ATL’s Most Inspiring Stories

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. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.

Chelsea Michael Goode

I was born & raised in Richmond, VA. I began my acting journey at the age of 9 in my elementary school drama club, transitioning to middle school drama, Center for the Arts at Henrico High School (shout out Todd Ritter and Emma Givens), and eventually earned a BFA in Acting at Shenandoah Conservatory.  Read more>>

Allison Smith

My husband passed away 08/2021. Once I became a widow, I had so many questions and no one to ask because I didn’t know anyone in my circle of friends who had lost their partner. As sympathetic as people were, no one else really understood what I was going through. My number one unanswered question was, “What do I do now?” Read more>>

Millionaire Michele

Honestly, getting in front of the camera wasn’t something I originally planned to do. I had always worked behind the scenes. I would hire content creators and let them be the face while I focused on strategy, business development, and building brands. I was comfortable there because in real life I’m actually pretty shy. Read more>>

Jennifer Bulgin

I grew up in Los Angeles — born and raised. Only child. My parents — particularly my mom — worked incredibly hard to put me in private schools and make sure I was exposed to different cultures, different worlds, and different ways of thinking. She sacrificed a lot for that, and I didn’t fully understand the weight of it until much later in life. Read more>>

Max Jr. & Latonya Bingham

Our journey to RoboThink East Atlanta is rooted in service, shaped by resilience, and driven by a belief that every child deserves access to opportunity. Read more>>

Ledetra Womack

LeDetra Womack, professionally known as SlimBarbiie, is an Atlanta-born freelance makeup artist and multifaceted creative whose work reflects both artistry and intention. A native of Atlanta, my creativity was cultivated early on, shaped by a vivid imagination and a natural eye for beauty. Read more>>

Nero Simon

I was born in New York, spent much of my upbringing in New Jersey and part of the time in South Florida, and eventually found my way to Atlanta. Music has been with me from early on. I started playing guitar as a kid, and over the years I played in different bands, including a Philly-based indie band called Eltro that put out a few records out on an indie label and did some touring.  Read more>>

William Butler

Got into plumbing in 2001 worked at Universal plumbing 13yrs move to ATL and work at another company 2yrs told the owner there I was only going work 2yrs and then started nnp in 2017 it had its ups and downs but kept the faith and since has won awards and maintain a great reputation won best of Georgia for 2024 & 2025 Read more>>

Jennifer Araujo

Our story began in 2013, when we met working at a Soho staple in New York City named Cafe Noir. He was back of the house working as a sous chef and I was front of the house working as a bartender. One day after working a brunch shift, some friends canceled some plans and Celio took the opportunity to ask if I wanted to hang out with him and we never stopped hanging out. Read more>>

Dr. Isha Walwina Metzger

Early in my clinical training, I had a realization that would define my career. We were delivering gold-standard trauma treatments. The science was strong. The outcomes were promising. But when I sat with Black youth and families, I could see the gap. Read more>>

Jillian Loux

I’v always loved making music since I was a very little girl. I was always singing and performing. At 15 I released my first EP with a friend of mine in a basement which actually helped me find my current managers Stephen Mcguire and Nat Dunn. Read more>>

Erica South

I’m Erica South, founder of An·y·bod·y, an all-natural, plant-based skincare brand born from experience, not trend. I’m a daughter, sister, mother, and proud native New Yorker, who relocated to Ga in 2014, I have family roots here. Read more>>

Takari Mitchell

My name is Takari “TK” Mitchell, a South Atlanta native. I’m an Aries, and yeah… we get a pretty bad wrap for being hot-headed, impulsive and a little intense. But honestly, that same energy is what I’ve learned to channel in the cypher. What might look like “too much” anywhere else becomes intention, presence, and fire when I step into that circle. Read more>>

Amy Skinner

On June 23rd, the Pine Mountain Art Alliance (PMAA) will be three years old. Our organization should be just a tadpole but I feel I’m holding a tiger by the tail. We. Are. Growing. Read more>>

Amanda Trevelin

A standard yoga mat is 24 inches wide and 68 inches long. What began in that little space now helps me, and others, move through the world more consciously. Read more>>

Tony Jones

My journey into starting Alpha Executive Transport, LLC really began with something simple—I’ve always loved the BMW 7 Series. Over the years, I owned several, It wasn’t just about having a luxury car, it always felt like more than just transportation. I started thinking about how I could turn that passion into a business. Not any business, but an experience. Read more>>

