Portraits of Atlanta

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Atlanta.

ryan walker

I’m a multidisciplinary artist from Alabama and a recent graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where I studied Studio Art. A lot of my journey started from being deeply drawn to emotion, memory, music, and human behavior before I even fully understood how to translate those things into artwork. Read more>>

Ashley Hartwig

I actually started performing as a dare! In middle school, my friend and I were bored, so she dared me to step out of my comfort zone and audition for ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Read more>>

Jen Malavé

I attended Paul Mitchell and graduated in 2010 as a Master Cosmetologist and color specialist. I went on to start my own business, Genisis Fresh in 2013 and opened a my first salon in 2016 in Midtown. Read more>>

Beth Intro

I first picked up a camera while I was teaching, simply wanting to capture the everyday magic around me: my students’ toothless smiles, the joy of recess, and the little moments that often go unnoticed. What started as a small hobby quickly grew into something much bigger. Read more>>

Pedro Jesus Porras Gonzalez

I am Pedro Porras, a Spanish chef from Córdoba, trained in Spain with a background in fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants. After years of working across Europe and traveling through South America, I arrived in the United States with the desire to share authentic Spanish cuisine rooted in tradition, memory, and connection. Read more>>

Kenia Serrano

My story is still being written, but if there is one thing I have learned, it is that every stage of life serves a purpose, and we should never underestimate the power of continuing forward, even during the most difficult moments. I have always had a growth mindset. Read more>>

Eurizandra Pinto

My journey didn’t start with a business plan. It started with a feeling. I knew early on that I wanted to build something meaningful, even when I had no idea what that would actually look like. I have always been drawn to people, to culture, to the way certain experiences make us feel alive and connected. That curiosity is really what set everything in motion. Read more>>

Jarren Telesford

Some struggles along the way was trying to get ATL to understand my dance style cause it was new to the scene of Atlanta also getting people in my hometown of Brooklyn New York to accept me as a flex dancer cause I lived in another state also taking bus after bus for events and to practice with my team at the time staying with family and friends just trying to live out my dance dream… battling myself as well making sure I kept a clean mental and didn’t let the naysayers affect me Read more>>

Olivia Crosby

I am a 25-year-old aspiring Content Creator, just now figuring out what I want to do with my life. I’ve always struggled to stay disciplined and motivated in my studies. It’s something that just never came easily to me. Read more>>

Alexis Covington

I’m Chef Lex, a passionate culinary artist with a flair for creating unforgettable dining experiences. As a traveling private chef, I bring my expertise from the Chi Burbs to ATL, serving dishes that captivate both the palate and the soul. My journey as a celebrity chef has allowed me to cater to diverse tastes, ensuring each meal tells its own story. Read more>>

Jamie Bollinger

My journey has always been deeply rooted in music, faith, and encouraging people through life’s hard and beautiful seasons. I’ve spent many years coaching voice and piano through my music studio while also serving as a worship leader, songwriter, and speaker. Read more>>

Dyanne Horgan

Ripe Ink Press is a risograph and design studio based in Atlanta, GA, that offers custom prints, commissions, and graphic design services to the greater Southeast creative community. Owned and operated by me, Dyanne Horgan, a printmaker and photographer who specializes in color-separated photographic prints. In 2025, I began teaching risograph workshops and classes at Atlanta Printmakers Studio. Read more>>

Anna Maria Liberto

When I first started, baking was simply a creative outlet and a way to bring joy to people through celebrations. Over time, that passion evolved into something much bigger. What began with making cakes for family and friends slowly turned into a business built on creativity, craftsmanship, and meaningful connections with clients. Read more>>

Brejai Ball

Moo Moo’s Delights is a homemade pastry business proudly serving the Upper West Side of Atlanta. Established in 2014, our journey has been built on passion, perseverance, and dedication. Through every challenge and milestone, we have continued to grow and push forward while sharing our love for desserts with the community. Read more>>

Jessica Kelley

Hello, I’m Jessica Kelley, founder of Beyond Dreams Travel Co.. Travel has always been a huge part of my life, but what started as a personal passion eventually became the career I truly feel I was meant to have. Long before I officially entered the travel industry, I was the person friends and family called when they needed help planning the perfect vacation. Read more>>

Vanessa Reed

My name is Vanessa Reed, and my journey into women’s ministry began in 2008 after teaching a Bible study on the Proverbs 31 Woman. At first, I believed no woman could possibly live up to such a description. Read more>>

Key Glover

My journey began about 20 years ago during a season when I felt like I was spinning my creative wheels without seeing the return I desired. Through prayer and journaling, I asked God a simple but life-changing question: ‘What gift do You want me to use that will bring You glory, make me happy, and allow me to make a living?’ The answer came quickly—cosmetology. Read more>>

Vinaya & Priya Adusumilli

Honestly, this dream started long before we had a business name for it. Growing up, we were always the ones in the family who got excited about celebrations. Not just showing up, but thinking about every detail. The centerpieces, the flow of the evening, the little moments that would make someone feel truly seen. Read more>>

