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.
Sagexthegod
Some struggles I faced? Struggles within self mostly. Its a lot of uncertainty when taking a leap of faith, and believing in yourself. I feel like I feel my ancestors slapping the back of my neck and saying “Don’t you dare give up!” LOL… My biggest hurdle of starting my business was out of pocket cost. I didn’t have access to the resources to jump start everything so I had to get real creative in ways to fund what I wanted to do. It has been a journey that I appreciate! The good, and the bad. I have learned so much because these things wasn’t taught to me growing up so I’ve made a lot mistakes when starting my business. So has it been a smooth road? No! This road definitely has some potholes, but that’s comes with the life we ask for sometimes. Its a journey I’m willing to see through. Read more>>
Onyx Middleton
Onyx’s journey with Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis took a rapid and terrifying turn on February 9, 2024. She had come home from Clark Atlanta University for the weekend, and within just 30 minutes of her arrival, she began exhibiting alarming signs of distress, marked by unexplainable outbursts and screams of pain. This sudden and severe change prompted an immediate rush to the emergency room. Tragically, our initial experience with the first hospital involved a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia without proper triage, resulting in a distressing weekend spent in a behavioral mental health facility against our wishes. Read more>>
Zechariah Lewis
I was on the athletic side. Then around the age of 8 I started boxing in Pensacola, when I used to go back and forth from Georgia during summer break. I got into boxing because, I fell in love with fighting/play fighting, and the environment. That’s all I was around. I didn’t get focus until I turned 17 and actually got into a fight with somebody after school. It was too easy. So it just clicked, I needed to compete with other fighters to actually lock in and get better. I knew that there were levels to boxing, and street fighting wasn’t safe anymore for me. Ever since then, boxing changed me. Read more>>
Kym Alika Al
Aside from music, beauty and cosmetics have too been one of my treasured remedies for transmutation. When you look good, you can’t help but feel a little better too. February 2020 I became a licensed esthetician and certified lash technician. After years of only doing makeup applications as a side hustle, I was eager to enter the field as a licensed professional. Covid-19 delayed my ambitions, but it pushed me to become more creative in my approach to conducting business. In 2023 Kym Alika Al Artistry was born. Read more>>
Joann Cebulski
The Band was formed out of a small band from an avante gard theater in 1974. It took on a life of it’s own with many iterations of form and costume to become the Band we are today. Even during a global pandemic, we never were disconnected. There was a Zoom Room within a week and a new kind of virtual rehearsal that never let us lose touch. When others were feeling all alone in this time, there was always a friendly band mate to be there at all hours and even fairy bandmothers who helped people in duress or financial need. Read more>>
Katie Vigilante
I grew a subscription client base and really got to know the spaces and client my florals would end up. I also was able to provide arrangements in beautiful vessels that would remain mine. I often adorned arrangements with whimsical touches, especially certain dried florals. One client preferred only green and white and I would myself spray painting dried flowers white or green to have an arrangement last. I joined The Studio at Candler Park in late 2023. I began experimenting with hand-painting small branches and dried flowers, adding more and more to fresh florals until one day I decided the fresh flowers were no longer needed. Read more>>
Ayomikun Omolayo
Although I successfully completed my degree in Chemical Engineering, my passion for photography continued to grow stronger. It was not until 2022 that I truly “locked in” and decided to pursue photography seriously. I was fueled by a deep desire to build a brand for myself. I poured myself into YouTube tutorials, followed other photographers on Instagram, and even took a photography lighting course to sharpen my skills. Even today, I continue to study, network, and attend seminars to keep learning and growing. Read more>>
Justin Maxim
Side story: We moved from Washington DC area to Atlanta in 2021 to volunteer full time with our two little boys with nothing but a clear calling from God and a date of August 1st. We sold our house in faith and lived on that for a year while we did ministry training and served unpaid in the highly needy Afghan Exodus crisis. As we were working on fundraising and had long since run out of money trying to remain faithful to the calling, I got a call that no one wants. Dad, a vibrant busy and unstoppable man of God, got called home early in a kayaking accident. Read more>>
Ashley
I have always loved makeup and beauty related content. I used to watch itsmyrayeraye, irischel, and Jackie on youtube when I was younger but never had the money to purchase the products to practice. My mom also wasn’t a beauty lover so I wasnt blessed with the generational wealth of a stacked beauty closet. However, my sisters, whom I shared a bathroom with all the time, would always get ready with friends at home and sometimes would let me use their products. When I got to college and got my first job, I could finally afford some colorpop concealers and eyeliners and from there I kept building my stash. Read more>>