Justina Nwachukwu Vella

My journey from a hairstylist in London to a global innovator began in 2019 from my university room. What started as a passion for transformation quickly evolved into a world-class standard for luxury hair. Within just a few years, my signature aesthetic propelled me from a private service to appearing as a bridal hair expert on national television for Channel 5 and BET. Read more>>

Gaffney Taylor

I started my journey to becoming a creative coach and interdisciplinary artist as a little kid interested in drawing the manga characters that aired on TV every weekend, while living in my own inner world. My younger self dared to dream so big that she believed anything was possible. Read more>>

Shari Perkins

I grew up in church in Mississippi, and that environment really shaped my foundation in community, structure, and showing up with intention. From there, I spent 10 years in Girl Scouts, which naturally introduced me to leadership, sales, pitching, and even traveling at a young age. That’s honestly where my love for marketing, connection, and building experiences first started. Read more>>

Ashley McLaughlin

I got my start in Atlanta’s event industry back in 2016 with Modern Luxury, the largest luxury media company in the country. That role helped me build some incredible relationships that led me into my next chapter. In 2018, I shifted into a position at one of Atlanta’s most prestigious venues, Park Tavern, where I spent more than six years planning unforgettable events. Read more>>

Pavel Rusakov

After working together for several years, it became clear that the three of us (Pavel Rusakov, Emma Martin, and Vitor Pinheiro) bring more to the table than just technical execution. We share a strong instinct for story and a keen eye for the details that elevate a project from good to memorable. What sets us apart is the way we collaborate. Read more>>

Sade Chisholm

My story really starts in Atlanta. I lived there for several years and that is where my spiritual awakening happened. Something shifted in me there that I could not ignore and it set me on a path I have been walking intentionally ever since. Read more>>

Gina Laguerre

Early on, I always knew I was meant to build something of my own. I didn’t have everything figured out, but I knew I had a passion for business and a desire to create something meaningful. In 2015, I started learning about the security industry, and something about it just clicked. It was not just a business opportunity, it felt purposeful. Read more>>

Dr. Rukiya Mathis- Wright

After 19 years in education, most of them in a kindergarten classroom in Clayton County, Georgia, I noticed many students were entering school unprepared. This created a deep burden in me to focus on kindergarten readiness. After seven years of seeing this need firsthand, I shared my vision with my husband, Charles Wright, and we both felt led for me to start a preschool. Read more>>

Christopher Nipper

I’m born and raised on the south side of Atlanta. My father left when right before I started kindergarten. My mother is blind and had to rise my sister and I by herself. Because she was blind we had to walk everywhere we wanted to go. Read more>>

Taneika Farmer

My name is Taneika Farmer, and I’m the founder of Valencia’s Grazin’, a charcuterie and grazing experience business built around creativity, connection, and presentation. My journey started from a genuine love for creating. I’ve always enjoyed crafting and turning simple things into something beautiful. Growing up, some of my best memories were with my mother, who inspired me in so many ways. Read more>>

MaSean

My journey in music did not start overnight. It started with belief. As a kid, I was always involved in talent shows and naturally drawn to the stage and self expression. More importantly, I had someone who saw something in me before the world ever did, my grandmother. Read more>>

Clyde Cyrus

Clyde Cyrus was born exactly 33 years after the day of Malcolm X’s assassination, at a rare celestial moment when the moon hovered directly over the center of the Milky Way. That timing feels intentional, like I was stamped with purpose before I even spoke my first word. Read more>>

Shantey Good

I didn’t start out with a big plan or a perfect setup. I honestly just started with what I had. I began doing laundry through an app, picking up small orders, learning as I went, and figuring out how to make people happy with my service. Over time, I realized I could turn this into something bigger than just side money. Read more>>

Lorice Jean

I grew up on the streets of Chicago which was not easy after being abandoned by my mother at the age of 14. So, experiencing abandonment and a sense of rejection, I searched for some form of stability, only to encounter more pain than peace. Read more>>

Courtney Alexander

My name is Courtney Alexander, a Chicago native and multimedia journalist with over six years of experience and a deep passion for impactful storytelling. From an early age, I recognized my natural ability to tell stories, whether my own or those of others, and that ultimately led me to pursue a career in journalism. Read more>>

Felix Jean Jenkins

The story of Bars & Cigars started off as just the typical conversation that would often happen when friends get together for cigars and spirits. ‘Whatcha smoking?’, ‘what do you have in the glass?’, and ‘Smoke anything new lately’ were heard weekly as we decompressed from a full week of work. Read more>>

