The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across Alabama below.
Ashton Calvert
I started my photography business in 2022 and shot my first wedding in that year. In the beginning of 2023 I had a couple reach out to me about capturing their wedding in Como, Italy. I think that was the moment that my business really kicked off with shooting weddings. Read more>>
Odus Smith
I’ve designed clothing for about 7 years now and i’d love to create with knitwear to help curate pieces that brings out identity and elements into intricate knitwear styles, materials, and patterns. I started in streetwear with my House Brand “Memories of November” With a subsidiary capsule collection Called “Only God Can Bench Us”! Read more>>
Tiffany Doolittle
I started by doing cakes years ago when my daughter was 1 we order a cake and when we got it it was a boy cake. So we took it back lol. But I have always had a love for decorated so I started by doing small family events and I grew. Read more>>
LaDonna Allen
I started my journey with a love for creativity, fashion, and transformation long before I ever called myself a stylist. Growing up in Alabama, I was always drawn to style, storytelling, and the way clothing could completely shift how a person felt about themselves. Read more>>
DJ Relly
Music has always been a huge part of my life. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve embraced all genres, and that love only grew stronger with age. In college, I knew I wanted to do something involving music, but I wasn’t sure which direction to take, so I put the idea on the back burner. Read more>>
Draymond
I grew up in the mobile area. I moved out of there when my house was burned down twice and I had to find a home. I lived in Tuscaloosa before going to school in Troy. Music wasn’t my go to at first. I started battle rapping then it translated to music making. I made my first album after my mom passed in 2018. Read more>>
Mauri & Claire Robinson
Co-Founders, Claire Sands Robinson and Mauri Robinson have a combined 30 years of project management, strategic planning, operations, and event coordination experience in various industries, including Banking, Non-Profit, Logistics, and Education. In the Spring of 2025, they both were laid off from their jobs and took time to reevaluate their careers. Read more>>
DeSean Motley
I never started filmmaking expecting it to become a career. I picked up a camera because I loved storytelling, and over time that hobby turned into paid work and eventually Dmot Productions. In the early years, I made a lot of sacrifices to keep pursuing it. Read more>>
Rodney “Dj Rodski” Toomer
I grew up in Westbury, Long Island, New York, during the early days of hip-hop—when the culture was taking shape in real time. Hip-hop was born in the Bronx on August 11, 1973, and I was immersed in it: DJs, MCs, breakdancing, and graffiti. Around 1980, my family moved to Mobile, Alabama, after my mother remarried, and the transition was a major culture shock. Read more>>
Trey Black
I never imagined I’d be behind a camera. When I started college, I was torn between accounting and marketing. Creativity wasn’t even part of the conversation. In 2016, I joined a business with some friends. My role? The money. I handled the business side while everyone else handled the creative work. Read more>>
Elizabeth Powell
My love for thrifting started when I was a kid. My mom took me thrift shopping regularly, and while I didn’t always appreciate it at the time, those experiences ended up shaping a huge part of my future. Years later, as an adult, I rediscovered thrifting and became passionate about finding affordable, unique pieces for both my home and my wardrobe. Read more>>
Hannah Gardner
My path has always been driven by the search for clarity and the ability to see the human story in both data and light. I started by balancing the fast-paced intensity of leadership at Chick-fil-A with my rigorous academic pursuits in neuroscience. Read more>>
Dawn Ervin LaShoundra Jordan
Dawn: Our story began almost 12 years ago. When I realized I could really benefit from having the opportunity to start a small business with the help of the United Way, I immediately thought of my friend, LaShoundra. We both have always had a love for all things fashion. Read more>>
Kay Rashad & Reginald Shane Brown
One of the most meaningful creative journeys in my life started years ago when I met Reginald Shane Brown. We actually met through mutual friends while working together at a landscaping company. At the time, I was the secretary for Central Alabama Outdoor Depot, and from the beginning, we just naturally clicked. He was always incredibly kind, genuine, and easy to talk to. Read more>>
Meoshia Abrams
Starting Pathway to Freedom Counseling, LLC came from a deeply personal place — a desire to help people heal, grow, and reclaim their lives despite trauma, adversity, mental health struggles, and life transitions. My vision was not just to provide therapy, but to create a safe and culturally relevant space where individuals and families could feel seen, understood, supported, and empowered. Read more>>
Mark Boring
Hello and thank you for the opportunity! My name is Mark. My business title is, SMB/Photographics. I am from Plano, Illinois and I’ve lived over half my life in Alabama. I’m based in Leeds, Alabama. I’ve had a pretty strong fascination with photography in many forms for most of my life. Read more>>
Alabama Rain Robertson
Ryan and Missie Robertson met at a party. Ryan was immediately attracted to the young petite Missie Murray, who had just moved to Alabama from the D. C. area. Ryan found himself boldly introducing hisself to the young beauty who was nice and polite but not as interested in the loud confident suitor as he was in her. Read more>>
