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.

Rachel Ezzo

I’m an Atlanta native, and I think a lot of my story comes back to being connected to community. I’ve spent more than 20 years working in nonprofits, mostly in fundraising, communications, and helping organizations grow. Read more>>

Zele Avradopoulos

I’m a working actor and a strategic branding coach for actors. On the set of Juror #2, Clint Eastwood watched our rehearsal of a scene I was in. At the end of the scene he turned to one of his producers, pointing at me and said ‘She’s funny!’. That was it. He smiled and walked back to his spot so we could film. Read more>>

T.J. Benson

I started making music over 20 years ago after being introduced to FL Studio by my cousin. Adopting the alias IYCE COLD, I started making beats and eventually some of my other cousin and friends (Collectively known as the G.E.T.T.I. Squad) started rapping so I was making the beats for them. Read more>>

Lashay Perkins

“I Author Uniquely Lashay got my start as an author, after years of me being an avid reader first. For years, books were an escape for me. As a plus-size woman, I loved reading urban fiction, romance, and erotica, but I began to notice something missing: women who looked like me. I rarely saw plus-size women as the main characters. Read more>>

Almetrez Thomas

I’m 30 years old. I’ve been doing fashion for a handful of years. Other than fashion, Music has always been an outlet and from there I turned it into passion. Own label OWN team FAMILY OVER ALL. Read more>>

Callie Russo

I am a filmmaker, writer, director, and content creator. I’ve been in the film industry now for a few years, and all I want to do is keep growing and keep creating. I began as a content creator in the pop culture space in 2020, and it has since evolved into not only pop culture, but cosplay, books, fantasy fandom, and more. Read more>>

jennie bartoletti

My mom and I opened Four Bridges Outfitters in 2012. As a single mom, she raised us to have a deep appreciation of the outdoors and most of our family trips involved camping and paddling. Read more>>

Aaron Greene

I grew up watching and working with my father’s multi-services business. I learned the trade from him at an early age and stayed in the industry throughout my young adult life. I was also a student athlete, and in college I was recruited to play football at Clark Atlanta University where I majored in Business. Read more>>

Caleb Huntley

It started in Oklahoma then I moved to Ohio where I grew up. There found my love for music and playing instruments. Eventually given circumstances where I lived, I knew I had to leave. So I went back to Oklahoma to kind of reconnect with my soul so to speak. Read more>>

Perrie Gooden

My story really began to take shape during one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I was pregnant, becoming a single mother of two boys, and trying to navigate the emotional reality that my life looked nothing like I thought it would. Read more>>

Mary Hinson

Honestly, I needed a refund check back in 2002 and sat with my best friend reviewing a course catalogue to select our graduate program of study. We selected counseling and I just had a baby. Read more>>

Taryn van der Merwe

My story really began in 2009, although looking back, I can see that the seeds had been there for much longer. I had always sensed there was something deeper beneath the surface of life, but 2009 was when I consciously began exploring that part of myself. Read more>>

Lily Pittman

My journey to becoming a dance teacher was anything but traditional. As a former adopted child, I experienced obstacles early in life that shaped who I am today. I learned from a young age that life may not always go according to plan, but that does not mean you give up on the things you believe in. Read more>>

Brandi Benson-Hicks

My story has taken quite a few unexpected turns, but when I look back, I can see how every chapter prepared me for the next. I’m a U.S. Army veteran, cancer survivor, author, advocate, marketing professional, investor, and now a Georgia REALTOR®. Service has always been a major part of who I am. Read more>>

Terrell Johnnies

The Spread Love Initiative Incorporated started with a tragedy of losing a loved one to gun violence. This epidemic of losing individuals to gun violence has touched all communities and the mothers who have lost their children to gun violence have had the heaviest void to fill. Read more>>

Ellie Watkins

I’ve struggled with eczema my whole life, and it’s affected my day-to-day in a big way. When I was younger, I tried different lotions and combinations to help it, but it always came back. My freshman year of college, I had the worst breakout of my life. Read more>>

Lil Vyl

From open mics at 14 to shows at Atlanta’s Masquerade, I’ve been involved in the Atlanta Hip-Hop scene for about a decade now, coming on to the scene as ‘Lil Vyl’ late 2017. I credit my grandmother and mom for supporting me through the process and taking me to those initial open mics at such a young age. Read more>>

Vallnez Mozell-Ahearn

My story originates from my love of travel and design. During my time as a flight attendant, I began to explore my creative side. I started making jewelry and handbags, selling them at pop ups around New York City. Eventually, I started studying space planning and interior design. Read more>>

Destiny McLendon (DOTTY2Hottii)

I truly believe I was born into music. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I come from a very musical family—my aunts and uncles had a gospel group, my grandfather was part of a quartet group, and my mother is also a singer. Read more>>

