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.

Dante’ Wesley

My partner and I met working in the hospitality industry. We worked long nights and holidays leaving little room for us to spend time together and with our family so we decided to leave our jobs and start a cleaning business that would allow us to spend more time with our family and each other. Read more>>

Umbar Saaed

Umbar Saaed — a brand that was born from a very personal place: a deep love for South Asian heritage and a desire to reinterpret it for women like me living away from home. I launched the brand in November 2024, but the journey really started much earlier. Read more>>

Alurne

Musics always been a part of me. I was born in Korea and in my culture you have a big first birthday party. The baby is placed in front of dozens of items like a stethoscope, hammer, and more. I picked up a mic. As soon as I could walk and talk I was always singing and dancing. Read more>>

J Bless

I started music as a way to express myself, it was real, not planned. Playing instruments like the saxophone and percussion sparked my love for writing music . Over time, I saw people connecting to it, and that’s when I took it serious. As I grew, I learned it’s not just about the music. Read more>>

Nathasha Hahn

Long before I studied psychology, growing up in Miami, I found myself drawn to people’s stories, especially the ones they didn’t feel they had a place to tell. As I continued my education, completing my undergraduate studies at Florida State University and later graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University, that curiosity only deepened. Read more>>

Melody Gullett

We originally trained all types of drivers in South Africa on manual transmission vehicles for 29 years and an opportunity arose for us to bring this concept of zero roll-back, zero stall-out method to the USA. The concept of providing manual transmission driver training here in the United States originated when we emigrated from South Africa in 2000. Read more>>

Cheronda “Cam” Mathews

My journey really started with my early experiences in school. I didn’t always take it seriously until I had a teacher who truly saw me, pushed me, and believed in me. That experience changed everything for me and shaped how I show up in the world. It showed me the power of being seen, and I’ve carried that with me ever since. Read more>>

Malika David

I started From the Block Podcast during my senior year of undergrad at Georgia State University in 2021. I really wanted to break into the media space; however, no media outlets in Atlanta wanted to give me a fair chance. After self-reflection, prayer, and watching motivational Nipsey Hussle and Young Dolph interviews, I decided I was going to create my own table. Read more>>

Camila Ramirez

My name is Camila Ramírez, and my story has been a blend of vision, hard work, reinvention, and immense perseverance. I am an industrial designer by training—a career path that provided me with a solid foundation in creativity, visual strategy, idea development, and problem-solving. Read more>>

JOHN RUSSELL

Introduced to TARA in 1992-1994. My approach was initially like most others to seek relief from the pains of addiction. For the educated variety abstinence was not enough. Soon realized the importance of servitude and this catapulted into more dedication. Through the years I found ways to be of assistance with many projects that TARA needed in renovations, group commitments, and office leadership. Read more>>

Gizem Toksöz

For as long as I can remember (and with the many stories my mom has told about younger me) I’ve always had a knack for storytelling. Read more>>

Dwaine Flowers

So long story short I grew up pretty rough I was born in Cleveland Ohio raised on the southside of Atlanta from college park to Riverdale until about 2005 when we moved to Henry county then I was still in the streets gang banging and doing foolish things in 2016 I lost both my brothers the same year to the streets they both were shot after that I kinda lost myself to stress and anger Read more>>

Angela Cox

My journey as an artist was never something I planed – it was something I always felt. I’m from Ukraine and from a very young age I was drawn to art in a way I could not fully explain. It was never about perfection or technique. It was about emotion _ the kind that lives beneath the surface, unspoken, but deeply present. Read more>>

Tyquill Williams

I’m Tyquill Williams, creative entrepreneur and producer from Philadelphia, PA. Founder of Brannew Entertainment, a creative lifestyle brand about self-reinvention through fine art and social awareness. Inspired by my late childhood friend #Brandontatebrown Brannew Ent. Was created out of artistic expressions of grief. Read more>>

Sing Steph

Stephan Gillis, aka SING STEPH, has been a dedicated independent artist for over 15 years. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with and earned the respect of prominent industry figures such as Raheem DeVaughn,Samara Joy, MuMu Fresh, Tweet, Marcus Johnson(Jazz Pianist), Deborah Bond, and Lil John Roberts. Steph is an active member of the Recording Academy (DC Chapter) and a proud GrammyU mentee(2023-2024). Read more>>

Daisy Cuellar

My sister Vanessa and I grew tired of the paycheck-to-paycheck approach, so we started brainstorming fast ways to generate revenue and landed on party rentals. Yes, we were nervous tunneling the funds we had into making this work. If you don’t take the risk, you’re already risking nothing. Read more>>

Kali Humphries

For my whole life, I have lived West of Atlanta, formally known as West Georgia. As I have grown older, I have only come to appreciate the community that I come from more. However, it was not until after I had my first child that I started to appreciate the area for different aspects than before. Read more>>

Angelo Sykes

I first worked as an Off Duty Police Officer for the City of Atlanta Police Department at Uptown Comedy Corner after meeting the then current owner, Comedian Earrhquake Uptown was sold & eventually closed down around 1998. Read more>>

Lake Bedoya

I’ve always been passionate about creating experiences that bring people together, whether that was through my work in education or in my personal life. As an educator for over 20 years, I’ve spent my career helping others grow, connect, and celebrate milestones—just in a different setting. Vibe360 Party Co. was born out of that same passion, but with a creative and entrepreneurial twist.  Read more>>

Aaliyah Easy

My journey into music and entrepreneurship wasn’t something I planned but it was something I grew into through experience, instinct, and a deep understanding of people and energy. I come from a background in finance and business, which gave me a strong foundation in structure, strategy, and long-term thinking. Read more>>

