Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

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 our latest local gem features below.

Stevelasher Simpson

My creative journey began in 2021 through anime-inspired painting. I loved bringing my favorite characters and stories to life on canvas, and that passion helped me connect with the anime community in a meaningful way. I used to make hand painted jackets for at least 50 ppl around the world. As time passed I wanted to change a little. Read more>>

Chardaye Sammons

I became a teen mom at the age of 15, and my journey through motherhood was not easy. I faced challenges that most teenagers never have to consider while still trying to figure out who I was. Despite the obstacles, becoming a mother gave me a reason to keep moving forward and fighting for a better future. Read more>>

Janece Streeter

Real estate has always been about people for me. Before becoming a Realtor, I knew I wanted a career that allowed me to build relationships, serve others, and make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions most people will ever make, and I was drawn to the opportunity to help guide people through that journey. Read more>>

Jalia Barner

I started from a very humble place in South Georgia, just really focused on turning my experiences into something meaningful. Music and content creation became my outlet early on, even before I fully understood it as a career path. I was always the type to turn real-life situations, lessons, and emotions into something I could express creatively. Over time, I started taking it more serious. Read more>>

YaQutullah Muhammad

My story really starts on Saturday mornings at Eastern Market in Detroit, waking up early, going with my Dad, and watching him pick the freshest produce and meats like he knew every farmer personally. Because honestly, he kind of did. Growing up between Atlanta and Detroit with a father who understood food at that level planted something in me that never went away. Read more>>

Marquelle Young

I think storytelling has always been the through line of my life. Before I ever picked up a camera, I was a kid who fell in love with the power of words. I started competing in speech competitions and became a State and National Oratorical Speech Champion before I was even 12 years old. Read more>>

Darnnell Dorvil

My path to becoming a creative was anything but traditional. I grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, as a first-generation Haitian American. In a Haitian household, education wasn’t optional—it was the expectation. My parents made tremendous sacrifices to create opportunities for me, so success was often measured by report cards, degrees, and stable careers. Read more>>

Art Rev Sol

Artist Revenue Solutions (Art Rev Sol) didn’t start in a boardroom; it started out of pure frustration. For years, both of us were running parallel lines in the independent music space. On my end—as Kingpin / Rapjuggernaut—I was watching incredibly talented artists completely miss the mark on the technical side of the business. They had the songs, but their digital infrastructure was a mess. Read more>>

Nikki Tucker

My journey into the beauty industry started long before I ever became a licensed cosmetologist or business owner. As a 12-year-old girl, I simply loved doing hair. It was something that came naturally to me, and over time I realized it was a gift. Read more>>

Danyael ‘Spirit’ Morales

People often say ‘it takes a village,’ and in many ways, I believe my story wouldn’t be possible without the one god gave me. In my 19 years of life, I’ve managed to walk many paths, and sometimes I still find myself split on which path to walk down; however, one thing has remained constant, and that is I create. Read more>>

Earl Barlow

My Name is Earl Barlow better known as ‘Slick Two Three’ or ‘Two Three’ My journey to becoming a director started with music. I was living in Los Angeles, California, pursuing careers in both acting and music. During that time, I was accepted into the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and had a song reach the Billboard charts. Read more>>

Ok Ja Song

I, Dr. Ok Ja Song, am an RN, CCRN (Critical Care RN), Acupuncturist, and Herbalist in Oriental medicine. While I was growing up in a small village in the countryside in South Korea, our village did not have a Western medicine facility for the sick people. Read more>>

Angel Blue

My story starts when I was sexually and emotionally abused by a trusted adult at just 4 years old. I kept my mouth shut to protect my dad from losing his mind of the thought of my innocent’s being taking from me at 4 years old. I couldn’t imagine losing my dad to prison or anything else. Read more>>

David Amoako-Dennis

My name is David Amoako-Dennis. I’m a young aspiring artist, singer, songwriter, producer, creative, director, and whatever else I find interesting. I started rapping at 17 (2017) because my friends used to have me freestyle at the lunch table, who knew this would turn into my dream. Read more>>

