Local Highlighter Series

We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands.  Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.

Mrs. Mashawn Graham

An important truth I’ve learned — that not everyone agrees with — is this: your value comes before your visibility. A lot of people think you need to be seen everywhere, go viral, or have a massive following to succeed in business. Read more>>

Jermaine Jackson

A normal day? Honestly, there’s no such thing but there’s a lot of eating and a lot of editing. I start the morning checking my DMs, emails, and food calendar to see where I’m eating that day. Then it’s usually a mix of scouting new restaurants, meeting owners or chefs, and of course, tasting everything on the table. Read more>>

Shanequa King

Right now, my days are a blend of passion, purpose, and hustle. I’m the owner of XAD – Xclusive After Dark, an online brand that offers sculpting wear, lingerie, swimwear, accessories, and apparel. We’re currently in the middle of an exciting rebrand, and yes—Xclusive is spelled without the “E”! Read more>>

Jemerris Giles

I normally get up at 3:30am and read my bible and then I go shower and by 4:30am I’m starting my first online or in person fitness client and then from there I’m locked in training adult or athletic clients or online doing virtual or in person fitness consultations and I normally wrap up my day by 9 / 9:30pm. Read more>>

La Touche

The pain I resist facing most is the version of me at eighteen. Grieving my mother, feeling unseen, and abandoned by people who didn’t check in, didn’t show up, didn’t celebrate me. I never spoke up for him, never asked for help, never found the right tribe. Read more>>

Jessica Tehlirian

The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is with my younger sister, Justina. Growing up, I always felt a responsibility to be a role model for her, to show her what dedication, resilience, and integrity look like in action. That desire to lead by example pushed me to work harder, stay focused, and aim higher in both my personal and professional life. Read more>>

Lauren Lesley

The relationship that shaped me most was with my first art teacher, Bruce L. Bunch. When I was eleven, I lacked direction and didn’t feel especially confident in anything. Drawing was the one thing I always returned to with unwavering passion, so my mother arranged private lessons for me. I was nervous before that first class, but Bruce was kind and encouraging. Read more>>

Sarah Rhino

My relationship with the sport of gymnastics has shaped me into the strong leader that I am today along with a strong sense of self confidence. While we often focus on talent, progression and success as an athlete, we forget the intrinsic values that athletics instills in us. Gymnastics, cheerleading and dance has taught me discipline, determination, perseverance, self confidence and resilience. Read more>>

Nadia Dixon

My relationship with God has most significantly shaped the way that I see myself. I have been in business nearly 5 years, but for most of my career I struggled with my identity. I started my business at the ripe age of 21, as a young girl living in Atlanta. Read more>>

Urmi Hossain

I’d say the most important relationship I’ve built is the one with myself. It was only when I started to truly appreciate and accept who I am that the process of self-love really began. For a long time, I looked for validation — whether it was for the choices I made or the things I was doing. Read more>>

Tanesha Clancy

My relationship with the Most High shaped how I see myself most now! Due to my childhood trauma and being abused, abandoned, rejected, and unloved I felt unworthy and valueless! It wasn’t until around 30 years of age that I started releasing those feelings and healing and hearing the Most High! In this relationship I discovered how valuable and important that I truly am! Read more>>

Zoe Ruddock

I’m so happy to take this opportunity to give flowers to my best friend Mal, who has been one of the most grounding and affirming relationships in my life. For over a decade, he’s poured into me, encouraged me, and reminded me of my magic every step of the way. Read more>>

Kim K.

There’s a truth I carry that I don’t always name, because it’s the kind of lesson that lives in the marrow: Most of us were trained to be limited. We were told to play it safe, to stay in line, to not want too much or dream too big. But limitations are just someone else’s fear in a costume. Read more>>

Erin Gardner

Integrity and acknowledgment.Always be the truest version of you in any moment.You may be right you may be wrong but you have yourself an opportunity to receive a honest response from the universe. It’s not for others to understand or to be explained just for you to learn more about you.And acknowledging the inner truths you see others boldly display. Read more>>

Serena Rae

My mentality is, I would rather ‘fail’ at doing something than regret not doing it at all. This is why I try to take every opportunity, big or small. I don’t think you ever fail; you just learn a lesson to take with you to your next opportunity. Read more>>

Bianca Hughes

I naively believed in following all the societal rules. I used to think there was one “right” way to live – how to be a woman, how to be in relationships, how to structure your life. But here’s what I’ve realized: the people who made these rules just made them up based on their own experiences, and they don’t necessarily serve me or anyone else. Read more>>

Tonya Cornelius

I used to believe that the only path to success was going to school, getting a good education, landing a good job, and working HARD for money — for 30 or 40 years. (Sometimes 50🤯) That belief was deeply ingrained in me. It’s what I was taught, and honestly, it’s what many of us were told growing up — especially in middle-income and Black communities. Read more>>

Mary Pratt

Leaning towards a humanistic, universal cultural value, ( not perfection), I defend a belief system where personal virtue isn’t just about being good to others, but also about defending goodness even when it’s difficult. It’s the kind of cultural value system that says, care deeply, love fully, and stand bravely. Read more>>

JAZMIA BATTLE

A cultural value I protect at all costs is the artistic integrity of technically trained African American dancers. Being black and being technically trained is a testimony to the artistic integrity and visibility that our ancestors fought for in the Arts. Being black and being technically trained is an artistic miracle that deserves to have more visibility and credibility in the Art world. Read more>>

