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.

Kameron Tauber

I grew up in Georgia, and my first introduction to dentistry came from my mom, who was a dental hygienist. She would come home and tell stories about her patients, not just about teeth, but about their lives. As a kid, I didn’t fully appreciate it, but looking back, that’s where I first realized dentistry is really about building relationships and taking care of people. Read more>>

Rochelle Hall

My journey to Meraki Holistic Wellness really began with my own life and health experiences. For a long time, I was very good at pushing through. I could show up for work, family, church, business, and the people who needed me, even when I was tired or my own body was telling me to slow down. Read more>>

Tim Haugh

As a child I had always created and explored the world around me. In later years, as I became more proficient in painting I started to enter local art contest, winning my first award when I was 15. Many years of living and struggling to survive took up my time, but I always painted on the side, displaying in galleries and other venues. Read more>>

Ken McQueen

What inspired me to create Companion was the lack of social media platforms aimed at curated events specifically for networking… My background was law. I went to law school and worked as a Summer Associate at a firm in Ohio. Read more>>

Israel Wofford

I got into barbecue around 2014 and started my Instagram page Izzy Grillz in 2017 but it wasn’t until 2020 that my page really began to grow. Read more>>

Satin Marche

I’ve always been drawn to creativity, and fashion was one of the earliest ways I expressed myself. Growing up, I was known for my personal style and often recognized as one of the best dressed. Fashion was never just about clothing for me; it was a way to communicate identity, confidence, and creativity before I even understood the deeper connection between design and storytelling. Read more>>

Jakey Lutsko

My name is Jakey Lutsko, and I’m a musician and filmmaker. I write, record, produce, mix, and master all of my music. I also write, direct, edit, and score my own short films. Growing up, I always loved music and film, and was exposed to so much of it at a young age through my two older brothers, Alec and Nick. Read more>>

Morgan Hales

I started skating the beltline a couple of years ago when I simply had nothing better to do. Eventually, I found community and now I skate nearly every day so I can see my friends. I started posting videos tracking my progress privately but one day decided to post publicly and immediately it caught on! Now I get recognized every time I skate! It’s crazy! Read more>>

Eric Williams

I’m originally from Albany, Georgia. I earned my degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia, and then joined the Army in 2001. My military career started at Fort Benning, Georgia, and I was actually in basic training when 9/11 happened. That moment shaped a lot of what came after. Read more>>

Ronda Wallace

Ronda Wallace is a seasoned professional with over 11 years of experience in the Health and Wellness industry. Read more>>

Kolor The rapper

I honestly got my start on my dad’s hip, being held in the studio as he was making music. I remember falling in love with the vibrations of the base and wanting to hit the mic and share my story. I love that music is a way to experience the past, present and future. Read more>>

Lex Martin

I’m a creative, educator, yoga instructor, and the founder of Black Girls Need Love, a creative advocacy platform centered on mental wellness, storytelling, and community. I’m also the founder of Flow Well, a wellness brand that encourages wellbeing through movement and curated wellness experiences. I fell in love with the arts at a young age. Read more>>

Amy Basini

Voyage ATL actually first featured me back in October 2019, not long after I’d started fused glass — so it feels fitting to be back here now, several years and a lot of growth later. My path to glass began well before I ever touched a kiln. Read more>>

Liam Prince

I honestly don’t remember a time in my life where puppetry wasn’t around. From a vintage Grover hand puppet my dad passed down to me when I was a toddler to countless puppet shows I grew up watching on TV, it was always something I loved. When I was about 11 I started to get serious about getting into puppetry as a performance art. Read more>>

Ashlyn Cash

In my mid-twenties, I decided that I wanted to go back to school to become an art teacher. I had previously received an associates degree in accounting after I graduated high school but I knew that’s not what I wanted to do with my life. Read more>>

Baker Bezalel

I’ve always believed creativity could be more than a talent. It could become a way to create opportunities, connect with people and make your own path. ShoeBaker started from my love for art, sneakers and storytelling. I saw shoes as more than something you wear. To me, they were blank canvases that could represent a person’s memories, interests and identity. Read more>>

