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.

Cameron Jo’van

Looking back, my entire career was a quiet setup for what I’m doing right now. For years, I was behind the scenes—working across advertising, sales, digital project management, campaign strategy, and channel management. Read more>>

Pamela Slack

Fashion has always been more than clothing to me. It has been a form of expression, confidence, and transformation. From an early age, I was fascinated by how the right outfit, color, or style could completely change the way a person felt about themselves. I loved watching fashion brighten people’s days and give them a renewed sense of confidence. Read more>>

Francisco Da Silva

My name is Francisco Da Silva, but most people know me as Mestre Fran. My journey with Capoeira began when I was just 10 years old in São Paulo, Brazil. From the very beginning, something about Capoeira captured my heart the sound of the berimbau, the movement, the music, the energy, and most of all, the feeling of being part of something bigger than myself. Read more>>

Aaron Francois

Since childhood, I was taught that as a Black man, I’d face a lot of adversity whether it was school, work, or everyday life. As opposed to receiving it as a form of mental defeat, I took it on as a challenge, being the natural competitor I am. Read more>>

David Hauser

I grew up in Savannah, Georgia, soaking up the Historic District like it was free graduate school—those layered porches, ironwork, and lived-in character stuck with me. I started at Georgia Southern chasing a business degree, felt the walls closing in, took a year off, and landed at SCAD for historic preservation. Read more>>

Dionne James

My journey began with a pair of hands and a desire to help people feel good about themselves. I have worked in the beauty industry for more than three decades as a Master Cosmetologist, natural hair-care specialist, braiding instructor, salon owner, author, and entrepreneur. Read more>>

Joe Crognale

As a senior in high school, I had no real vision of what I wanted to do with my life. I assume most high schoolers don’t. I took a video production class to avoid taking any real classes that involved math or any mental capacity at all. The rest was history. Read more>>

Demetrius Hunter

From “Little Zelb” to the Black Farmers Hub Demetrius Hunter Continues a Family Legacy of Feeding and Serving the Community Long before Demetrius Hunter became known as the founder of the Black Farmers Hub, his education in community service began beside his father, Zelb Hunter. Hunter grew up in Southeast Raleigh as the youngest of Zelb Hunter’s ten children. Read more>>

Chris Noles

I started working with small business owners in my teens. My father had an accounting business serving other small business owners, and he inspired me to do the same with technology. Over the years, technology continued to be an essential tool to help companies grow and work more efficiently. Our business has grown as demand has continued to grow. Read more>>

David Carter

I would like to share the story and growth of Carter’s Creations, a catering and event planning company founded in 2019. What began as a series of successful annual Christmas parties hosted by my husband, Benjamin, and I. Ultimately inspired us to launch our official business. Read more>>

Marina Shlomov

Absolutely. Here is the complete, unified version with the 400-invitation story incorporated naturally, while keeping the official NIMA positioning and the emotional mother-daughter thread. Every gift box has a story. Let’s create yours. NIMA began with a simple belief: the most meaningful gifts aren’t just given—they’re felt. But the story of NIMA actually began in 2019, before we ever knew there would be a NIMA. Read more>>

Nicolle Dorman

Hi, I’m Nicolle, the owner, vintage curator and event producer at Mannequin’s Basement. My husband/business partner John Michael and I started Mannequin’s Basement in August of 2021 when we were going through many work and life transitions; John Michael worked steadily in the film industry as a set lighting tech and I had just given birth to our second child. Read more>>

Brenda Owusu-Firempong

I grew up in a small town called Apremdo in Takoradi, in Ghana’s Western Region. There was a small military barracks in the community, and many of the families around us were farmers who struggled to afford even the basic necessities. Read more>>

Shanothyy

My music journey began 2019 in Tampa, FL. I woke up one day and decided that I wanted to pursue music as a career. I had no idea how I was going to execute it but I knew this was my calling. I started going to meet ups at local studios such as Grandbay Studios and networking with other producers and artists. Read more>>