Foila Thomas

Foila’s Journey Diary really started with my own journey. For years, I have been someone who creates as a way to process life. Art, movement, writing, reflection, even simply gathering around a table with other people have all been ways for me to slow down, make sense of what I am experiencing, and reconnect with myself. Read more>>

Tami Wilder

My story really began long before Positive Impact International officially became an organization. For many years, I was a foster parent and worked closely with children and families navigating some incredibly difficult circumstances. Read more>>

Tristen Wilburn

My love for makeup started with competitive dance and pageants. I grew up loving the stage, the glamour, and the transformation that came with hair and makeup. I was even the girl who brought a huge makeup bag to school and did everyone’s makeup—much to my teachers’ frustration! Read more>>

Julie Andre

My name is Julie Andre, and I am a Haitian American born and raised in South Florida. I started doing hair during my freshman year of high school, but I didn’t begin taking it seriously until my sophomore year. I needed to get my hair done for school, but there was no one available to do it, so I had to figure something out quickly. Read more>>

Deep Shah

My journey into pediatric dentistry is deeply personal. As a young child, I was diagnosed with leukemia (ALL), and spending so much of my childhood in medical settings shaped the way I see healthcare today. I experienced firsthand how important it is for a child to feel safe, understood, heard, and empowered. Read more>>

LeiSha Starchia

I come from a family of artists, so creativity was always a natural part of my life. I was a visual artist, dancer, and musician, and from an early age I understood that art could be a powerful way to express, connect, and tell stories. For me, art wasn’t something I discovered later in life—it was something that was always there. Read more>>

Aaron Bingham

I have always loved science fiction and superheroes. I often describe myself as a third-generation science fiction geek because my grandfather introduced me to *Star Trek*. My parents encouraged me to read from an early age, which helped books become an important part of my childhood. My fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Read more>>

Jazmyn Bryan

My story really started when I was a little girl. I always loved cooking and, more than anything, I loved watching people enjoy something I had created. Even then, I think there was something in me that wanted to make people feel good. Read more>>

Felicia McCoy

My journey in marketing and entrepreneurship has been more than 25 years in the making. I started working in the digital and creative space long before social media became what it is today, and over the years, I continued learning, evolving, and finding new ways to help businesses become visible and position themselves for growth. Read more>>

Rachel Hess

I have been cooking ever since I was a kid (my dad and I had a tradition of making dinner together), but my love of baking didn’t start until my early twenties. One fall day, I was craving some pumpkin muffins, and I couldn’t find any. So. . . I made my own! Read more>>

salina fountain

My journey with Cafe Vivian really started with my grandmother, Vivian, and my desire to build something that felt bigger than just a coffee brand. I’ve always been drawn to entrepreneurship, creativity, and creating experiences for people, but I wanted to build something that also connected back to my family and my roots. I named the company Cafe Vivian as a tribute to my grandmother. Read more>>

Shekar Menon

Growing up, I was a very artsy kid. Across all my classes back in school, I used to make comic strips featuring my friends and me going on adventures. Once class ended, we’d all get together and laugh about them. I remember spending so much time working on the stories, character designs, and compositions. Read more>>

Carlos Patrick

Dr. Carlos Patrick (also known professionally as Frankie DeCarlos) is a veteran music producer, record label executive, pastor, and the founder of CHISPA Music Group. Read more>>

Hannah Woloschuk

My story really begins with my son, Ollie. Before his medical journey, I had never heard the terms tracheostomy or subglottic stenosis, and I certainly never imagined they would become such a major part of our lives. Read more>>

Sandy Dalis

I believe my whole life has been leading me to this moment, and that my purpose and passion ultimately led me to launch CocoBana. After working in advertising for fast food for many years, I felt as though I was on the wrong side of the battle, driving consumers toward unhealthy habits. Read more>>

DJ Schemes

I got started via my family to be honest. My dad uncles cousins all was djs at one point. so I grew up around it. I was always trying to be involved. id help move equipment grab music from stores anything. I was with them in clubs when I was under 18 just so I can learn. Read more>>

Trvpbeez

My story really started with music being more than just something I enjoyed. It became a way for me to express myself, tell my story, and turn the things I’ve experienced into something meaningful. I started making music because I wanted to create something with my brothers ( long live Ceazer ) that felt like me, and over time that passion grew into Trvpbeez. Read more>>

Erica Strong

My story really began behind the salon chair. For more than 30 years, I built a career as a hairstylist and entrepreneur. I was also a single mom for many of those years, which meant failure was never something I felt I could afford.  Read more>>

Jeae Lynch

I have loved cooking for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I enjoyed creating new dishes for my friends and family. Cooking has always been more than just preparing food for me it has been a way to bring people together, make them happy, and share a part of who I am. Read more>>