MuthaUniverse

I am born Kyomi Weatherspoon blessed to be known as Mutha Universe. I have a background in early childhood education, Jazz and Classical bass performer but with the way the most high works I have been able to expand my artistic skills and knowledge to culinary focused on vegan and plant based cuisine and community impact through event curation, massage therapy and sound healing. Read more>>

DéZhiona Carmichael

It turns out I had been working in the PR space long before I realized there was a name for it. As a teenager, I helped private businesses with social media marketing and even created websites. I also tagged along to red carpet premieres and product launches here and there, unknowingly gaining early exposure to the world of media and public relations. Read more>>

Daquesha Chever

Who would have thought that a commercial about becoming a medical assistant would set in motion the next steps to my destiny? People often talk about being called into a profession. I guess you could say, I was called to be a Physician. No, not like many of my peers, who say that they knew from a young age they wanted to become a doctor. Read more>>

Jamille Stanley

My journey has honestly been anything but linear, and I think that’s what makes it interesting. I’ve spent years in education, teaching first, third, fourth, and fifth grade before stepping into my current role as a gifted teacher serving first, fourth, and fifth graders. That work has always been my heart. Read more>>

Amy Staniszewski

I started The Gilded Anchor in late 2025, but my love for antiques and collected pieces began long before that. I’ve always been drawn to the history behind vintage objects, the craftsmanship, the character, and the idea that these pieces have already lived full lives before finding their way into someone else’s home. Read more>>

Peter Lancaster

Greetings, My name is Peter Lancaster, I’m a Senior Creative Services Producer at Atlanta News First. I just won two Southeast Emmy’s last weekend, making my total of 4 since working here in Atlanta. Back in 2019, with the encouragement from my wife and some friends here in Atlanta, I started my beer account, @ThatsaGreatBeer on Instagram. Read more>>

Sher Parast

Sweetish Sister started from my longtime love of Swedish candy and the experience surrounding it. For years, I’d visit Bon Bon in NYC to stock up for my family and I. I loved the candy for it’s clean ingredients, but also the feeling behind it- the quality, branding, and the nostalgia. Read more>>

Donnell Hayes

I’m Haze a recording, mixing engineer, artist, producer, and songwriter, born in Cleveland, Ohio raised in Decatur Georgia. I come from a sports background as athletic kid and switch and started engineering in high school, graduated went to a trade school and interned with Generation Now so now I’m one of the in house recording engineers. I’m in my 10th year of professional recording. Read more>>

Latrice Boatswain

My career as a hairstylist began at a very young age, driven by a passion for art and a love for creating with my hands. I started by observing different techniques and practicing on friends and family, taking advantage of every opportunity to refine my craft. Read more>>

Fabio Arauz

My story is similar to most in this field. I made music and over time I fell in love with ‘chasing the sound’. We all grew up with records that influenced us and I just became fascinated with how they got those to sound the way they did. Read more>>

Anamika and Parag Pal

Our journey began very humbly in 2015, right from our home, with just one student and a deep passion for Indian classical music. What started as a small effort to share this beautiful art form quickly grew through word of mouth and community interest. By 2016, we took a big step forward and opened our own studio in Cumming, Georgia. Read more>>

Bigninoproductions LLC.

Big Nino Productions (BNP) started from being on quite a few sets and seeing the process of making magic work with creating films and also the passion for acting. I realized I love making films come to life, that’s when i jumped out there to start my own productions. Read more>>

Lee Cantres

After following Lee Cantres and his team’s success for several years, we decided to sit down with the man behind one of Georgia’s fastest-growing commercial cleaning operations. Read more>>

SAINT JEROME

There’s so much I could say, but at the core of it all, I’m a creative. I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York, and living there surrounded me with culture, creativity, and inspiration. I spent a lot of time going to museums and gallery openings, which opened my eyes to the world of visual art. Music was my first love. Read more>>

Shawn Francis

From the moment I walked off the stage at the end of The Nutcracker in 4th grade elementary school I knew I discovered something new I wanted to do forever. However, at the age of 10 I didn’t know exactly how to describe this new found experience. All I knew was that it produced a feeling I wanted to experience again and again. Read more>>

Geordan Colden

Drip No Drown started from something that’s always been bigger than swimming for me. I grew up swimming in Richmond, Virginia, and over time I realized something that stayed with me: access to swimming, confidence in water, and relationships with water are not equal experiences for everybody. Read more>>

Genneil Brown

Sure! Growing up in a Jamaican household, I was surrounded by rich culture and it gave me a very deep appreciation for creativity at a young age and deeply influenced the way I see the world and the kinds of stories I hope to tell. One of the most defining moments in my life happened when I was twelve years old in primary school. Read more>>

Lauren Johnson

My name is Lauren Johnson, and I’m the founder and creative director of Bellisima Fiore, a floral design company based in Atlanta specializing in weddings, events, and elevated floral experiences. My journey into floristry honestly came from a mix of creativity, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. I’ve always loved design, branding, and creating experiences that make people feel something emotionally. Read more>>

Chiquita Russaw

Chiquita Russaw, founder of Vision Impact Solutions, Business Development Strategist, and Executive Director of MBP Helping Hands, I’ve always believed that vision alone is not enough. People need structure, strategy, and clarity to truly grow. My journey started with recognizing a gap. Read more>>