Savannah Gonzalez
After working in the corporate world for several years, I felt a persistent calling to do something more hands-on and heart-centered. I kept coming back to birth work—the idea of walking alongside families during one of the most vulnerable and transformative times in their lives just felt deeply aligned with my purpose. I completed my doula training, started attending births, and everything clicked. I had found my place. Read more>>
Ariel Wolpe
I’m Rabbi Ariel Root Wolpe, and my journey began with a deep love of music, nature, and the overflowing well of Jewish wisdom. I’m a mother with a chronic illness, a neurodivergent musician, and a spiritual seeker of wilderness—and all shape my purpose in this world. I was ordained at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, and after working in more traditional Jewish spaces, I was called to build something different—community spaces where I could be authentically me, and include others at the margins. Read more>>
Te-A Hudson
At the time, life was heavy. I had just given birth to our fourth child and was recovering from congestive heart failure. Going back to work wasn’t an option because day care was too expensive and there was alot of drama at the time at my job. We were facing eviction, on the verge of losing our vehicle, and barely holding it together financially. The numbers at my job weren’t adding up, and honestly, neither was the stress. So I made the hard decision to quit and come home to build the business with my husband, full-time, full faith and with no guarantees that this would work and that we would bring in income. Read more>>
Meredith
Beauty and skincare is something that has always been a part of me. Growing up I was always experimenting with makeup and as I got older that turned into skincare. As a teen I struggled with breakouts and wanted to dive deeper into finding out the cause rather than just taking prescribed medications from my dermatologist. After attending college, I took my state board and received my Master Cosmetologist license. As I began working with clients I started really learning about people’s skin types, lifestyles, eating habits and routines. Read more>>
Naomi Wilds
It starts in our youth. The way people operate in their adulthood, with traumas and experiences, etc being taken into account, I feel that it is super important to ensure that our children and adults are healthy all across the board, but especially in their mental health because that’s where it starts. I aspire to teach, encourage and motivate individuals to do what it takes to not allow our hardships and traumas effect their new and upcoming positive possibilities. My motto that I like to stand for is: “We only get one life, so why not only live it to the fullest, but to live it intentionally, peacefully, and with exceeding joy.” Read more>>
Ted Johnson
Typically, I travel with and Atlanta cast. Thereafter, I along with writer/actors Ed Gadrix and David Rucker III. I penned a Sag Feature Film entitled “HERE COMES THE SUN” starring Terri J. Vaughn released in 2023. In 2013, I wrote and released “Atlanta Law” with writer Charles Saunders. Both films may be viewed on the streaming platform TUBI. My inspiration comes from the likes of James Baldwin, Ernest Gaines, August Wilson, Frank McCourt, Alice Walker and so many others. I dare refer to myself as a writer but instead a Griot. A plain old story teller. Read more>>
Frank Oakley III
Not knowing where to start she immediately hoped into action and sent me a ton of theatre schools, summer theatre camp programs, etc. I was thinking that if I’m going to do this the “right way” then I need to go to one of “the main acting schools”. So I started looking at Yale, Juilliard, etc., but those schools are crazy expensive and pretty far away. So then the thought went from “where should I go?” to “where can I go that won’t be a huge burden/barrier?” I eventually landed on something closer to home – The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). My mindset has always been “no matter where I go, I’ma make sure to treat it like it’s Yale!” Read more>>
Kadrian Gooding
I started creating social media content with nothing but a phone, an idea, and the drive to express myself. In the early days, it was anything but easy. I faced a lot of self-doubt, inconsistent engagement, and struggled to find my niche. There were times I posted regularly and barely got a response, which made me question if it was worth it. I dealt with creative blocks, negative comments, and the pressure of trying to stand out in a crowded space. Read more>>
Hollywood Cue
I would be lying if I said this journey was a smooth process, I been through more ups and downs than a rollercoaster at six flags Holmes. The hardest part was learning how to separate my everyday life from my music life. I think people realize when we (artist) first starting making music and start our careers, we’re still knee deep in our personal lives, while still learning how to be an artist/business. When the cameras are on, and the music is playing is one life, but when the phone start ringing and people need favors is a whole different can of worms, you feel me? Read more>>
Trae Gaines
The other struggle is the work it takes to pitch the vision—not just to potential donors, but also to the volunteers and people around us who share in this mission. Convincing others to invest in something that’s not only about basketball, but about building up the next generation of leaders for the Kingdom of God, can be a challenge. But when we see the faces of those we serve—whether it’s through a high-five on the court or a word of encouragement during a devotion—it makes all of it worth it. Read more>>