Tamara Futrell

I got my start hosting open mics at Irish Bred Pub in Underground Atlanta then The Black Lion Cafe on the historical sweet Auburn Avenue and Scores Underground Atlanta amongst many other venues .I ran those open mics until 2013, and during that time I was organizing events, promoting artists, finding venues, and managing everything behind the scenes without a blueprint, funding, or a team Read more>>

Giovonnie Samuels

I started my career as a child star on ‘All That’ on Nickelodeon for season 7-9 in the early 2000’s. Read more>>

Baby Keefe

My story started not when I was born but the moment I realized I was alive. 9 years old my first year in ATL I was attacked by a dog and almost lost my arm. That moment taught me that I am not untouchable and I that was my first realization of life. The next closest moment to feeling that was music. Read more>>

Brittany Grella

My husband, Steve, and I definitely did not take a traditional path to becoming wedding venue owners. Our story really started in 2020 when we got engaged. We originally planned to get married in Florida under the stars with the full moon reflecting off the water, but like so many couples during that time, our plans changed. Read more>>

Rachel Swire

I am a salon suite owner with Sola Salons. I got started 22 years ago and I opened my Sola suite 18 years ago. I attended Clark Atlanta University and decided that was not the best fit for me since I already knew cosmetology was where I wanted to be. After that revelation, I dropped out of college and attended Empire Beauty School. Read more>>

Kennedy Goss

My story really started at UC Berkeley, where I studied Media Studies and played Division I women’s lacrosse for four years. Being a student-athlete shaped so much of who I am today. Lacrosse taught me discipline, resilience, how to work within a team, and how to perform under pressure, but Berkeley also gave me the opportunity to discover another passion: creative design. Read more>>

Karen Davis

I started my photography journey in 2018 working alongside arena football teams in the Atlanta area. I eventually branched out and began shooting semi pro football, some youth football, the occasional flag tournament, roller derby, and some personal photos here and there. I eventually took a hiatus to work on my health. Read more>>

karen thompson

Born in Atlanta Ga to parents who both appreciated the arts and culture here. Later they became artists themselves. They encouraged me to create and always supported my artistic inclinations. After raising two boys I completed design school and began a career in kitchen and bath design. About 9 years ago I decided to start my own business painting and teaching private art classes. Read more>>

Tim Barrett

My journey as an artist began long before Atlanta became home. I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and eventually made my way to Florida, where I studied Art and Journalism at Broward Community College before earning my B.F.A. from Florida State University in 1978. Read more>>

Cayla Ingram

I started doing makeup when I was 17. I went to a predominantly white high school and wanted to do makeup for the pep rallies. I remember trying my mom’s Mary Kay palette back in 2011,it only had six eyeshadows! I swiped a green eyeshadow across my eyelids, went to school, and received SO many compliments that I didn’t even know were possible. Read more>>

Faren Collins and Marisa Garrett

Faren and Marisa met in the early 2000s while attending Pebblebrook High School’s Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts. Faren was a vocal major and dance minor, while Marissa was an acting major. Their friendship began there through a shared love of performing and creativity. Read more>>

Itifiquandia Alphabet

My journey has been built on perseverance, faith, and a constant desire to grow. I started my career focused on building a strong foundation for myself and my family, and over the years I’ve worked in several areas, including customer service, accounting and financial operations, underwriting, and public health. Read more>>

Jessica Levon

Nice to meet you, I’m Jessica. Truly, I don’t have a monumentous origin story, but I can say I’ve always had huge dreams and a never ending sense of entrepenurship. Since I was about 5 or 6 I knew I just wanted to create impact. Read more>>

Taylor Jackson

My love for photography started when I was a little girl. I would always ask for a camera for Christmas, and whenever I visited family members, I admired their cameras and asked if I could take pictures or record with their camcorders. Read more>>

Trish Land

I don’t paint what I see. I paint what beauty feels like when we finally slow down long enough to notice it.’ I’ve been a storyteller for as long as I can remember. Before I painted, I danced. Dance taught me that the most meaningful stories are often told without words—that emotion lives in rhythm, movement, silence, and light. Read more>>

Mekeba Malik

My dance training started at 12 years old at a small studio on the south side of Chicago, Kiara Dance Arts. I was walking around the neighborhood and just found the flyer on the ground. It was kismet!! I took all the classes offered and fell in love with dancing and movement. Read more>>