Gregory Todd

my life has been anything but a smooth road getting addicted to crack cocaine at 15 years of age was one of the most devastating experiences I’ve ever known… I dropped out of high school in 1985 and without a job for any type of employment, in order to support my addiction, I turned to panhandling shoplifting, breaking, and entering and prostitution Read more>>

Tristan Blake

My journey into Fashion began as a child, inspired by my grandmother, who was a seamstress, and my uncle, who worked as a custom designer. Watching their creativity and craftsmanship firsthand sparked my love for fashion and design, which officially involved into Tristan Blake collection, a luxury women’s wear brand, specializing in bespoke couture, and ready to wear. Read more>>

Castings And Confessions

Hi! We are Castings & Confessions. A YT based podcast who talk about our life’s as models, dating, current events, our daily life’s, and whatever else we want to talk about! We met at a model competition and instantly clicked. About 8 months later, Jada had the idea, brought it to Tera, and we’ve been going strong since. Read more>>

Craig Sotkovsky

My name is Craig Sotkovsky what i figured out early on is that if life throws obstacles in your life, it’s definetly a choice to stand back up again. I lived an unconventional life. Read more>>

Sandra Cochrane

I remember connecting strongly with music from a very early age. In 5th grade, I started corralling friends and choreographing dance routines to pop songs to perform at our school’s talent shows. At 11, I started playing acoustic guitar. At 13, I went to my first concert at the Omni in Atlanta. Alice Cooper was the headliner and the opening act was Suzie Quatro. Read more>>

peter arafiles VII

Some of my struggles was gang culture and seeing drug addiction in figures i was supposed to look up too in time I found myself abandoned by people who could’ve helped me out from 12 to 18 and seeking help from others in the same situation I was in ,it kinda left us with nothing but knowledge to trade but it sharpened us better that being alone could of done Read more>>

Talor’d Tales

I am a Saint Louis native who began my poetry journey as a way to cope with depression and anxiety. A pen a paper became my best friends with poetry as my therapist and the stage my release. Read more>>

Drury Platt

Basically man my story was a long road of basketball with some ups and downs of course I started taking is serious when I was in 8th grade I was ranked 300 in the nation and had it all it felt like I was on top of the world lost it all during highschool and now im a senior with a full ride to a D1 college because I fought through the adversity but the jobs not finished I gotta keep fighting Read more>>

Flat Tired

A few of us had been getting together weekly to loosely jam in a basement for well over a year, but Flat Tired really started in late 2022. That fall, we assembled our initial 5-piece lineup, and in December we played our first show, opening on a Monday night at the Earl. We started to really come into our own around mid-2023. Read more>>

Lazy Tee

Music has always been my motion Loud 808s And melodys Creation is key and I love hearing music ive created being able to give joy to people Read more>>

Tay Babyy

I started out in a rap group that I founded with my brother, The OMB Twins. From there I was finding my sound as a individual and branched off independently as Tay Babyy, everything leading up to today is from hard work and dedication and never giving up on myself regardless of what’s going on. Read more>>

Mary Petto

20 years ago when my children were small, I suffered from panic attacks regularly. But one day I read something about the power of one’s mindset and how it can shift your reality–and after that day I never had another anxiety attack. I went on to coaching and speaking about how to quantum leap one’s success with the power of mindset. Read more>>

Tyrone Shivers

if you are even doing the thing, you originally set out to do or maybe you could say some of the nights of doubt and dread when you start to question, if you even made the right choice to pursue this thing, that was just a hobby, you did for fun but now you feel as if your whole life depends on it success then I guess maybe you could also just look at the socioeconomic and global conditions of the world right now when that’s a whole Nother can of worms that you have to process along with whatever road blocks. So I guess if you count those then it hasn’t been that smooth, but I don’t count those. Read more>>

Courtney Blalock

As a kid , I was always so intrigued by self expression. Growing up in the 00’s really helped shape that ideology. For as long as I could remember, I was obsessed with being a teen or being in 20s. I was always getting dress coded (all grades), changing my outfit after I left home and being known to stand out. Read more>>

