaring disparity: women were often underrepresented and overlooked. Many events and discussions seemed to cater primarily to men. This observation compelled me to create a platform where women could share their experiences, knowledge, and love for cigars without feeling overlooked or marginalized. Read More>>
Shivan Mahadeo
I grew up in poverty in Plantation, Florida. My family is from Trinidad. I am an American born citizen. I was apart of gifted classes and had the top grade out of my entire school from 3-5th grade. Basically, I was unofficial valedictorian. I was the only person in my school to participate in the county science fair representing my school. I also was in all honors classes in middle school, Gem Math and finished Spanish 1 and 2 honors by 8th grade. During high school I was the only person in my school to win a literary fair for a haiku on World War 2. Read More>>
Tom Fitzstephens
In 2018 I started coursework for a Ph.D. in music education. In addition to working my more-than-full-time job as a teacher in a large public high school, I was driving downtown to Georgia State University for evening classes. I spent my planning periods and weekends studying and preparing presentations. It was a frenetic chapter in my life but I learned a lot and enjoyed my education very much. Read More>>
Ryan Marques
I knew I had to learn to produce , one was because I was broke and couldn’t afford beats and I wanted to figure out what my sound could be . My mom bought me a mic from the pawn shop some time later for Christmas but before that using my laptops mic i recorded my first mixtape so far gone . When i decided to take it seriously it wasn’t to be famous or rich even though we need money , but I feel in love with just everything about making a song and realized this is what i want to do forever. Read More>>
Kayla Trimble
I found my passion when I was very young, around 7 or 8. I fell in love with being able to do my own hair and started to do others. I started practicing and braiding on other people in high school and decided to start my brand. Once I graduated, I decided to become a licensed master cosmetologist. I decided to attend Clark Atlanta University while also completing Cosmetology school at Empire Beauty School. I have been working everyday ever since! Read More>>
Felicity Folson
I even tried to branch out and do different things, but I always lost interest. My creativity alone fueled the passion I have for graphic design. Every time I tried to steer towards something different, I’d get a random idea or the urge to try something new. As I got older, I realized that I was looking for something that was within me the whole time. It was never forced or copied, and it came strictly from my heart. Read More>>
Patricia Holland-ward
Today, I specialize in custom gifts and apparel, with a strong focus on rhinestone embellishments. Some of my favorite creations include rhinestone-encrusted footballs, hats, roller skates, and clothing. I hope to inspire women, especially those over 50, to pursue their passions. Bling isn’t just for women and girls anymore.. it’s for everyone! Who wants to be basic? Everyone deserves to shine and I’m here to help them do it—one rhinestone at a time. Read More>>
Whitney Hatcher
Over the past 4 years of growing a large social media presence, giving birth to my first baby girl March of 2024 has inspired me to grow even into my womanhood , jump into mommy mode and share of my knowledge I’ve gained as a lady. This phase so far is the most dearest to me because I now have a daughter looking up to me . It makes me think back when my mother enrolled me in a young ladies mentorship program and how much I really dreaded going but how much it subliminally taught me. It had brought upon a full circle moment and for that I must thank God and my Mother. Read More>>