Rick Keeney

My journey started about 20 years ago. Like many photographers, I began simply wanting to capture family memories—birthdays, vacations, and everyday moments. I started out with the 2-megapixel Kodak budget point-and-shoots of the era. As my kids grew up and got involved in sports, I upgraded to a Sony NEX-6 to get more focal length and better speed. Read more>>

Avery Peterson

Looking back, I don’t think there was ever one moment where I decided, “I’m going to become a private chef.” It was much more of a progressive revelation than a master plan. Cooking was always part of my life growing up. I’m adopted, and my mom’s side of the family is first-generation Italian. Read more>>

Olivia Anderson

Anytime you ask a dancer when they started dancing, they usually answer ‘Oh, I’ve been dancing since I was three!’. I, however, am different. I started dancing when I was four. Ok, enough sarcasm. Hi! I’m Olivia and I started my dance journey in my hometown of Tullahoma, TN. Read more>>

Madison Anderson

I started my photography business in 2024, but my interest in photography began in 2022. At the time, I was homeschooled and looking for different hobbies when I came across a video of a woman who created her own photoshoot. She used her creativity to turn nothing into something, telling a powerful story through the lens of a camera. Read more>>

Chanel Wilson

My name is N.E.L. The acronym stands for N.aturally E.xceeding L.imits. All my life I’ve been a hooper. I was blessed with the opportunity to play D1 basketball at a high level. But in 2020, when the world stopped so did our season. At the time, I was going through some difficult situations in my personal life and needed an outlet to express those emotions. Read more>>

Ladyia Grimes

My journey has been driven by a passion for helping people and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. I spent several years working in healthcare, where I developed strong communication skills, compassion, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Those experiences taught me the importance of building trust and putting people first. Read more>>

Clare Steffen, Ed.D.

I am the Founding and Executive Director of the Round The Globe Film and Music Festival. I started Round the Globe in 2019 to bring hope, encouragement, and global healing to the world. We have music in all different genres that focus on sharing this healing intention. Read more>>

Jasmine Brown

I’m a chef with my own catering business. I have been in the business for 5 years now and I started out selling plates from home and have expanded to catering and doing weddings, private events and personal cooking classes. I had to take a break from my business because I was in a coma for the 5th time and wasn’t expected to make it. Read more>>

Danielle Brewer

I was born in Perth, Western Australia and straight out of school completed an undergraduate business degree leading me to work in hospitality, not-for-profit, human resources and then integration consulting for IT companies. My passion though was in performing. So I returned to study after 10 years and, began on camera acting short courses in Sydney. Read more>>

Terrance Asante-Doyle

I like to say I didn’t choose the Asante Art Institute—I grew up inside of it. Read more>>

Zanny Anderson Jarvis

My spiritual journey began 10 years ago in 2017 after healing from a bad breakup. I was having suicidal thoughts, and so I decided to check myself into an outpatient mental hospital. It was there I received so much help and I felt like living again. Read more>>

Rosy Vazquez

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved helping people look and feel beautiful. However, my path wasn’t entirely traditional—I worked in the hospitality industry for many years before the burning desire to pursue my true passion became impossible to ignore. I enrolled in cosmetology school, earned my license, and spent the next 15 years mastering my craft. Read more>>

Freesia Zhuang

I’m a digital illustrator who specializes in visual storytelling. My journey began simply out of personal interest and a love for Japanese anime—I just started drawing and, almost by chance, never stopped. However, it was only after finishing my undergrad in environmental architecture that I realized my true calling was to commit fully to making art. Read more>>

Miranda Mensah

I actually started out blogging on Medium. I wanted to encourage myself and others through writing. The more I wrote, the more I was reminded of how much being natural and authentic mattered to me, and as someone working in the care industry I was starting to get a bit burned out and wanted to do something for myself. Read more>>

Kyle Hough

If there’s one thing that ties everything I’ve done together, it’s that I’ve always loved building things that bring people together. That started with music. I began DJing when I was 14, spending weekends digging through records, making mixtapes, and learning how the right song at the right moment could completely change the energy in a room. Read more>>

georne Aucoin

When I founded the International City School of Ballet in 2004, my vision was to create an environment where every student received truly individualized training. Throughout my career, I have always believed that exceptional instruction is about much more than teaching technique. It is about helping people discover what they are capable of through discipline, artistry, and personal growth. Read more>>