Ron Viper

I got started as a kid in high school doing the school dances. The love for DJing continued into adulthood as I continued to prefect my craft in many ways and winning many DJs awards. My biggest spotlight came from my appearance on the BET Dj reality show Smirnoff Master of the Mix where the DJs competed for $250,000. Read more>>

Jared Gaitan

Jared Gaitan is a high-performance CEO and business architect specializing in building, systemizing, and scaling revenue-driven service enterprises. His expertise in business functionalization was forged through direct execution—engineering operational infrastructures across sales, staffing, logistics, and customer acquisition that convert vision into predictable, scalable revenue. Read more>>

Joseph Boyd

At the age of 13, It all started out as a vision with consistent dreams of being reality, acknowledging that I was gifted in music & knowing in God’s Divine timing my music would stand the test of time, coming Into the music world by the name “Daprincejbreezy” A young boy with so much character & ambition finding his own path with a vision that many may have, but only a few are chosen, with that being said “That young boy has transformed tremendously & now stands here today! From a boy to a man Hello world I’m “King Jodie Osama” Read more>>

Beneth Akpudo

My journey in entertainment began in 2014 in New York City when I started DJing and building my name within the African and international nightlife scene. What started as a passion for music quickly evolved into a career that allowed me to connect people through unforgettable experiences and cultural events. Read more>>

Neil Garrard

The Atlanta Roots & The Purple Ribbon Breakthrough Born and raised in Atlanta, Neil Mark Garrard’s life has always been scored by music. A guitarist, singer, and producer for most of his life, his journey is a testament to the unpredictable, high-stakes nature of the music industry. His first major breakthrough reads like a classic music industry legend. Read more>>

Johanne Osias

2019 was a pivotal year for me. I left the mental health industry to launch my own business. Chezfabine was created to support families and communities in their self care journey!!! Read more>>

Naiya Duckett

My story starts at the unique intersection of beauty, wellness, and spiritual alchemy. I’ve always known that true glamour is an inside-out job. Read more>>

Nakosha Briggs

I started like any other creative I guess? Just a Disney kid with a dream. I was introduced to Kenny Ortega at a very young age. When you experience gifts that early on, you kind of latch on to it; it becomes part of your makeup almost. Growing up in Atlanta meant experiencing art from all walks of life. Read more>>

Khalilah Jackson

I started my journey with very little and faced challenges that could have easily defined my future. I grew up in the New York City Housing Authority, where I experienced poverty, violence, and severe childhood verbal, emotional, and physical abuse. I was often told I was stupid, ugly, and would never amount to anything. Read more>>

Angeli Noelle

Well , yes, this is actually my third voyage Atl interview. I got my start in entertainment doing club promotion, and music videos.Throughout the years , 6 years to be exact , I have done many different things in the fashion & entertainment industry. Read more>>

El’keturah Scandrett

How I Started Love Herbs Tea In 2011, I went on a Carnival cruise vacation, expecting a time of relaxation and enjoyment. One evening during dinner, a waiter served me tap water. Shortly afterward, while visiting the Bahamas, I began feeling sick. At the time, I didn’t understand what was happening, but I knew something was wrong. Read more>>

Diana Cooke

I’ve always loved organizing and helping others, and combining those two passions led me to the career I have today. Before starting CPR Home Organizing, I worked in healthcare and organized part-time because I genuinely enjoyed it. Read more>>

Melissa Howard

My name is Melissa Howard my business was founded back in 2006 by me and my sister it was called Marvelous Clothing but it didnt do well with me having a partner so me and my sister parted ways and I brought her out. Read more>>

Mis BabyCakes

Born Christene Renee ‘ , in Atlanta, GA on June 13. As a child I did several stage plays for school & church for many years. At the age of 13 I landed my own television show on a cable TV network for kids called ‘ The Real Deal On The Reel’ . The show ran for a strong year! Based on movie reviews . Read more>>

Alexandria Renton

Cosplay was something that was always in my life before I even knew what it was. I was that kid who took Halloween way too seriously, and forgot that it was only one day…not every week. Read more>>