Tara Moreland

I grew up in a home where nurturing was second nature. My mom would massage me, my sister, and my brother every morning and every night — gently rubbing our heads and backs to help us relax before going to the babysitter. As we got older, massaging each other became our way of showing care. Read more>>

Amir Abdullah

My name is Amir Abdullah, and I am a sophomore at Clark Atlanta University majoring in Business Administration with concentrations in International Business and Finance. I am also the founder of Martha T’s Famous Pudding, a business that represents far more than dessert; it represents family, legacy, faith, and the belief that something made with love can bring people together. Read more>>

Micah and Matthew – NX2 Robinson

NX2 started with two brothers posting cover songs online and sharing our love for R&B. One of those videos unexpectedly went viral, reaching over 4.1 million views, and that was a turning point for us. It showed us that people were connecting with our voices and gave us the confidence to keep pushing. Read more>>

Markella Kogan

In 2014, I earned my digital marketing certification, which gave me my foundation in understanding audience behavior, branding, and how visuals influence engagement. Over the years, I built connections in the music and nightlife space, especially with DJs, and I kept noticing the same gap: they were creating incredible energy at their gigs, but there was almost no visual documentation of those moments. Read more>>

Desiree Bennett

My name is Desiree and I am a proud North Philadelphian Boricua. I relocated to Atlanta in 2007. I’m a kickboxing coach at American Top Team Team Lima in Duluth, as well as a full time tattoo artist at Blue Siren Tattoos in Loganville. Read more>>

amy greene

We started as a mobile inflatable rental company and have grown to offer numerous services to include face painting, farm related activities and much more fun! We continue to grow and are in the process of building an agritourism venue that will feature indoor play and an outdoor petting farm. Families will be able to host events, such as birthday parties, team parties etc. Read more>>

Dr. Melissa D. Hill

My career has never followed a straight line, and I’m grateful for that. Each chapter has prepared me for the next in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I began my professional journey as a regulatory chemist, where I developed a deep appreciation for problem-solving, precision, and continuous improvement. Read more>>

Jorge M. Gonzalez

Since 2013, my brother Michael and I have always had a love for making movies. We created a YouTube channel called ‘J&M Productions’ (Jorge & Michael), and planned to make a name for ourselves by posting our amateur films online. Read more>>

Whitney Bentley

I’ve been an artist all my life. From weekly art lessons with my grandpa at age six to extracurricular art activities throughout school. My art journey has felt organic and a natural extension of how I express my thoughts and relieve stress. In 2019, I launched my brand Pamoja Keepsakes where I work as a full time artist. Read more>>

Madi Lenz

I started to crochet in 2021. I watched YouTube videos to learn how. Many frustrating attempts to make a square, only to have a triangle. Once I was over the learning curve and could successfully make a square, I was hooked on the hobby. Pun intended. I made scarves and hats for myself, then I did a couple of small blankets and eventually a sweater. Read more>>

Hannah Dovnik

One day, I decided to go to film school in Georgia to follow my dreams. I attended SCAD and got my degree. I’ve moved around Atlanta and the Augusta area to find creative work. Read more>>

Juwan Harris

I was born in Charleston, West Virginia, but my mom moved me to Atlanta in 2001. Growing up in Atlanta exposed me to an incredible creative culture. I watched brands become symbols of their cities, and designers like Joe Freshgoods showed me how powerful it is when you build something that represents where you’re from. Read more>>

Elizabeth Walters

I got my first camera in college and got started doing photography as a hobby. I quickly began to realize that bringing out the best in people brought me deep joy. I believe in being honest and working hard and that has brought me really far. I slowly gained clients and it has been a slow process of paying my dues in the photography world. Read more>>

Jessica Kirkwood

I would probably say that I got really introduced into modeling when I went away to college. I happen to attend Southern Illinois University-Carbondale ( SIUC ). There were three modeling organizations on campus and I auditioned for Vanity Fashion Fair Models and made the team. Read more>>