Tamar Telahun

Coffee Therapy was born from my personal journey through hospitality, design, and some life experiences that forced us to slow down and reflect. Coffee became more than a drink for me—it became a ritual, a moment to reset. We created Coffee Therapy to be more than a café. Read more>>

Alyssa Alonzo

Alyssa Alonzo is a Mexican-American actress born and raised in Fresno, California. She began creating content at a young age through YouTube before transitioning into on-camera acting in 2018, appearing in local short films and independent productions. Over the years, she has continued to develop her craft through a variety of roles, building experience in film while refining her screen presence and emotional range. Read more>>

Abdullahi Sulaimon

I started with a passion for art and taught myself animation through practice and experimentation. Over time, I worked on personal and client projects, which helped me improve my skills and style. Today, I focus on creating strong visual work, and I’m still growing and pushing myself creatively. Read more>>

Nia Bailey

Agape — Finding Your Purpose, Incorporating Your Faith was founded in 2017 in Philadelphia, PA, rooted in a deep commitment to serve individuals experiencing homelessness with dignity, compassion, and love. Read more>>

Perry-Hodges

Embodied Therapy Collective came about as an answer to a problem that myself and many minority people face in mental health – finding providers that really get it. Read more>>

Joseph Baillie

Joestar was born as Joseph Martin Baillie He was raised in New York, southside Jamaica queens. Right from his childhood, he was listening to the music of hip hop artists Big Sean, Lil Wayne and 50cent, Joestar started his career doing security and After working there he realized that it wasn’t for him . Read more>>

Nithin Ramachandra

I started The NR Hour six years ago during Covid which is now called Nithins Sports Rush. Doing interviews on Instagram live with athletes, reporters, influencers, writers, entrepreneurs and entertainment people. This started to grow but it took some time that had a lot of ups and downs . Read more>>

Hailey Gascoigne

My journey has been one of faith, resilience, and becoming. I earned my Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida A&M University, and not long after stepping into that accomplishment, life shifted in a way I never expected. About a year after graduating, I lost my dad someone who played such a significant role in shaping who I am. Read more>>

Jessica Rochelle

I started in this industry back in 2009 as a makeup artist. That’s where I first fell in love with skin because let’s be honest, makeup only looks as good as the skin underneath it. Over time, that curiosity turned into a full-on obsession with understanding skin, not just covering it. Read more>>

Money Mal

I’m moneymal. I grew up on the eastside of Atlanta / Eastlake / City of decatur area. I started doing music at a young age. I started of at 12 years old doing talent shows …I was motivated by the entertainers that I grew up around . Read more>>

Josh Watson

I actually didn’t start in weddings, I started with a camera and a passion for storytelling. About 12 years ago, I began filming anything I could, learning how to capture moments in a way that felt real and emotional. That eventually led me to weddings, and I quickly realized there was something different about them. Read more>>

Ernesto Kunde

I grew up in South Brazil on a farm, always sketching and surrounded by nature. Joe and I moved to Miami, where I’ve lived for the past 20 years, and my surroundings are my constant source of inspiration. Read more>>

AngelRae Robinson

My journey into creating Zen Aura Healing by AngelRae didn’t begin as a business plan it began as a deeply personal need to heal. There was a time in my life when I felt disconnected, overwhelmed, and searching for something that could bring me back to myself. That search led me down a path of self-discovery, spiritual growth, and energy healing. Read more>>

Vaishnavi Kulkarni

I started my journey as a creative enthusiast with a strong interest in visual storytelling and design. What began as experimenting with layouts, colors, and social media posts gradually turned into a passion for helping brands communicate effectively through visuals. Over time, I focused on building my skills as a freelance social media designer, working on creating engaging content, brand identities, and digital campaigns. Read more>>

Trevaris Tutt

My first love was always music and the arts. I am from Duval County (Jacksonville, FL). I started off in real estate to build capital for philanthropic and entertainment ventures that I had already built up. Read more>>

Jeffery Baylock

“Comedy saved my life. Growing up in Roseland, one of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods, I faced more than my share of hardship. I was raised by a blind mother, and on top of that, I experienced child abuse, bullying, and anger issues that deeply impacted me. In 2011, everything began to shift when I was introduced to stand-up comedy and mentored by comedian Mogule Sean Monroe. Read more>>

Keyaira Miller

I didn’t grow up with access. No fashion industry connections, no big city exposure, no blueprint. Just a girl from Waterloo, Iowa who was endlessly curious about how things ended up on shelves — and determined enough to figure it out herself. I worked retail in high school, cold-called my way into internships, and chose my college specifically because of their fashion and textiles program. Read more>>

Aleisha Grimsley

I started my journey into content creation and freelance social media management around the end of 2023. What began as a late-night idea in my dorm at 3:00 am quickly turned into something much bigger than I had initially imagined. Read more>>

zee reneé

My writing started when I was 13 in a black and white composition book before going to Wattpad where I had over a million reads on my book ‘Benediction’. In 2023, I independently published my first book All In, a number one bestselling urban fiction/urban romance book. Since then, I have published nine books with more to come Lord’s Willing.  Read more>>

Kerri De Young

After spending 20 years in the automotive industry—first selling fasteners and later working as a service writer—I thought I had seen it all. But when COVID hit, everything changed. I watched small businesses struggle and close their doors. I saw good people lose their livelihoods. And I experienced firsthand how ugly things could get. The negativity and division left a deep mark on me. Read more>>

Toni ‘BWell’ Morrison

My path hasn’t been linear, but it’s always been rooted in people. I’ve worked across healthcare, education, hospitality, and social services, and in every space, I saw the same thing—capable people carrying more than they had support for. And with every role I took on, I naturally became the go-to person helping to restore balance, whether through systems or simple, honest conversations. Read more>>