Felix Farms

Felix Farms was founded by Haley and Scott Waller in 2019, We grow cut flowers and sell bouquets at local farmers markets. We also supply flowers to local floral designers and create arrangements for weddings and events. We have a corporate background for over a decade and were looking for something different. Read more>>

MarQ Soul

Growing up just outside Philadelphia, MarQ Soul’s musical foundation was built in the church — behind the keys, on the drums, and lifting his voice in the choir. Music was his outlet, his refuge, and his joy, but never something he imagined would become a career. Read more>>

Unika Nelson

As a child I have always known I wanted to do a profession where I help others. I became interested in therapy specifically sex/relationship therapy while watching shows like ‘Real Sex’ or ‘Dr. Read more>>

Jet Black Roses

We honestly started with a simple connection and a shared love for music. Me (Trey) and Andrew, grew up surrounded by Southern rock, country, and soul music, and eventually connected with guitarist/singer Tyler Cates. From the first jam session, the chemistry was instant, and we quickly started writing songs together that felt honest, raw, and true to who we are. Read more>>

Richard Tanner

I’ve always liked writing. Even as a young child I would watch things Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps and I would go to School the next day and tell my classmates my version of the story. I liked making things up. Read more>>

Taylor Carroll

My love for food started as a child. I jokingly say I have the original granola mom, everything was made from scratch and all of our produce was picked up from a local CSA twice a week. Some of my earliest memories are sitting on our kitchen counter helping her prepare dinner. Read more>>

Samantha Rose Hicks

As long as I can remember I have been someone who wanted to understand what was happening beneath the surface. I have been drawn to the questions people do not always know how to ask, the feelings that are difficult to explain, and the ways we make meaning out of our lives. Read more>>

Abigail Faulkner

I’m an illustrator and surface designer born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Though I was originally bound for cybersecurity, my trajectory was changed by my high school art teacher, who encouraged me persistently to pursue the arts. I bounced around in computer science and game design before finalizing my path as an illustrator. Read more>>

Makenna Lyric

My story begins within the walls of my childhood home in Missoula Montana. My parents filled the house with a mix of Tracey Chapman and Deniece Williams. I’ve been singing since I was a child, I started on piano, taught myself guitar in 8th grade after my mothers death, and slowly built my sound from there. Read more>>

Koya Webb

I’m a small town girl from Humboldt, Tennessee and I used to believe high performance meant pushing harder. That if I worked hard enough, sacrificed enough and proved myself enough, I could achieve anything. But pressure doesn’t reveal leadership capacity. It reveals nervous system capacity. At the height of my track and field career, a devastating back injury nearly ended everything. Read more>>

Victoria Raby

I’ve always been the person who loves bringing people together. Whether it was planning gatherings, connecting people, or helping someone share their story, I’ve always been drawn to creating experiences and building community. My entrepreneurial journey started with Social Butterfly Events & Design, where I planned and designed events for individuals and businesses. Read more>>

emanui dubois

I grew up on the far south side of Chicago Illinois, growing up in Chicago is what made me who I am today. I started off as a little Girl with big dream dancing around the house being full of life and adventures. Dance is my house was a staple. It was how our family got together and spread love and joy. Read more>>

Ciara McAfee

When people see the sold signs, closings, and accomplishments today, they often assume the journey was easy. What they don’t see are the sacrifices, setbacks, and prayers behind the scenes. My name is Ciara Janay, and I am a REALTOR®, entrepreneur, fiancée, and proud boy mom. Read more>>

Antwan Parker

Chef Antwan’s Flour & Flame is a full-service culinary brand specializing in private chef services, catering, handcrafted desserts, and interactive cooking classes. This business was created after my 2 year old son passed away and the only thing to keep my mind off of it was to cook. Read more>>

Stephanie Burke

I worked in special education in the public school setting for over 7 years, I was realizing the public system was not a great fit for some of our learners, especially my neurodiverse students with more adaptive/individualized needs. After meeting my business partner, Tiffany Latham, and starting our inclusive summer camp program, I made the leap to begin my own educational services. Read more>>