Finn Daartist

By taking advantage of every opportunity in front of me. God can show you as many doors as he feels but if you don’t open any of them then what’s the point. So whatever presents itself I plan to take advantage of and music has been one of those doors that has shown me plentiful. Read more>>

DAMONTE W

DAMONTE is a style forward R&B artist and songwriter redefining the sound of contemporary soul. Emerging from Mississippi, his music is deeply rooted in the emotional honesty and vocal excellence of icons like Maxwell, Ginuwine, Prince, and Luther Vandross, while pushing the genre into a new era defined by vulnerability, sensuality, and innovation. Read more>>

Mickalia Forrester Ewen

I’ve always been deeply creative, even as a child. I loved making people laugh, creating things with my hands, and bringing people together through food, performance, and storytelling. From early on, I knew I wanted to create something meaningful that I could share with a community. Read more>>

Nisha Pradeep

I’ve always been deeply creative, even as a child. I loved making people laugh, creating things with my hands, and bringing people together through food, performance, and storytelling. From early on, I knew I wanted to create something meaningful that I could share with a community. Read more>>

Rashod Armon Stanley

My journey into photography started long before I even realized it could become a career. I grew up in Chennai, India, and my earliest memories of photography are tied to my dad. He loved planning adventurous trips to jungle resorts, and during those travels, he would constantly photograph wildlife like animals, birds and also capture countless moments of me, my sister, and my mom. Read more>>

Xavier Wormack

I was born an art kid into a sports family while I always enjoyed art, it was never really pushed or recognized. Looking back, I see it was always in me. Read more>>

Katlego Mashigo

My journey into filmmaking is something that has been building for most of my life, even before I fully had the language to describe it. I grew up in South Africa, and from a very young age, I was constantly drawn to creating. Read more>>

Thies Gudino

I didn’t start Thies Virtual Suite with a big master plan. I simply knew I was good at organizing, supporting people, and getting things done. I began as a virtual assistant, primarily supporting wedding and event professionals, helping them manage their day to day, including emails, calendars, and client communication. Read more>>

Anngy Marquez

I’ve been inspired by fashion and style since I was a child, and my curiosity to share what I love authentically naturally led me to creating content. This journey took me to New York City, where I worked in marketing with brands, covered events, collaborated during Fashion Week, and explored the city’s unique restaurants and lifestyle scene. Read more>>

Joseph “J.Wayne” Collins

I was born Joseph Collins II, but I go by J.Wayne. Born in Memphis, TN, I was immersed in music from the very beginning, guided by his father, gold and platinum record producer Joe Blowe Da CEO, who became both my mentor and producing partner. Read more>>

Josh May

So I currently work as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer here in Atlanta, and I also do a great deal of physical art with various media—painting, sculpture, printmaking, etc. Even when doing client projects involving digital media, I start every project the old-fashioned way—with a pencil and a sketchbook. Read more>>

Tyler Mtalo-Boles

My name is Tyler Mtalo-Boles (aka Tyler Boles), I am currently a 21-year-old college student in my 3rd year at Georgia State University. I was both born and raised in the city of Atlanta and I have lived all around the metropolitan area. I became an entrepreneur at the age of 12 years old in 2017. Read more>>

Khadijah Dennis

Authentic storytelling is at the heart of what I do. I grew up in a very small town called Kingstree, South Carolina. That experience inspired me in so many ways because it gave me the gifts of possibility and dreams. Read more>>

Melissa Alexander

After a few years in corporate America, I found the stability I wanted, but also a level of discontent I couldn’t ignore. My 9-to-5 started to fuel my 5-to-9: photography. I realized I could build life on my terms. On October 16th, 2017, I walked away from my corporate position, believing I could create a world rooted in true purpose and joy. Read more>>

Karmen Brewer

I have always had a passion for the arts. I am a small town girl from Columbus, MS who grew up with big dreams. As a kid, my elementary theatre teacher left a mark on me. I moved to Georgia at the end of fifth grade. Even through college, my underlying passion for acting has always remained. Read more>>

Wendy Oesterle

I was always a theatre kid. At five years old, I claimed I wanted to be a dancer on the Solid Gold TV show. In school, I focused mainly on music and theatre classes. My parents supported every minute of it by providing me with all the lessons and experiences my heart desired. I was enrolled at Nova University for voice lessons. Read more>>

Bianca Levi

I didn’t take a straight path into life coaching as a therapist—I built it from lived experience, purpose, and a refusal to play a role that didn’t feel right. After graduating with a degree in criminal justice and business, I thought I’d become a juvenile defense attorney. Read more>>

