Below you’ll find the stories and lessons of some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs, artists and creatives in the community and how they found their purpose.
Lauren Elizabeth
When I was younger, I was both sporty and creative. During my Junior year of High School, something happened. My congenital heart defect began to cause arrhythmia problems. My heart would beat too fast and get stuck in dangerous rhythms. The arrhythmia issues caused me to pull back from sports and left me no option besides to dive fully into my creative side. Read more>>
Bailey Crawford Patterson
Ikigai: The secret to a long and happy life. Read more>>
Micah White
At the end of every story or shall I say business, there is a mission or a goal. My ultimate goal in life and my purpose was to always make a difference, educate and bring people together. When I first started my business in 2018, I was confident in my product in which I only sold smoothies, slushees, bowls and lemonade. Read more>>
Frank Ciulla
As a portrait artist, I found my purpose when I was the guardian parent of my two nephews. I had been in the U.S. Navy before that, and I worked for the U.S.P.S. as a mail carrier. But When a family crisis hit, I decided to resign from working and become a stay-at-home guardian parent. Read more>>
Freddie Fontaine
Finding my purpose didn’t take long at all. I was told stories about me an music as early as I was able to understand them. I grew up in church and was playing drums since the age of two years old, while in elementary school I was recruited to play for the junior High school, and when I got to junior High I was already playing with the high school jazz band. Although drums were a passion of mine it wasn’t my purpose. Read more>>
Crystal Jordan
I found my purpose through a combination of personal experiences and a deep passion for empowering women. As the founder of Sistahood Publishing, Zachariah’s World, and Becoming Her Magazine, my journey began with a powerful motivation stemming from my own life. Read more>>
Kristin Marquet
Discovering my purpose has been a multifaceted journey of self-exploration and experience. I began by immersing myself in various fields and activities, seeking out what truly sparked my passion. Through life’s triumphs and challenges, I gleaned valuable lessons that contributed to a deeper understanding of what truly mattered to me. Aligning with my core values became a guiding principle, influencing decisions and actions toward a more purposeful direction. Read more>>
Shantel Haskins
Mend My Broken Pieces Write, LLC began as a blog to encourage self-expression and promote such through an artistic lense of writing, continues to do so and engages in community outreach events. Read more>>
Ebony Hemphill
I’ve always had a heart to help, I didn’t realize the full capacity of what that looked like until going head on with the Juvenile Justice(JJ) system with my family. When facing the JJ system with my son who was then 10, there were a few lessons I learned. I leaned the age of reason is 7 in Michigan, which means a youth as young as 7 can be introduced to the JJ system. Read more>>
Joana Pratt López
I was enrolled in art and theater classes when I was around 7 and I loved creating characters in acting and making props and scenery for plays. By the time I was in high school, I was working in community programs in marginalized neighborhoods, teaching puppetry and mask-making on weekends. I loved both making things and sharing creativity with others. Read more>>
Leslie Black
I’d like to think that my purpose found me, but I do remember when it finally clicked for me. I know that my purpose is to creating dynamic characters through the art of film. When I’m performing my job is to always captivate the viewers regardless of the realm of my performance. Read more>>
J Weeks
As early as the age of 2 or 3 I can recall doing things to entertain my family. Dancing was certainly my go to move. The older I got, the more I wanted to learn every dance that was out. But the “Running Man” was the one that stood out the most. I learned to do it in every direction. I quickly learned the better I got a dancing the more I would have to perform at the drop of a dim e so I new I had to learned something else. Read more>>
Jennifer Ayana Harrison
In my early twenties, I became interested in metaphysics, herbal medicine, and naturopathy mostly motivated out of curiosity into a passion. As a result, over many years of study, research, and practicing these different modalities I eventually founded Ayana Wellness Spa and Educational Resources a health and wellness business focused on educating people on the importance of self-care, and the effects of mental and emotional stressors on overall health and well-being, including chronic illness and disease. Read more>>
Tyrone (Ty) Dennis
I find my purpose from coming a single parent home. My mother raised four children including myself by herself with help from my grandmother. Growing up in the Fountain Park neighborhood portion of St. Louis made me ready for anything. Although we weren’t rich my mom made me understand that we never wanted for anything. Read more>>
Karrie Heneman
My name is Karrie Heneman. I am a mom of four, one girl and three boys. I am also a fourth child of four, so big families are in my blood. My father’s parents both immigrated to the United States from Italy. My father started working in a shoe store in the second grade to help support his family. My father showed me how important hard work is. I have a PhD in nutrition. Read more>>
Andria Lea