Hamad Shirazi

My journey into chiropractic and holistic health began with my own search for answers. As a young athlete, I experienced chronic injuries, unexplained pain, and periods where I felt unseen and unsupported by the healthcare system. Those challenges led me on a lifelong pursuit of studying exercise science, nutrition, and holistic wellness in an effort to better understand my own body and health. Read more>>

Ronndell Smith

Sober AF really started from me almost not making it here. I started drinking when I was 14, and by the time I was around 21, it had turned into harder drugs. For a long time, I thought I was just partying, just living, just doing what everybody else was doing. Read more>>

Kochera Douglas

My story is one of purpose, perseverance, and transformation. I was born into a family where beauty, entrepreneurship, and service were a way of life. My earliest memories include watching my mother, Lisa Hightower, create confidence through hairstyling and seeing my father, Pouncho Ronnie Douglas, use his talents in the beauty industry as well. Read more>>

Kayla Jones

I’d love to! I’ve been writing for over a decade now and I originally started with poetry. I loved the medium because it gave me the space to talk about the vulnerable things that I wasn’t always brave enough to say out loud. Eventually, I transitioned into writing fiction and the rest is history! As of right now, I’ve published three poetry books and novella. Read more>>

Dj King

My journey started in Kankakee, IL. I started off as a club promoter. Throwing concerts, comedy shows and celebrity events. Eventually I started DJing my own events and becoming well known in the Chicago area. I moved to Atlanta GA in 2013 and worked my way up the ranks as one of the most recognizable Dj’s in the city. Read more>>

Olivier Duperval

Im originally from NY now reside in ATL. I’ve always had the gift of writing and storytelling but it wasn’t until I got to college that I began to explore it in a deeper level. Rapping and storytelling has always been a passion of mine and while I had the gift my heart in using it was off. Read more>>

Craig Vincent Jr.

I’ve always been the person to come too for entertainment! From burning CD’s in high school, to helping my dad with DJ gigs, to eventually making music it was destined for me to keep people entertained. My primary source of entertainment is YouTube and streaming so after watching so many of my favorite creators I eventually stepped back and said let’s try it myself! Read more>>

Justin kenya

Music has been deeply rooted into my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest childhood memories are just running around the house, completely carefree, singing at the top of my lungs. Growing up, my primary inspiration was my mother, who is a lifelong singer. Read more>>

Antonius

I was raised primarily by my mother, and it often felt like it was just the two of us figuring life out together. Along the way, she introduced me to some of the most influential artists of our time, which sparked my love for music, creativity, and storytelling. That passion eventually led me to become an alternative R&B artist. Read more>>

Dr.Jaketra Bryant

I’m a former mayoral candidate, a community advocate, and a mental health professional. My journey into public service really started from my work in mental health and what I was seeing in real time while serving people. As a counselor and mental health professional, I started to realize I was often working from a limited position. Read more>>

Kelley Bowden Ricci Taylor

Our company started in the Atlanta area at the beginning of 2021. The owners consist of two childhood friends, Ricci Taylor and Kelley Bowden. Everly is a female owned small business owned by two Atlanta natives. What started with 2 friends has now grown to a team of 14 employees. Read more>>

Janika Matthews

Hi! My name is Janika Matthews and I am a multi creative artist based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin . I’ve always had an interest in anything that allowed me to express myself in the form of art. I started off as a sketcher and painter in elementary school up until now. Read more>>

Palmetto Star

Palmetto Star, known by his author moniker Prophet Rohvet, is a published author, groundbreaking podcaster, writer, community organizer, and host.His journey ignited in Columbia, SC, as a prolific artist and activist who led explosive rallies tearing down the Confederate Flag, exposing private prison executives, and even uniting rival gangs in the streets. Police branded him a threat. Read more>>

Nikki Naghavi

I’m a classically trained violinist and the founder of Glass Artists, a national entertainment agency providing live music for weddings, corporate events, and brand activations. My background is in performance—I studied violin at the New England Conservatory and have performed at venues like Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall, as well as with ensembles such as the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Tanglewood Music Center. Read more>>