Diamond Apache
Hi my name is DiamondApache and I’m a filmmaker , songwriter , singer , and model in the Atlanta Georgia area . I started singing at the age of 5 in a church in Florida we’re I grew up . Then I started song writing at the age of 12 and later I began recording music at the age of 18 when I moved to Atlanta. Fast forward in 2018 I wrote a book named, “Girl of Deceit “ , then in 2021 I became a filmmaker and turned that book into a film . I plan to do more films in the future and open a film studio soon . I’ve also been in a few magazines as a model , recorded a few songs and also I have a music video I did as well . Read more>>
Megan Neese
Last year, I joined Travelmation—a premier agency known for its dedication to client service and industry expertise. I have had the opportunity to focus on deepening my knowledge to better serve my clients. The more I learned and shared, the more word spread, and I’ve been honored to help many families and individuals plan unforgettable getaways. I plan a wide range of vacations, including Disney Destination trips, all-inclusive resorts, cruises, and theme park adventures—like the exciting new Epic Universe at Universal Studios Orlando. Read more>>
Alexzander Christion
By the Hand of Dragons is a story about Shefa (his name means abundance in Sanskrit), a boy with an incredible natural talent for war, who comes to see his life as not his own. He’s a weapon, a tool, and he can’t be free until he masters his gifts, and when the Armageddon war that most people don’t even believe is coming. So he tries to speed everything along. his arrogance, his brashness, and his selfishness eventually lead him to become as vile as the villains he wants to defeat. Read more>>
Anthony Vo
One of the biggest challenges was balancing content creation with everyday life, especially during a time when everything felt unpredictable. There were moments of burnout, self-doubt, and frustration, especially when things didn’t take off as quickly as I hoped. But through it all, I kept reminding myself why I started: to create meaningful content and support my community. That purpose helped me push through the tough moments and stay focused on the bigger picture. Read more>>
Quincy Winder
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all! With life you go through challenges, ups and downs so that way you’re molded, and you stand firm in any in every situation to be able to get to your destination and where you need to go in life! Read more>>
Anjae Levias
Since then, I’ve steadily grown in production roles—from PA to assistant director to producer’s assistant—gaining hands-on experience in both music videos and film. I’m now producing and writing my own projects, with goals to eventually step into directing as I continue refining my craft. I’ve found my calling: combining my love for music, storytelling, and visual art in a way that allows me to create and collaborate daily. I’m grateful for my mentors, my experiences, and my family’s support in allowing me to pursue a dream that many consider unconventional—but for me, it’s everything. This is just the beginning Read more>>
Carlos Jones
Smooth road? Ha—I wish! Like any creative journey, it’s had its fair share of potholes and plot twists. One of the biggest challenges early on was simply believing I could make a living doing something creative. I had to unlearn the idea that pursuing art wasn’t “practical.” Leaving a steady paycheck in education to bet on myself was equal parts exciting and terrifying. Read more>>
Ayanna Melton
Photography is not an easy business to be in. It can be very competitive and I feel as if you learn something new everytime you do a photoshoot or book a session. Even seeing how others operate their business is a learning experience. My biggest struggle is booking clients and getting my name out there more. I’m still building a website but I have my Instagram account for my photography. Branding is also a struggle for me. Read more>>
Matthew Salazar
I started very small scale cooking for couples for their anniversaries and birthday dinners. From there I started to do small dinner parties. Eventually I started to do private chef services for professional athletes and entertainers. I moved on to catering larger dinner parties and events. That’s what I do now. I love going into peoples’ homes and cooking them a special meal on their special day with their loved ones. Something very gratifying to do for my clients. Read more>>
Marshauwn Hill
I’m extremely proud of my growth sometimes I’m amazed at how far I’ve come. At the end of every service that I complete sometimes I just step back and truly admire my work and say wow four years ago I used to dream of completing work like this and now I’m doing it! It almost makes me teary eye of how proud I am of myself. I feel as if the one thing that has set me apart from most is that I never give up, no matter how hard the task may be, and also evolving into a people person has helped me tremendously. I understand what it’s like to be a client as well so I make sure I always put myself in my clients shoes, so make sure that I give them the best service I possibly can. Read more>>
Jolene Key