Chris Smith

My story is really about learning not to let one version of myself become the final version. People have discovered me through a lot of different doors. Some know me from radio, some know me as an artist, some have seen me producing behind the scenes, creating content, interviewing people or building my own events. Read more>>

Melissa Jones

My journey in ultrasound began more than 25 years ago, back in 2001, and over the years, I’ve had the privilege of being part of some of the most meaningful moments in families’ lives. I started my career working in the hospital setting, but eventually found my passion in OB/GYN ultrasound. I’ve been with Atlanta Women’s OB/GYN for 18 years now. Read more>>

Jennifer Rinaldi

My plant journey actually started with me being completely clueless, which is exactly how Clueless Plant Lady got its name! Plants were always around me growing up. My mom had a natural green thumb, and when I look back through old family photos now, I realize there were beautiful, thriving houseplants all over our home. Read more>>

Luther Porcena

Rumah Apparel was born from two things that are very important to us: family and comfort. In fact, the word Rumah means home, and that’s exactly what we want people to feel when they wear our clothing: a sense of comfort, belonging, and home. The idea for the brand came from my wife. Read more>>

Dj Babyface

I started as an intern at The Big Dm 101.3 in Columbia, South Carolina. I was hired on and Dj Prince Ice taught me how to dj. I moved to 98.5 KISS Fm where they helped me fine tune my skills. I moved to Atlanta and has been here since. My partner, Hypeman , and friend MC L has been there for the ride ! Read more>>

Dr. Geneva Bernoudy

My journey as a coach became reality in 2012. One of my college classmates suggest I would make a great coach! I took my first certificate training with Fowler-Wainwright Institute, now Wainwright Global Institute of Professional Coaching, and became a life coach assisting with personal development. I worked with clients on succeeding, confidence building, and stepping out of thier comfort zone. Read more>>

Miles Thornton

My story begins in Tyrone, Georgia where I was born and raised. I grew up the youngest of two brothers who would eventually bully me into both physical and mental shape. I had both of my parents in the household until my father passed away back in 2017. Read more>>

Grace Woodsmall

I always had a natural knack for doing hair and started out doing formal hair for all my friends for school dances and actually took a few years off post high school. It wasn’t until 2022 that I got back into it and started taking it seriously and branching into actual bridal hair and putting myself out there as a professional bridal hairstylist. Read more>>

Samantha Marx

Hi! My name is Samantha Marx, and I am the manager at the Marigold Auditorium for Arts and Culture in Winterville, Georgia. I’ll be sharing mostly about the building itself, but because of how entangled my life has become with the building, I will share a bit about myself as well. In my opinion, the most enchanting thing about this space is its history. Read more>>

Isaiah Abdullah

I’ve been around the arts my whole life. My dad was a guitarist/bassist and he raised me and my siblings in the church so I was part of the choir and youth praise teams. He got me my first guitar when I was 9 or so. Read more>>

Veronica Vasilik

My partner Matt and I founded Blight Bandits and received our 501c3 documentation in August 2024. There was a need to help clean up our immediate community. There is a lot of trash around and we wanted to make it nicer for ourselves and our neighbors. Read more>>

Lepora Flournoy

My story really begins inside the walls of corporate America. For years I served Fortune 500 organizations as both an internal executive and an external consultant, leading large-scale transformations in people and process. I earned my Ph.D. Read more>>

Sonya Meadows

My story really begins in Detroit, Michigan, where I learned very early that life doesn’t always follow the path you imagine for yourself. When I moved to Atlanta in 1989, I was a young woman searching for opportunity, independence, and a better life. Read more>>

Lefthandangelo

I remember watching television as A kid and Gianni Versace line came across my television (Versus Versace) and from that moment I truly began to have a deep likeness to fashion . My debut of designing started in Atlanta around 2011 when fashion was still going through a change . Read more>>

Meredith Howell

I got my start in college where I majored in Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing and Management concentrated in Product Development at NC State’s College of Textiles in my hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. During Covid, I began to post my designs online after thrifting vintage fabric and using it to make shorts and puffer jackets. Read more>>

Damir Nickens

I started out as a 14-year-old girl in the heart of North Minneapolis, Minnesota, coming from a marginalized community with only so much around me to draw inspiration from and wanting so much for myself. I’ve always appreciated beauty, whether I was helping a classmate fix their look or perfecting my own. Read more>>

Dr. Alieizoria aka DrA Redd

My journey has always been rooted in the belief that people, organizations, and communities can heal, lead, and thrive when met with both compassion and accountability. I began my career as a social worker and clinician, working alongside individuals and families navigating trauma, mental-health challenges, and significant life transitions. Read more>>