Josh Payne

My story began when I started writing songs around the age of 12. I loved the idea of telling stories through song and dance and finding a hidden meaning inside every word. As I listened to the folklore of Robert Plant while also trying to understand the political anthems Billie Joe Armstrong belted, I quickly learned the spectrum of songwriting was very broad. Read more>>

Elizabeth Davis

Birchwood started in 2020, right in the middle of COVID. Like so many others, I needed something positive to focus on instead of the fear and uncertainty surrounding us. I began planning events with sanitizing stations, mask stations, and anything else I could do to help people feel comfortable celebrating again. Read more>>

Jordan Richardson

Born Alvin Jordan Richardson on the island of St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands, Jay Gervara is a freelance writer, creator, actor, voice actor, and entrepreneur whose journey is defined by resilience, creativity, and perseverance. Long before building worlds and creating stories, Jay faced some of life’s toughest challenges. Read more>>

Don John (DJ Sensei)

Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina during my youth, I always had a drive to create. For a few years before the move, my sister and I lived with our grandmother, which is when a defining moment shaped my entire musical ear. My grandmother bought us the OutKast deluxe double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Read more>>

Tazi Starfire

I started off acting while I was in foster care in Bakersfield California as an escape from the homes that I lived at Compton JR high. I played a kid who gets bullied in an anti-bullying music video by a guy named Keenan West. Actually when I was in high-school I had the opportunity to be on the news and talk about the issue. Read more>>

Cierra Couch

I wasn’t originally allowed to wear makeup when I was younger. Around the time I got to high school, girls my age were getting their eyebrows waxed or threaded, lashes done, and were beginning to wear makeup. My parents didn’t allow that other than for show choir performances. Read more>>

Errin Pitts

Errin M. Pitts was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia . From an early age, she developed a passion for leadership, service, dance, and community involvement—interests that would later shape her personal and professional journey. A distinguished alumna of South Carolina State University, Errin earned both a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration. Read more>>

Biamyl Diaz

My journey to opening Coco & Jax Indoor Playground wasn’t something I had planned years in advance—it was something that grew out of prayer, faith, and a desire to create something meaningful for families. Before becoming a business owner, I spent years working in corporate environments while also serving as a preschool teacher. Read more>>

Morgan Stephens

I never set out to build a big business. I just wanted to create a coffee shop that felt like home. Mountain Mama’s started as a small dream and has grown into something much bigger thanks to an incredible community and team. At the end of the day, we’re still focused on the same thing: serving great coffee and making people feel welcome. Read more>>

LYDIA DOUGLAS

My story began quite by accident. My mother taught me how to sew when I was just 8 years old. I made all of my own clothes. At that point I thought that I wanted to be a fashion designer. Once in college, when I registered for fashion design, I discovered that I hated drawing. Read more>>

Mickayla Coutinho Brandao

I found out I was pregnant the summer before I started grad school. Three years later, I walked across the stage with my Master’s in Social Work — and a toddler in the audience. I’m originally from Boston, and I got my bachelor’s in Psychology and African studies from NYU. Read more>>

Victoria and Daniela Ruiz

Our dream started with the idea of sharing our Japanese-Venezuelan roots through something that has always been part of our lives: matcha. Growing up, matcha was more than just a drink—it was a connection to our culture and family traditions. Read more>>

Tiffany Sutton

My name is Tiffany Sutton, and I am the artist and owner of 4 the Love of Creating 4U, LLC. I am a self-taught abstract and mixed media artist whose passion for creating has grown into a business dedicated to producing unique, one-of-a-kind artwork that inspires, uplifts, and connects with people on a personal level. Read more>>

The Remidi

My journey as an artist began in church when I was just 8 years old. Singing in front of the congregation gave me my first experience performing and sparked a lifelong passion for music. By the age of 11, I had started writing poetry as a way to express my thoughts and emotions. Read more>>

