The Trailblazers: Rewriting the Narrative

Helene ruiz

I began making art as a way to understand the world around me and my place within it, growing up in New York City where creativity, struggle, resilience, and community lived side by side on every block. Painting became both a refuge and a voice — a way to process social justice, women’s rights, democracy, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Read more>>

Sierra Hall

My journey in music started early. I began singing at four years old and grew up surrounded by the industry, watching the business side of music up close through my mom, who worked in artist development and management. That exposure sparked my curiosity not just for performing, but for how music moves, connects, and impacts culture behind the scenes. Read more>>

Lynn Lewis

I will begin by saying I am a certified grief educator and coach. I got to this space after my son died via suicide in August 2019. Less than a year after his demise, I decided I was not going to allow the aftermath of his death to consume me. Read more>>

Sheila Wilson

Thank you to VoyageVirginia for the opportunity to share my story. My name is Sheila Wilson. I am a Virginia resident who was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana—a place that shaped my values, my voice, and my deep respect for culture, community, and resilience. I am an educator and an author who believes education is a lifelong endeavor. Read more>>

Lexie Quigley

Pink Cloud Naturals began during a season of major personal transition. After stepping away from a career path that no longer aligned, I found myself rebuilding my life from the ground up and paying much closer attention to my health, especially my skin, which was reactive and depleted at the time. I began researching traditional skincare and eventually learned how to render tallow. Read more>>

Ann Williams

My story continues from an interview with Voyage Baltimore in 2023 Williams Family Events (WFE) is a family-oriented business located in Stafford, Virginia, that was created as an events/entertainment planning company about 16 years ago, as a ‘morale booster’ at my place of employment at the time. Read more>>

Susanne Tabet

The idea that I would one day call myself a full-time painter once felt impossible. A studio at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, features in art magazines, and a solo exhibition on the horizon in Washington, D.C. were not part of the plan—or even the dream. Read more>>

Edna Howard

Voices of Encouragement began with a simple but powerful calling. I’ve spent more than 30 years in the personal development space, and throughout my life I’ve had a deep passion for serving, encouraging, and uplifting others—particularly women and girls. Encouragement is not only my gift; it’s my purpose. Read more>>

Maggie Morris

When I was in high school, my mom would gather with all the other parents before prom and homecoming and take pictures of us all lined up in “prom prose”. I’d get home and review the photos and was frankly, always quite dissatisfied with my mother’s work. If you’ve ever been given “feedback” by me, you know it’s pretty errr critical. Read more>>

Minister Patricia Fowler

My story started back in 1999, when I got divorced after nine (9) years. My marriage was abusive. when I got married, I had a one-year-old daughter and through the marriage I had 3 sons. Once I was finally out of my situation, I felt as I was starting my life all over again, but as a single mom of 4, with no help. Read more>>

Sarah Pigeon

I started out bartending in San Diego, living a life I loved; surfing, traveling, and enjoying the freedom of it all. But as I got closer to 30, I knew it wasn’t something I wanted to do forever. I began asking myself bigger questions about where I wanted my life to go. Read more>>

Imani Turner

My journey began with tap dance and ballet. Guided by my faith, I was drawn to the performing arts and committed to developing my craft. Over time, I built skills in acting and modeling, gaining experience across multiple areas of performance. Today, I am focused on turning my passion into a full-time career by pursuing paid opportunities and monetizing my work across social media platforms. Read more>>

Candace Cantu

I’ve been interested in flexibility, dance, and aerial for as long as I can remember. I started more formal training in my 20s, so when I had the chance to purchase an existing aerial arts studio in 2019, I was ready and excited to make the leap. Read more>>

Elena Agaragimova

I actually wanted to be a teacher growing up, so naturally, I leaned towards education field, so I’ve started my career in higher education. After a few years in the industry – wearing multiple hats – recruitment, mentorship programs, academic advising, I realized that I enjoyed working with students but it wasn’t dynamic enough for me. Read more>>

Sarah Fargo O’Brien

Well, I knew a long time ago I wanted to be a therapist. In fact, I wrote my college entrance essay on the dream of having my own private practice and walking to work everyday. Fast forward about 20 years and I’m living that dream! But it didn’t start off that easy or rosy. Read more>>