I found my purpose in an unlikely place—pain. Growing up in a truly dysfunctional home, I was no stranger to adversity. To add to the challenge later in life I was diagnosed with a physically painful condition known as pelvic floor dysfunction. I sought physical relief first because it was the most obvious and disruptive, seeking help from doctor after doctor and physical therapists. Read more>>
Matt Blum
For the longest time, I felt adrift, wandering without a sense of purpose. I snapped photos for the publications, but it was just a living – I didn’t realize it could be more. The turning point came when I pulled back to my roots in black and white film and started photographing the the non-perfection that social media ignores: the raw, the grit, the willing. Read more>>
Dr. Kendra Mayes
I have always found joy in helping others manage their dreams, unlock hidden potential, while putting their lives into perspective. I attribute this to my natural path as a young person. I was always active as a peer mentor, motivational speaker, class president, debate club and an advocate for social justice in education. Read more>>
James Norkawich
Music has the extraordinary power to shape lives, infuse joy, and evoke emotions like no other art form. For James A. Norkawich, this power was discovered early in life and has since become the cornerstone of his existence. From his earliest years, music has been an integral part of his upbringing, shaping not only his career but also his purpose and identity. Read more>>
Dwight Hwang
To talk about how I found my purpose, I suppose I should first talk about how I lost my purpose. I used to work in the film and animation industry for 20+ years as a storyboard artist. It’s what defined me and what I thought that I would do for my entire life as I used to enjoy it a great deal. But there came a point where it no longer brought me joy. Rather, the last few years of my career, I grew discouraged, disappointed, and frustrated. Read more>>
Shea Hammond
My purpose has evolved with me as I have grown from a young boy being diagnosed with a stroke and Cerebral Palsy (CP) to now a full-fledged international soccer player for Team USA and co-founder of CP Soccer. Growing up with a disability my purpose was always to try and find a way to “fit in” with the other kids. I set the goals of not needing to wear my brace on my leg, walking without a limp, and competing in sports like my friends. Read more>>
Ivy Caldwell
There are many times that we wonder why am I here or what is my purpose and the answer to these two questions is already deep within us. It’s usually those things that we don’t want to talk about or don’t want anyone to know what we have been through in life that there lies our purpose. Whatever has caused you so much pain in life usually has your purpose tied to it. That is the case with me. Read more>>
Alexis celestine
Well I found my purpose inside of what I thought my purpose was, way backing 2016. I became a licensed cosmetologist because I loved all things beauty and I wanted to learn how to do my own hair. I hated how my mom did my hair growing up and how we always had a different hairstylist every 6months to a year seemed like. That was frustrating for me, and I had to do something about it. Read more>>
Mike Wittenstein
Discovering your purpose often unfolds in surprising ways. In my case, the revelation didn’t come from intense self-reflection but from those around me—family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers. Without asking, the message I received was clear and consistent: I’m a natural bridge builder, someone who connects dots in relationships, business strategy, or customer experience. This revelation didn’t just change how I viewed myself; it empowered me to take on roles that genuinely create value. Read more>>
Keira Hand
I have always known my purpose was rooted in bringing people joy and creativity. At a young age I was drawn to art and was constantly drawing or painting, this love was skyrocketed by an amazing teacher in my early elementary school life and was further strengthened when I began my time in college at UT Austin. I had dabbled in photography in high school, but never seriously until I got to college and fell in love with the art of film photography. Read more>>
Amber Melanie Smith
When it comes to purpose, I believe everyone should have a personal mission statement – a raison d’être they carry with them through any job or life stage. I’ve crafted and honed mine over the years, but it comes down to this: I’m a guide. I help people create their roadmap to a lifestyle or career that creates positive social change. Read more>>
Ginger Willis
When I was in high school, Peter Walsh and the show Clean Sweep had a huge influence on me. The gentle, but clear, process he walked the show’s families through to identify the meaning in their possessions and honor those items really resonated with me. He helped them come to a healthier, more balanced way of interacting with their belongings, which I thought was incredibly important work. Read more>>
Blair Williamson
Finding purpose in life is a deeply personal journey, and it has evolved for me over time, primarily by looking to my children and channeling my unique life experiences into something meaningful. Read more>>
Rachel Beland
From a young age, I was creative and sensed that I was going to do big things with my life. In college, I was always trying to learn something new in the hopes that one day my side project could become my full-time career. Read more>>
Joanne Irizarry