That personal journey inspired me to launch The SoJo Companies, a reflection of all the things I love and believe in. Through SoJo, I lead community service initiatives like care packages and winter drives for the unhoused, and youth mentoring partnerships that pour into the next generation. I also perform with SoJo ATL, my local band that brings good vibes to Atlanta venues with a mix of covers and original music. And I created SoJournal — a line of guided journals designed for mindfulness and self-reflection, especially for people who want to journal but don’t know where to start, and beautifully designed notebooks. Read more>>
Garrison Hayes
Growing up, I was always fascinated by cameras and visual storytelling. As a kid, my mom would let me play around with her old school floppy-disk digital camera. I started making YouTube videos in 2007, and I’ve been hooked on capturing and sharing the world as I see it ever since. I really think my mom and dad’s willingness to nurture, support and invest in my interests early in is why I’m here now. Read more>>
Michelle Harris
I also created my education community, M Harris Hustlers, because when I was starting out, I couldn’t find anyone who looked like me teaching the business side of wedding photography—and I knew that needed to change. Now, I get to mentor photographers on how to price with confidence, streamline their systems, and market themselves like pros. I also specialize in teaching how to work under serious time pressure—like capturing 48 couple portraits in 8 minutes or nailing bridal party shots in just 10. Because in this industry, being fast and excellent is a real superpower. Read more>>
Aniya Lay
I started creating content on Instagram in 2010, shortly after the app launched, and I’ve been active ever since. After graduating high school, I pursued my passion for fashion by studying fashion marketing, which eventually led me to Georgia State University. I earned my degree in Communication Arts in 2023. Today, I create lifestyle and fashion vlogs on TikTok (@niyanicolevlogs) and Instagram (@niyanicolelay). This journey has opened so many incredible doors, allowing me to collaborate with amazing brands like Samsung Galaxy, Gopuff, Rare Beauty, YSL Beauty, SIMON malls and more! Read more>>
Johnathan Bailey
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—this journey has come with its fair share of ups and downs. Building a career in a creative industry, especially one as deeply personal as interior design, means constantly pushing through uncertainty, doubt, and the pressure to prove yourself. There were moments when the path wasn’t clear, when resources were limited, or when I questioned if I was moving in the right direction. Read more>>
Michely Pacheco
What sets us apart is our commitment to authenticity. Our jewelry tells stories, it’s not mass-produced or trend-driven. Each piece is chosen to help women express their individuality and confidence. And beyond the jewelry, I believe the personal relationships we nurture with each client truly make MK Jewelry unique. Read more>>
Angelique Keb
As my business evolved, so did my vision. I launched **Radiant Skincare by Spa Angelique**, a product line designed to support healthy skin beyond the treatment room. I’ve also begun sharing my personal journey through my autobiography, **Ashes of Angelique**, and my podcast, **Unapologetically Radiant**, where I open up about resilience, reinvention, and the beauty of owning your story. Read more>>
Don Denny
Hopefully there will be future volumes. Through this process, I decided to save other family lineage stories for another time. My geneology excitement spills over at times, but the life stories of Anne Daniel Herren speak for themselves and she deserves the attention now. During the past eighteen months, I learned to navigate a new network of requirements and personalities in the publishing field. I felt so compelled to share my great-grandmother’s stories that every seeming-obstacle helpe push me forward. There are many people to thank. I can hardly wait to reveal more stories. Read more>>
Brittany Spencer
However, after a few years in PR, life called me back to Georgia. I moved there with hopes of finding a job in my field, but the search proved challenging. I had to pivot once again. In the meantime, I started subbing as a teacher, and what began as a temporary solution quickly turned into something much more meaningful. I fell in love with teaching. The connection with the students, the impact I could make in their lives, and the fulfillment of helping them grow—teaching became my new passion, and I decided to become an educator. Read more>>
Carolyn C. Lowe
After working so many 9 to 5’s in the corporate space I felt the Lord inviting me to turn my pain into purpose by teaching others how to build businesses and scale their income without working jobs they were never fulfilled in. As I continue on my path of using my creative abilities, I now show others it’s possible to carve out a space for entrepreneurial endeavors with the simple skills you already have. Using digital products and reselling knowledge to their communities to generate passive income. I always tell my audience think about the one skill you have that you do better than anyone else you know, find 50 people who need help with that one thing and there is your space for opportunity and income. Read more>>
Erica Stephenson-Jackson