Goldmouf StreetIdol

I started rapping at age 9. My uncle was a producer and engineer, he use to get me to help test his equipment out whenever he got new stuff. By the time I was 13 I was connected to a community pastor that threw talent shows for the youth. After winning 4 or 5 straight shows, I knew it was in me. Read more>>

Delmard Wood

Delmard Wood – Founder, Rent My Trailer /Protote and Rent My Boom Delmard Wood is a Georgia-based entrepreneur and trucking professional with over 20 years of experience in the transportation industry. He began his career in 2005 as a company driver, gaining firsthand knowledge of the challenges drivers face on the road. Read more>>

Terry Cadena

What began as an unexpected challenge turned into the foundation of our business. After experiencing water damage in our home, we were displaced into a hotel for three months while working through the insurance process. Wanting to move things along and make a few upgrades, we decided to take on some of the work ourselves. Read more>>

Chanel and Arie Jiles and Burton

Our story really starts with our friendship. We have been friends for over 20 years, and over time we realized we shared the same passion for working with children and supporting families. With our combined years of experience and education, we always talked about creating a space of our own—and that vision eventually became Neighborhood Children’s Center (NCC). Read more>>

Sanarr McLaughlin

I’ve been in digital marketing for over two decades, working both in-house and as a freelancer and consultant, and throughout that time I kept seeing the same pattern: teams overwhelmed, too many tools, and a lot of effort that wasn’t translating into meaningful results. In 2020, I started digitalXmedia with the idea of creating a better way to work. Read more>>

Nelson Quinones, Jr.

Attempting brevity, I have been a ‘mediator’ and ‘healer’ since I can remember assembling contextual sentences. I have always been empathic, emphatic, intuitive and one given to serving humans, to empower them. I’m also first born, eldest male and was considered gifted in other areas of my life. My early life has absolutely influenced who I am as an individual and as a professional. Read more>>

Iwoinakee Harris-Billups

Since my last interview, the biggest shift hasn’t been why we do the work—it’s been how we’re scaling it. Finding Answers Inside the Home was built from lived experience, and that foundation will always remain. But now, we’re moving from a place of simply responding to need… to building structured, sustainable solutions that can reach more families before they reach crisis. Read more>>

Ryan Mthombeni

I am a Network engineer and a part time hiphop producer. Started tapping into the city’s rap scene with the release of songs like “Mambo” by Asaph and Lynden’s wrecking crew day. That was peak hiphop. There were sites and platforms you could get rap news and updates about the hiphop scene. Read more>>

Whitney Teyf

I started dancing when I was just three years old, growing up in Northern Virginia, and it quickly became a central part of my life. I went on to attend East Carolina University, where I earned my degree in dance education in 2006. Right after graduating, I took a leap and founded Expressions In Motion Dance as an after-school dance program. Read more>>

Bryan Chase

To be honest, I just came off a tough breakup and I realized something. The community I was around became my motivation. The gym I was at—it wasn’t my dream at first, but it became part of my purpose. With every new flavor, every new client trusting me with their health journey – I was helping people change their lives. Read more>>

Thema (TT to my students) Houston

Honestly, my love and passion for working with children was a hidden gift I didn’t even realize I had at first. In high school, I participated in an internship program, and going into the education field was actually my teacher’s suggestion since I wasn’t sure what path to take. Read more>>

Benton Thompson III

My journey began during my early childhood years. I wondered what my purpose was for being alive. When I was an infant, a devastating event forever changed the landscape of my family. At the time of my birth, I had seven older siblings: four sisters and three brothers. Read more>>

Jasmine Rasmussen

My story began a month shy of my 30th birthday when my mother died of the autoimmune disease scleroderma. I used to say I was always my mother’s, but never really my own. Her death overlapped with becoming a mother myself and it was those two things that served as the catalyst for me to begin my own journey back to self. Read more>>

Cassandra Williams

My story began a month shy of my 30th birthday when my mother died of the autoimmune disease scleroderma. I used to say I was always my mother’s, but never really my own. Her death overlapped with becoming a mother myself and it was those two things that served as the catalyst for me to begin my own journey back to self. Read more>>

Denita Webb

First let me say I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to share my story. My life started with humble beginnings in South Memphis, TN and we did not have much. But what we did have was community. Read more>>

Breanna Geschke

So my story starts when I was a little kid. I’ve always had an affinity for art in all its forms. My wonderful family has always been very encouraging of my interest in art. Read more>>