Rey White

My name is Rey White and I’m from Georgia. I always loved foreign languages and I majored in Spanish in college. Throughout my Spanish learning journey and interpreter career I realized that a lot of people were shocked to see a black person speaking Spanish. Most didn’t even know that black people existed in Latin America. Read more>>

Cameron Arnett

I got started while at the University of Miami, a pre-med and pre-law student, never even thinking about the fields of film and television. While working at Jackson Memorial hospital, doing EKG’s in the emergency room, one summer, I just decided to do something fun, and I answered an Ad in the paper for ‘Actors and Models wanted’ it was a competition. Read more>>

Zawadi Pilipili

I was born in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Tanzania to Congolese parents from the Bembe tribe (Babembe Tribe) before my family was resettled to the United States through UNHCR in 2010. I’m the youngest of nine children, eight girls and one boy, so growing up, life was never quiet. My siblings were my first best friends, my first teammates, and my first community. Read more>>

Quanda Tarleton

Business first started as a cupcake home based cupcake bakery, but I always had a desire to learn how to make decorated sugar cookies. I started my journey of cookie decorating by first watching tutorials, reading cookie decorating books, and lots of practicing to develop my recipe and technique. Read more>>

Camille Wanliss

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York to Jamaican immigrants. Growing up, I was a voracious reader but never came across stories about people like me. I wanted to change that. Read more>>

Mara Lissel

Before I was a photographer, I learned the art of assisting through helping my mom who also does photography. She had always been pretty creative, and so a lot of my passion was inherited from her. I mainly did video editing before getting into photography in middle school. Read more>>

Hanna Wondmagegn

I am an Ethiopian-U.S. American photographer and visual storyteller from North Carolina, currently based in Harlem, NYC. My career and photo practice began in the immigrant neighborhood that I grew up in that inspired me to enter the field of storytelling in order to share more of our stories. Read more>>

Queen Thomas, Esq.

I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer, so I went to law school. After graduating from Howard University School of Law, I focused on the Entertainment/IP and Contracts areas of law. I had an internship with the Discovery Channel, I worked at a boutique entertainment law firm, and I had positions in- house at tech companies. Read more>>

Sheldon Doyle

I was a former social worker who specifically specialized in housing the homeless. I saw that was not working, so I decided to solve the issues with my own hands. I bought a house and renting out the rooms that I lived with. Now, four years later, I have a co-living room rental business Read more>>

Olamikun Ogunleye

I founded Teen Med Magazine, which publishes health and medical writing made by teenagers and young professionals. It started small, I had one article I wanted published somewhere and couldn’t find a publication like this that was actually active, so I built one instead. It’s grown past anything I expected going in. Read more>>

Bandit Kid

Picked up the pen at 17 been in love ever since. The dopest shit in the world is creating bangers with your squad Read more>>

Helena Safari

I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. At six years old, I was already making things with my hands. Over the years, my practice evolved into large-scale hand embroidery, a medium that allows me to merge painting and acrylic on canvas. During the COVID pandemic, my mother passed away. Read more>>

Laura Murvartian

I am a business executive, small business owner, nonprofit leader, and proud immigrant. I’m running to be the next State Senator for Georgia Senate District 48. I come from a family of immigrants. My paternal grandfather migrated to Mexico after losing both of his parents in the Armenian Genocide. Read more>>

Sai Shankar Sadhu

One word to describe our story would be: unpredictable. Cakesplosion was born during the pandemic, when people resorted to minimizing celebrations to small groups and relying solely on cake-cutting as the main part of the event. Birthday parties, anniversaries, and more were all changed to just cake cutting because, honestly, that’s all you need to signify a celebration: cake. Read more>>

Mikka Simone

I began my creative expression by way of repeating what I saw and heard. Legend has it, my mother knew I’d sing one day when I was 3 and her and my aunt witnessed me singing Mary J Blidge with my eyes closed all my heart was in it. Read more>>

Maru Delarrans

My Story Maru Delarrans is, without a doubt, a dreamer who grew into a determined woman. From a very young age, I felt a special connection to fashion. When I was eleven years old, my mother, who is a seamstress, began becoming well known in the community where we lived in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Read more>>