I had a No, for the first space I found. The second space, someone else beat me to the contract. The third, the owner wanted to sell me their company, that I wasn’t interested in buying. The fourth, I was losing confidence, so I didn’t actually pursue the property. The fifth, Covid hit, right after I was approved for the space and on the day I was about to pay my deposit and receive the keys. After 2020, I thought about just giving it up, but I woke up one day a year later and my desires continued. By April 2022, I found a location and July 2022, signed a lease. March of 2023, I opened my first brick and mortar location for, Vursatyle Massage and Spa. Read more>>
Melissa Brown
My name is Melissa Monique, and I’m from Atlanta. The last time my story was shared, I mentioned that I was adopted — but at that point, I didn’t know many details about my biological family. That all changed in November 2024, when my girlfriend helped me find them. The journey was unbelievable. Read more>>
Lizzie Patrick
Not always a smooth road. From 2019 to 2024, I bounced back and forth between working for myself/freelance gigs and working full-time at agencies. I eventually realized that I was capable of doing everything that I was doing for other agencies myself and decided to create my own agency. Something that helped me realize this was “If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build yours.” And what better time to start than now! Read more>>
Diamond Love-Sorrells
At Tyler Perry Studios, Diamond found an environment of constant creativity that fueled her passion for sound design. Working on a year-round production schedule, she contributed to over 200 episodes across more than 10 series, including The Oval, All the Queen’s Men, House of Payne, Sistas, Zatima, Caught Up, Young Dylan, The Michael Blackson Show, and more. “Every day is something new,” she says. “We’re always shooting and creating. It keeps us sharp.” The pace is relentless, with each episode completed in a fraction of the time it would take most productions. “The amount of work we get done in one week would take most productions two to three weeks to complete.” Read more>>
Brittany Lee
I graduated nursing school from Columbus State University in 2011. I worked in the ER until I graduated NP school from Auburn University in 2015. After NP school I briefly worked in neurology where I was introduced to Botox for migraines. I was offered a provider position in the ER in 2018 but Botox was always still on my mind. Fast forward to 2020 and I decided to offer cosmetic injections part time until Covid. At that point I left the ER and opened my own medical spa. I’ve been working in aesthetics now for 5 years! Read more>>
Solomon Kennedy
My mother followed the trend of keeping photos, all throughout our house were pictures of some of my family members, along with a crazy amount of photos that was never framed or developed so much in fact before I packed up to move, I was able to collect some of them and I still don’t believe it would be half of them and following her my younger brother really inspired me from the pictures he took on an iPod he had in middle school launching his Instagram account Mascreations back in 2013 I quickly realized what he was doing could be done on a grander scale. So, I followed his trend and this lead me to my Apple product obsession mainly due to quality of its camera in comparison to the competitors, I played with different phone from different brands before making switch to an iPhone. I figured if Apple could do this with such a small sensor, what would the quality be like for something much larger? Read more>>
Dr. Makeda Moore
My story is one of love, curiosity, and purpose. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a heart for service to both humanity and to Mother Nature. After years of education and exploration in search of my unique path to impact, I found myself drawn to the field of psychology. In 2021, I earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology. While that was a major achievement, what was even more meaningful to me was the personal transformation I experienced over those six years. Read more>>
NASMAR Committee
NASMAR, or “National Association for Stop Motion Auto Racing”, is a film parody of NASCAR, in which every week a Stop Motion animation is created to go along with the real life NASCAR event. Using 1/64th scale diecast cars, the drivers of NASCAR are shown off by us, fans of the sport, embracing their uniqueness and traits. We are a community of over 300 members who work together to create the best possible show for 38 weekends a year, ultimately combining our works to crown a champion in the same way that the real sport does. Read more>>
Jarvis Chaney
I understand that every kid won’t or can go to college but all deserve to be successful so we guide kids into entrepreneurship or trade schools as well as encourage them to be great. Jays impact was founded in 2018. We have kids that’s started their own business and we are currently mentoring them just as my mentor did for me before he passed. Everything for jays impact is free because that’s the way I received it . I also believe in giving back and have big heart for the homeless and less fortunate. I take my boys the last Friday of each month to feed the homeless the maintain our humbleness . Read more>>
Kerry Lee
Chinese dance has been part of my life for as long as I remember, because my mother Hwee-Eng Lee started teaching Chinese dance in Atlanta just after I was born and went on to found the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company in 1991. My relationship with the art form hasn’t always been simple though. Growing up if you told me that I would go on to co-direct Atlanta Chinese Dance Company with my mother and make a career of performing, teaching, and choreographing Chinese dance, I don’t think I would have believed you! Read more>>