Roxy Young

I began my creative journey through curiosity rather than a traditional path. I’ve always been drawn to visual storytelling, the way images, movement, and emotion can communicate something words often can’t. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a disciplined creative practice, primarily using my iPhone as a tool for cinematic expression. Read more>>

Cheryl Shanahan

I was raised in a family that valued the creative process. That family also valued fiscal discipline. Painters, fiber artists, photographers, sculptors go back four generations on both sides of the family. Most had professional careers, and they didn’t fully indulge their creative sides and fuel their passion projects until they retired. That’s what was modeled for me. Creatively, my start was at the piano. Read more>>

Courtney Dorsey

As a dedicated mom of three, former Division One Track and Field athlete, NPC competitor and experienced fitness professional, I bring a unique blend of personal and professional expertise to my role as a gym owner and head trainer. Read more>>

Erica Robinson

Some say desperation is the catalyst for change. For me, that catalyst was the realization that this doesn’t have to be my life—that I have the power to change it. In the middle of a global pandemic, I chose to stop playing the supporting cast in my own life. I traded control for freedom and silence for my own voice. Read more>>

Michelle Miller

I care deeply about accuracy, credibility, and helping others. I kept seeing strong messages lose trust because of small but important errors. What drew me specifically to proofreading is that many writers don’t need their voice changed; they need a trusted final set of eyes so they can share their message with confidence. Read more>>

Amira Noor

I started my career in modeling in 2018 after moving to Mumbai, which was both exciting and a little intimidating as I was in a completely new city, diving into a competitive industry. I got my start with television commercials and print campaigns for brands like L’Oréal, Vivo, and ESPN, and slowly built my confidence and experience. Read more>>

Krysta Covington

As a teenager, I faced profound trauma that deeply impacted my mental health and sense of self-worth. After experiencing sexual assault at 15, becoming pregnant, and enduring bullying and isolation, I carried unresolved pain, anxiety, and depression into adulthood, often feeling voiceless and unseen. While healing, I began exploring creative and professional paths that allowed me to express myself and reclaim my voice. Read more>>

Khalilah Jones

If there’s one thing that’s been consistent in my story, it’s this: I’ve always been drawn to spaces where people are becoming. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, growing up at the intersection of leadership and creativity. Entrepreneurship magnet programs, career leadership development, violin lessons, dance studios. Ballet, jazz, modern, a dance troupe. Read more>>

Shanell Camp

My name is Shanell and I am from Norfolk, Va. Initially my brand was supposed to be a nail polish brand BUT after months of sampling and testing different nail polishes I couldn’t find what I was looking for and a random thought to sell pressons came into my mind and I ran with it! Read more>>

Megan Miller

My husband/business partner and I met while we were both bartending at a distillery in New Orleans. We got started making flavored simple syrups for the drinks there. We shared them around to friends and family, and eventually people started asking to buy bottles to take home for their own drinks. Read more>>

Shenise Foster

My content creation journey all started with being my friends and family’s unofficial food & travel advisor as a result of me sharing my adventures on my personal social media pages. Travel and food exploration has always been my passion, and I had always dreamed of becoming a travel guide writer for a major publication or hosting my own travel show. Read more>>

Rebekah Laur’en

Music came naturally to me long before formal training. I later studied as a classically trained vocalist in college, which gave me a strong technical and disciplinary foundation. As my artistry evolved, songwriting, producing, and composing became just as central as singing, leading me to step fully into independence and ownership of my creative direction. Read more>>

Christina Boy

After High School I did several internships after which ended up doing a 2.5 year apprenticeship in an office and commercial design showroom in Bonn Germany, paired with once a week trade school at the Furniture College in Cologne, Germany. During that time i fell in love with modern classic furniture from the bauhaus era and early to mid century Scandinavian designs. Read more>>

Alyssa Cromer-Riddick

ABC Captured Photography really started long before I ever thought of it as a business. I’ve always loved learning about people and their stories, and photography became a way for me to capture those meaningful moments. Read more>>

Nia Dinero

My journey started with a love for expression and storytelling. I grew up drawn to music, culture, and creativity, and over time I realized my voice wasn’t just something to be heard — it was something meant to be felt. While attending Norfolk State University, I spent my days in class and my nights in the studio, learning the discipline behind the art. Read more>>