Marcia Blane

My journey into counseling and coaching has always been rooted in one simple belief: healing changes lives, and knowledge should never be kept to yourself. I often say, ‘It’s just knowledge—pass it on,’ because I believe that when we freely share what we’ve learned, we create opportunities for others to heal, grow, and thrive. Read more>>

Evans Yirenkyi

I was born and raised in Ghana, and from an early age I was fascinated by communication, storytelling, and connecting people through shared experiences. That passion led me to study Communication Studies at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, where I developed a strong interest in marketing, events, public relations, and, more recently, how technology can be used to improve businesses and customer experiences. Read more>>

Berry P.

My journey has never been traditional, and that’s what makes it meaningful. I started my entrepreneurial path at a young age by building a cleaning business, learning firsthand that success comes from hard work, consistency, and serving people with excellence. That experience taught me how to lead, solve problems, and create opportunities instead of waiting for them. Read more>>

Marianne Mosquera

I’m Marianne. I’m a writer/artist currently residing between the North and Southeastern US. I mostly work as a concept artist, screenwriter, and have recently entered the graphic novel world as well. All I can say it’s that it’s been a long journey thus far! Feels like I’ve lived a few lifetimes. Read more>>

Christina Hilstock

Christina Hilstock is a Houston based-area entrepreneur, entertainer, and community advocate known for her leadership, professionalism, and passion for creating opportunities for others. Her educational accolades and background includes being a basketball college athlete and obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in both Psychology and Criminal Justice as well as a Master’s in Applied Criminology and Mental Health. Read more>>

James Alberty

I was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia. Growing up, my future wasn’t promised. At just 11 years old, I was diagnosed with a rare adolescent cancer called epithelioid sarcoma. At the time, doctors gave me only six months to live. Read more>>

Ressie Ehle

I’ve loved design for as long as I can remember. I was the kid who was constantly rearranging my bedroom, and by the time I was about 11 years old, I had already decided I wanted to be an interior designer. Read more>>

Ki Settles

My start really began with my family. That’s where my love for sports & the creative arts formed. My dad was the road manager for the Gap band, my aunt could really sing she just suffered from severe stage fright but she would go on dating tv shows lol & my uncle played college baseball. Sports was a major factdays. Read more>>

Summer McIntyre

I’ve always believed I was meant to be in front of the camera. I graduated from Georgia State University and started creating content around fitness, sports, fashion, anime, lifestyle, and travel while chasing opportunities in the entertainment industry. Read more>>

Logan Herring

I actually started this work nearly 30 years ago, as a 14‑year‑old summer camp counselor at my local Boys & Girls Club. Every summer, I was in the gym, on the fields, and in the classrooms with kids who reminded me a lot of myself. Read more>>

Tylia L. Flores

Tylia Flores is a Christian author, ordained pastor, speaker, and disability minister leader. Her work is rooted in faith, testimony, and the belief that every life has purpose through Jesus Christ. Through her writing and ministry, Tylia encourages others to find hope, healing, identity, and strength in God. Read more>>

George McDonald

I started my career in radio 26 years ago while in college at Morris Brown College. I got an internship at V-103/WAOK and ended up getting hired. Since then I’ve worked around the state finally settling at Davis Broadcasting’s K92.7 FM. I’ve also been a songwriter and filmmaker during this time, working with artists like Angie Stone and Ruben Studdard to name a few. Read more>>

Tony Good At It

I received a tape recorder from my grandmother when I first said I wanted to do music. I was 15 years old at the time. I got me a microphone and cassette tapes from Radioshack. Me and my friend James used to record freestyles and songs on the cassette tapes. Read more>>

Dean Wyatt

Hi My Name is Dean Wyatt but everyone knows me As DEANY. I’m a 21 year old content creator. I started my content journey in middle school but realistically realized how far I could take my career when I started going viral on TikTok with over a million likes on my videos in high school. Read more>>

Latasha Dorsey

My journey has always been centered around serving others. For more than 20 years, I’ve worked in healthcare, human services, and community-based programs, helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s most challenging moments. Along the way, I discovered that my true passion is creating opportunities that improve lives and strengthen communities. Education has always been important to me. Read more>>