Charles Nicolosi

I incorporate LGBTQIA+ themes across all of the things I make- from Bowl Buddies, Emotional Support Chicken and many types of artwork. I certainly did not expect to hear people say they are happy to see me at events and representing the community. They see the rainbows everywhere in my artwork. Read more>>

Dr. Tommy Tally

A medical cultural value that I protect at all costs is do no harm. I treat each and every patient individually and see them as someone who comes to me trying to improve their life. Read more>>

XRO Sizzerr

I went from thousands of dollars to 0 dollars and I watched how everyone’s love left I didn’t get many calls of people checking on me, I wasn’t some of my family’s favorite cousin no more, I saw my love was worth what I could provide. Read more>>

Hannah Whitney & Alisa Tanner-Wall

The most surprising thing I’ve learned about our customers is how deeply they value connection and experience. In a world where so much feels reliant on AI or a screen, people still want that genuine sense of community—and food has such a powerful way of bringing that to life. What started as simply catering events has turned into building real relationships. Read more>>

Danielle Pointer

Moving into my own salon suite after my surgery was a huge change, and I’ll admit I was a little nervous about leaving the open, communal energy of the old salon behind. But what I discovered in that private space has been the most surprising and rewarding part of my career. Read more>>

Jerri Reid

The last time I changed my mind about something important was when I made the decision to pivot from my makeup brand The Snobb Collection to focus fully on my skincare brand Naked Buttah. The Snobb Collection was amazing. It brought me so much success and was even featured in Essence, BET, and more. Read more>>

Josh Pinto Taylor

Every spring, our 6th grade scholars participate in a passion project where they get to think critically about our school community. Their driving question is ‘How can I use my voice to advocate for change I believe in at The Anchor School?’ They use their experiences to shape their sense of what works and what needs to improve on our campus. Read more>>

Amber Churn

Last time I felt too joy was where my puppy who is name Harlem was returned back into my care this past week. I raised him in Atlanta, but unfortunately, I had to leave him behind when I moved to New York City. Read more>>

Sharon Marchisello

Telling stories to myself. I would create a world where I was in control. Bad things happened to bad people. Justice was served. The heroine was prettier, smarter, and wittier than me, and she always knew what to say at exactly the right time. Always did the right thing, came up with the most clever solutions. And she was ultimately successful. Read more>>

Erica Quist

Smart people are getting it totally wrong, when they constantly think they are right. Learning is a journey, and every day you wake up is a new chance to learn something new. This doesn’t always have to be traditional learning. You can start with self-awareness, and really getting to know who you are! Read more>>

Danae Sweeton

I think a lot of people are placing too much value in society — in systems, screens, hustle, and external validation — and not enough time reconnecting with nature! The smartest thing we can do is step outside, slow down, and listen to the land. There’s ancient wisdom in the rocks, the wind, the silence. Read more>>

BJ Armstead

Right now, I am learning from nature. Nature never rushes. The grass never rushes to grow, the trees never rush to mature. Nature is God’s creation, His painting, His canvas. It is almost as if God speaks directly to us through nature. Through it, I am also learning that I am nature and that nature is God. Read more>>

Shaun Moore

As a full-time Music Producer, I am learning from ALL the collaborators and peers that I either work with, have worked with, or look to for inspiration that I admire in the music business! As a Music Producer, I am a Multi-Instrumentalist, and have been for a very long time since a young child when I first started my journey in music. Read more>>

John McGuire

Everything and everyone that I encounter. Every author whose work I read. Every movie and TV Show I watch. Conversations with friends and family. I think, as a writer, you should allow all of that to enter into your mind, let it mix and mingle, and from there all sorts of ideas will arise. Read more>>

Ms. Dani Weiss

Absolutely—I would hire me in a heartbeat. I bring a rare mix of fun, professionalism, and reliability to every event I photograph. My organized approach ensures nothing falls through the cracks, and my clear, responsive communication puts clients at ease throughout the entire process. Read more>>

Olasubomi Odunbaku

“Absolutely, I would hire myself. I genuinely value my can-do-it-all attitude—it’s a mindset that allows me to adapt, take initiative, and thrive in any situation. People with this kind of drive know how to navigate challenges and find solutions, which is exactly why I believe I’m an asset to any team.” Read more>>

Sandy Nguyen

What I’m most proud of building is the inner blueprint that connects all of my ventures — from beauty to media to cybersecurity. When I started High Maintenance Lash & Brow Artistry, I wasn’t just building a lash business, I was building discipline, patience, and the ability to create trust with every client. Read more>>

Janel K. Lauren

I understand that most people are only as deep as thier experiences. I have stopped getting mad at people when I know they simply cannot do something because they lack the experience or the self work to know how. I simply remove myself gracefully and quietly. I empathize with everyone, but I don’t excuse. Read more>>

Kenisha Darden

We’re all just out here trying to make it, and the truth is you never really know the battles someone is fighting behind the scenes. Read more>>

Tay Katour

Music has a way of making me completely lose track of time. Whether I’m writing lyrics, vibing to a beat, or just letting an album play from start to finish, I get so wrapped up in the rhythm and emotion that hours can slip by without me noticing. It’s like stepping into another world where time doesn’t matter. Read more>>

Zaïe

I loose track of time when I’m either writing or recording music. I think that’s when I find myself the most satisfied and at peace, is when I’m making music and just doing what I love. I can either be writing a song for 5 or 10 minutes; or be recording for hours and I will never get tired of it. Read more>>