I found my purpose after the traumatic experience of my son’s death by suicide. I spent the next few years drowning my sorrows in alcohol. One day made the decision to give myself the gift of sobriety and entered rehab. After that it was clear to, I was there to be of service to others with mental health issues and addictions, so that’s what is my passion., Read more>>
Dr. Kevin Myers
A culmination of experiences has led me to pursue a career in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. I have always been fascinated by Orthopedics and the musculoskeletal system of the human body. I appreciate that the entire mechanical design is logical and practical, a system of levers and pulleys that can produce movements varying from finely detailed to explosive and powerful. Read more>>
Isaac Alley
Music has always been the place I’d go when I had nowhere else. Long before I was out playing shows and even before I played an instrument I knew that this was what I was going to do, that I was going to be a songwriter. There was never an outcome that led me anywhere but here, never a possible future where I didn’t make music. There’s something special that happens when I write a song, and I’m only getting started. Read more>>
Alena Jones-Craven
When I was younger, I somewhat buried myself into art whether it was painting, drawing or designing. Growing up I faced several personal adversities that pushed me to talk less and create more. Art is how I expressed myself emotionally and it fueled me to want to help others in that same manner. I always knew my purpose was to support others but, I wasn’t sure of what form to indulge in to push that narrative until I discovered art therapy. Read more>>
jose Nolasco
Hello, sorry for not following up but I am still interested in it. Read more>>
Juan Arango
My purpose is deeply rooted in music. It’s an inescapable truth: I’m not entirely sure who I’d be without it. As a child, I wasn’t particularly outgoing or extroverted. I dabbled in various activities, from basketball to soccer, martial arts to painting. But nothing stuck. I often felt disconnected from my peers, struggling to find mutual interests and feeling somewhat out of place. School didn’t grip me either. Read more>>
Chavalia Dunlap-Mwamba
One would like to assume that purpose is found in beautiful occurrences, but more often than not, purpose is found in “valley-like” situations (when one feels at their lowest.) Read more>>
Airielle Da Gem
It’s a couple of reasons why I rap.Music is therapeutic for me. As a teenager when I was trying to define myself I noticed the men I looked up to respected the female rappers. I loved that and wanted respect. My Dad can sing, make beats and breakdance. I’m talking bout spinning on his head and everything. He was a B boy and in a dance group. Read more>>
Tim Martinez
Discovering my purpose is a lifelong journey for me. I pray and seek guidance from God to show me where to invest my time, which opportunities to pursue, who to be around, and when to take action. Read more>>
Alicia Villanueva
Faith has a lot to do with whom I am and for what purpose. As a single mother, raising my two daughters cause a strain on my finances. I reached a point of just being overwhelmed with so many obstacles in life. I began to question my existence but being raised with moral values seemed to be the only thing I could hold onto. Read more>>
Sindho Channa
I discovered my purpose as a Career Matchmaker, as someone who helps others find the best resources, coaches and jobs they desire. and my unwavering commitment to helping others succeed in their careers. Read more>>
Jes Garner
Joy Orr and I both own our own wedding companies. Joy owns The Refinery, a classic modern venue located in the heart of downtown Culpeper. I own Bride and Joy Rentals which includes a 4500 square foot warehouse of rentals and décor, floral design, coordination, calligraphy, and bar services. Read more>>
Michael Tran
I come from a family of great cooks and bakers. My family emigrated from Vietnam after the war. They quickly settled in The United States and brought along with them the culture and culinary tastes of Vietnam. Growing up I was always watching my mom and aunts cook and bake. Although they mostly made asian foods, they did try their hand at making American foods to make us kids happy. Read more>>
Courtney Crider
As a child, I always thought my purpose was to be a veterinarian surgeon. I distinctly remember some time in kindergarten when I was looking at the ground and thought about how people overlook animals and abuse them. I decided then that I would be someone who would stand up for them and help them out. Read more>>
TORY KEIT
In the nonprofit sector, purpose often emerges from a deep connection to the communities we serve. My commitment to being fully ‘present’ at every community event was the beacon that illuminated my path. Such engagements fostered an intimate understanding of the challenges and aspirations of our community members. Read more>>
Aaron Embrey
I’ve experienced some deep transformations in my life, and over time, I’ve also learned that REAL change requires the courage to actually take action and create something new. I believe, my purpose is all about empowering others to step into the unknown and create their own change through their unique self-expression and creativity. Read more>>
Mari Dagher
It has taken me decades to fully step into my purpose. Looking at me first glance nothing particular would stand out at first, not till you really start to get to know me. Long story short, it all started when I turned 17. Well, in truths it was long before that is when it truly started. However not many seventeen year olds would tell you that they went off and got married. Read more>>
Leah Smith
By listening to my gut and following my intuition. Read more>>