Nancy Cohen

My name is Nancy Cohen, and I grew up in Charlestonn, SC and have been living in Roswell for for the past two decades. I am a Mahjong enthusiast/instructor., and my business name is Master the Mahj. Mahjong is my passion, and I’ve been playing for over 20 years. Growing up in. Read more>>

Daniel Minchew

In 2008 I started Studio Space Atlanta to create a space where everyone could afford to film. Back in 2008 there where only a few stages and they all had 10hr minimums. We started off with 2hr minimums, no charge for electricity (charging for electricity is the norm in stage rental). We made studio rental in Atlanta affordable. Read more>>

Jaden Brown

Born to a mixed race background with irish/italian and black parents from Colorado and New Jersey/New York. I grew up in a small town north of Atlanta, Georgia. My passions for acting and beauty started young, spending most of upbringing performing in theatre productions before making a shift into the hair industry in 2018.. Read more>>

Harpreet Bhullar

Chaithentic began with a simple belief: chai should taste as authentic at home as it does in an Indian kitchen. I grew up in Canada making chai daily for my grandmother and mom, a ritual full of warmth, tradition, and love. After moving to California, I noticed that cafés were serving syrupy versions that didn’t reflect the real spices or flavors I knew. Read more>>

Daniel Pollio

I’m a rapper from Louisville, Kentucky. Growing up with a Polish immigrant mother, I was raised to believe that success meant getting a traditional job, so music never seemed like a realistic path. I wrote my first rap at 16 and started recording seriously about 4 years later once I found my sound. Read more>>

Hallie Burden

Back when I was in high school, my Dad bought himself a DSLR camera for fun. He would come to my horse shows and take photos of me and my barn friends and continued that into my collegiate IHSA showing. Read more>>

Sharyla Jones

My journey to opening Lotus Wax ATL wasn’t a traditional one. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and moved to Atlanta in 2011. As a mother of three and a licensed esthetician with years of experience in the beauty industry, I always knew I wanted to create something of my own. Read more>>

Sally Williams

Memory is the cornerstone of identity. Without it, we lose our sense of self — the narrative thread that connects who we were to who we are. Photographs serve as tangible anchors to specific moments in our lives, preserving not just images, but fragments of our very being. I believe, wholeheartedly, that photography is essential to the human experience. Read more>>

DJ Iceberg

I am originally from Jamaica Queens, NYC. I moved to atlanta to attend college, Georgia State Univerisity. College is where I got my start as a DJ. My family is off jamaican descendant, so I grew up with a powerful music culture from when I was a child so becoming a DJ felt natural. Read more>>

Mandy Hinrichs

I grew up first in a Marine Corps aviation family and eventually Delta, so travel was part of my life from an early age. My mother was a concert pianist, so I had a marriage of airports, airplanes, and the classical arts that shaped my realization that the world was bigger than my own backyard. Read more>>

Jointdexter

I realized my passion for music at 8 years old and grew up writing songs and poetry. I didn’t pursue this as a full time career until my 20s and now at 30 years old I’m closer to so many goals that were just dreams many years ago. I think it’s amazing how much I still love creating even after all these years. Read more>>

Beth McCusker

My journey into the beauty industry began over 17 years ago with a passion for helping people feel confident and beautiful. What started as a love for hair and makeup quickly grew into a career that allowed me to combine creativity, connection, and entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Althea Holmes

I have always believed that some of life’s greatest challenges can become our greatest teachers. Living with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a rare condition that affects my joints and muscles, has shaped much of my journey. It has taught me resilience, creativity, problem-solving, and the importance of finding my own path when there wasn’t always a clear one to follow. Read more>>

Kadon Brown

I started my journey with a genuine passion for fashion, creativity, and helping people feel confident through personal style. What began as styling friends, curating looks, and developing my eye for fashion gradually evolved into something much bigger once I realized how powerful style can be in shaping confidence, identity, and presence. Read more>>

Richard Nagy

My path with the Veterans of Foreign Wars kind of came out of just wanting to stay connected after my time in the military. When you leave the service, you really do miss the people, the structure, and that sense of purpose that comes with it. Getting involved with VFW Post 6605 gave me a way to bring some of that back. Read more>>