Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of College Park’s gems below.
Kaye Beckford
I went to the University of Miami to pursue a bachelor’s degree in theatre. During my time there, I needed extra money to pay for books, school supplies, and my rent. I saw on Craigslist that TGI Fridays in South Beach was hiring for servers, and I figured how hard could it be. Read More>>
Akilah Blount
When people ask me what I do for a living and how I got to where I am today, the answer used to seem so complicated, with too much to explain. These days, the answer is simple. I am a woman Director and CEO, leading community initiatives to empower women and girls in the state of Georgia through entrepreneurship, leadership development, and life skills education. Read More>>
Brittney Smith
I started my business right after COVID. The timing wasn’t my original plan, but it worked out when schools shut down and I could no longer travel to teach. The work I do isn’t new to me. I’ve always been good with words and writing. I majored in English and Education, and most of the jobs I had after college had something to do with one or the other. It wasn’t until I started writing my books that I realized I could be a book coach and editor full-time. Read more>>
Anissa Perry
My story began as a military widow. I lost my husband to homicide on home from leave from desert storm by a family friend. I am Anissa Perry, the founder of Victims Advocate Support Services (V.A.S.S); I’m a nationally credentialed Advanced Homicide Intervention Specialist that is currently working with other families that have suffered a loss due to homicide. I have spent the last several years working with families before and during their court cases providing much-needed support and community resources. Read more>>
Folami Jones
I launched my Lifestyle coaching business in 2019 and just as it was beginning to take off, the pandemic hit and I was forced to shift my business. During the pandemic I noticed how a lot of women in my community were wearing very basic and cheap quality bonnets…and I was never able to find a quality bonnet for myself. So I was given a vision of creating a better bonnet that is lined with satin, comes in a variety of sizes and patterns while also being gender inclusive. During the winter of 2020, I made several bonnets until I finally got it down to a “science “ In April of 2021, I did my first pop-up market and the bonnets were a huge success. I knew I was on to something and I continued to make them and do pop-ups all over Atlanta… Read more>>
Jacinda Walker
My journey began during my undergraduate studies. I initially pursued a career in medicine, but I quickly changed my major to pre-law and African and International Studies after being inspired by my professors. After graduating, I felt lost without basketball and worked in hospitality, including bartending waiting tables, and working parties. However, everything changed when I discovered that I was pregnant with my daughter. This motivated me to get my life in order, so I immediately entered a fast-track MBA program and applied to law school. Later in life, I was introduced to Real Estate as a form of investment and not just as a practice group. Read more>>
Crystal Morrow
I started this journey back in 2014 when me and my daughter who was 10 yrs old at the time, packed the car up and relocated to Georgia from Ypsilant, MI. I had a background in Graphic Design. Shortly after, we got settled here. I started working as a graphic designer at well-known sign company. It was then where I was introduced to storefront signage, vehicle graphics and design. Over the years, I’ve worked at several signs shops learning all the techniques of this industry. I enjoyed the whole aspect of it all and decided I wanted to start my own company with the experience and knowledge that I gained. I invested in some equipment and started networking. Read more>>
Michelle Bolden
In 2014, I made the decision to leave my current position as a director of a major hospital to temporarily return home to Chicago and support my father as the start of his care journey began. During that visit, the desire to become an entrepreneur overpowered the fear that often held me back from taking the leap. The summer of 2014, I began my search for an existing business to purchase. After extensive research and utilizing the services of the local SBA office, I decided to purchase a Home Helpers franchise the Atlanta office. Our organization provides quality in-home care services to seniors and disabled adults. Over the next seven years, my team and I serviced many families across 20 zip codes in the Atlanta area, providing award-winning care and support to family caregivers. Read more>>
Emma Sinkfield
Emma Ficklin Sinkfield is a native of Warrenton, GA. She is the 5th child out of 13 siblings born to the parentage of the late John and Iris Ficklin. She is highly supported by Pauline, Iris, Catherine, Marlene, Gloria, and Douglas. She misses Geraldine, Betty, John, Mattie, Annette and Annie whom God has called home. She was a wife to Mr. Kenneth Sinkfield for 39 years and a mother and grandmother to Chranda (Lee) and Skyy Emilyann Baker. Emma was educated in the Warren County Elementary School, The Germantown Central Middle School of Germantown, New York and the Hudson High School in Hudson, New York until she became a senior and graduated in 1970 from the Warrenton Elementary and High School. Read more>>
Isaiah Plater
My name is Zay, but I also go by ZayyDeyy. I am an actor, artist, model, creative director, and writer. I grew up on the West Side of Bankhead and spent some time in Louisiana and South Carolina. My birth was a struggle as the umbilical cords were wrapped around my neck three times while my mother was trying to push me out, causing an emergency C-section. We both barely made it out alive, but I was born nine pounds and 15 ounces. Read more>>
Kristin Pettus
I started my journey in event design and planning in 2014 by doing just invitations and small centerpieces. I wanted to do more and be able to make and impact in people’s lives who I encounter so I became more interested in designing events and life celebrations. I started off with my own planning my own wedding and it went from there. The love for event design continued to grow within me. I started working with artificial floral but I wanted to learn more and was very intrigued by fresh floral arrangements. I found Atosha Barboza Bennett of Behind the Veil Academy/Larger than life events and designs through one of her social media posts where she was selling some items and decided to purchase some items. She is in Savannah so I sent my mother who lives in Savannah to go and pick up my items. Read more>>
Anthony “Fyrefli” Gasaway
We all have a point in our lives, whether it be in our youth or adult years, where we observe our passions, work ethic and contemplate the possibility of turning the things we do that make us happy into a full-time things. Some people choose not to pursue this path in order to preserve the purity of why they do what they do, and there’s nothing wrong with that, meanwhile others wish to jump into this concept from the get-go. For myself, I realized that I love what I do very much, and I couldn’t imagine a life in which my artistry and passions wasn’t a key factor, but in order to do so, I would have to overcome one of the most uncharted and unpredictable obstacles faced by many creatives–how to sustain, maintain and live off of my artistry successfully. Read more>>
Clee Davis
I was a college student with a lot of ambition but little direction when I started my podcast. I started it because I knew I had a lot of ideas and knowledge that was valuable to the world but didn’t know what to do it with. The podcast was my personal commitment to taking action toward my dreams. Five years later I have had amazing opportunities to connect with influencers, community leaders, visionaries, organizations, companies, masterminds, speaking events, and entrepreneurs, win awards, start my own business, be featured, be interviewed, and help other people do the same thing. Read more>>
